Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-09-26
STRIKES IN GENERAL.
Their Origin and Progress on
Both Sides Of the Ocean,
The Results of American
Strikes.
Destruction OfPrOperty and Life
Caused by Labor RevOlts in
the Atlantic States.
Nam Nm Hornld. %.

most frequent and important in Great
Britain. and nextin the United States.
But hardly a nation in Europe has
been free from combination strikes
and trade union revolts.
In England, where strikes and trade
unions have assumed a magnitude I'm
known in any other country, the most
extensive movements of w%orkingmen
in combining against employers oc-
Cured between 1850 aud 1860. The
lockout of operative engineers in
1851-52 was the first of a new class OF
ssrikes. 1t was originated BY the
society Of engineers, millwrights, ma
chinists, etc., engaged in the iron
trades, which had in 1851 branches in
various parts Of the kingdom to the
number of l2l, with 1889 members,
and an income of more than $4,000
per year. This society was pledged to
undertake the abolition of overtime
and piecework in the iron trades. 1t
demanded the abandonment Of self
acting machines, and the employment
of mechanics in their stead. The
organization against employers vas
perfect; but on the other hand, the
the employers made a combination,
held numerous meetings, and came to
the conclusion that the efforts Of the
trade society were an infringement on
the right of every British subject to
dispose Of his labor or capital accord
ing to his individual views Of his own.
interest, or would compel the indus.
trioas and careful to share their profits
with the slothful andinexpert. About
the end Of the year 1851 the Anal
gamated Society of workmen
having pledged themselves to leave
their workshops if their demands
were not complied with the members
Of the Masters Association pledged
themselves TO close their establish
ments in that event. A lockout be-.
gan on January 10, 1852. as well
against non-society men and laborers
as against the Amalgamated Society,
the result being that more than 1900
men we're thrown out Of work.
During the struggle the prin.
cipal society paid from its own
funds to n%on.soeiety men and laborers
nearly twice as much as they got from
outside subscription. Then unsuc-
cessful efforts toward arbitration were
made. After a month Of closed shops
the masters generally opened, but
though no one interfered with those
who chose to 20 to work little business
was done. At the close of March the
discomfort and sutferings Of the men
so long out Of employment, overcame
the dogged resolution Of the executive
council OF the society. and overtures
we're made to the employers ~associa-
ton, but the latter refused to listen to
any compromise. A month later
nearly all the men had gone back to
work under the old rates, as the sup
port of their families compelled them.
Ii is said that this lockout cost the So
eiety over 100000, and that about as
much more was lost by the working
men in wages, besides a vast amount
OF money spent during the period of
idleness.
About ten yeras later came the mem
ore5le strike of the bui' ding trades 10
London, including bricklayers, masons,
plasterers, carpenters, %joiners, paint
ers, plumbers and glaciers. In these
trades were employed about $4,000
men under 45O masters. The strike
was for a reduction of labor from ten
- nine hours per day, to which the
builders replied that such a reduction
would tax them more than ten per
cent. The strike was a failure,
In 1853 there was an important
strike Of the cotton factory operatives
at Preston for ten per cent increase of
wages. After six months Of idlensss
the men went to work on the old
terms. In a coal strike in Yorkshire
in 1853 there was a lockout Of 1900.
This was against a reduction of wages
In consequence Of a decline in the
price Of coal. 1t was compromised at
the end Of two months. This strike
cost 100000, of which considerable
more than one half fell on the working
man.
THE TYPOS AND THEIR STRIKES.
Printers are prone TO strikes, and 10
the ten years from 1850 to 1860 in
England there we're sixty six more or
less important contests in which
society funds were drawn upon for
relief. In thirty seven of these cases
non society men were employed to the
exclusion of the regulars. From these
and many less important events it is
assumed that strikes 10 England have
decreased in late years in number and
importance. The law has been in
yoked, trade unions have been legal.
lied, arbitration has been favorably
used in many cases, and in general the
freedom Of workingmen has been ad-
vanced and improved. In the main
these agitations have succeeded in
raising the rates Of pay and decreasing
the hours Of work; but, nevertheless.
a great many attempts in such direc.
tons have been disastrous failures,
and in some instances even employers
were positive gamers by a strike.
Frop an English point Of view it is
urged against strikes that the profits
IN any business cannot rise beyond a
certain average, and, as a consequence,
advances in wages will come sponta
neously from competition; while. il
such advances are brought about by a
strike,the value Of the labor unemploy.
ed while the strike lasts is lost both 10
the workingman and to the public.
Strikes have sometimes caused the
transfer OF manufactures aud indus
try to other localities, and it is claimed
that the emigration OF capital from
England to America proves that lis
profits have long been at a minimum
IN Great Britain and can hear no
tnrther reduction. The great misery
and want, sometimes leading to crime,
which strikes have accustomed 10
working people and the burden of
debt under which the strikers some.
times labor for years, are also pointed
to in depreciation of such movements.
On the other side it is contended
that che occasional failure of strikes
Il no proof Of their impelicy; that the
profits OF trades are very great and the
fortunes Of capitalists are frequently
built up in a few years; that oompeii
lion may benefit the public through a
fall in prices, but does not benefit the
labOrer; that the suffering caused to