Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-01
THE LABOR PROBLEM.

Breakers Ahead-Proposed Strike Of the
PeRnsylvania lrOnwOrkers, &c
The Philadelphia North American, which is
always conservative in its discussion of labor
and business topics, says:
1.-THE present depressed and unsettled con-
dition OF the iron trade is the blacklist and most
threatening Of the clouds which darken the
business horizon. It Is no rexaggeration to
say of this great trade that it furnishes the best
means OF testing our industrial and commercial
status. When the iron men are busy, when
their mills are kept running on full time in the
execution OF profitable contracts, when the
manufacturers are able to pay the highest
wages to men in their employment, and extern
siVe production is not followed by undue accu-
mutation, 1t follows as tolerably safe inference
that the country is active and prosperous; and
the converse holds equally good. Such a fall
ing away IN the orders sent In as cOmpels the
iron men to put limit upon their output, to
run their mills for less than full time, to dis
charge some Of their employees, or to order a
general reduction of wages, is sure sign that
the national prosperity has received q check.
II shows that something has gone wrong in the
thing has occurred to clog the wheels Of trade
and to impede the progress Of the nation. This,
unfortunately, is what the state Of the iron
trade indicates at the present time.
"For some months past the manufacturers of
IRON have not been doing satisfactory business.
The prosperity upon which they entered at the
time OF the great revival Of trade throughout
the country which took place three years ago
has not been maintained. Especially during
the past year have they had to complain Of q
almlnutlon In the volume and In the profits Of
their operations. 1t would not be practicable
at this writing to engage In any extended dis
cussiOn OF the influences by which this reaction
has been brought about. To great extent It
may probably be attributed to the abandonment
Dy various railroad companies Of enterprises In
hoA l~ok
barked, or to temporary suspension, under the
pressure OF adverse circumstances, Of plans for
the improvement and extension Of their lines.
in which the iron interest was deeply and bene.
hcialy interested. But whatever doubt there
may be as to the cause of the reaction. its re-
suits are unfortunately indisputabla The iron
manufacturers have done less business than thew
were justified in anticipating, and as what they
have done has been at . reduced profit. they have
accordingly found themselves unable to pay the
wages which they well afford to give In better
times. The natural result has followed. and
the situation, already so Encouraging, has been
seriossly complicated by the fact that the men
have refused to accept the reduction, and are
even now threatening 90 have recourse to force.
"n they should 20 decide, the consequences
would be disas.rous In the extreme, alike to
themselves, to thsif employers and to the gem
eral welfare OF the country. The threatened
strike Is one which would throw 10000 men out
OF employment, which would paralyze one Of
our greatest industries. and infict an injury
upon our material interests nom which recovery
would OF necessity be slow. Happily there Il
stu room for hope that the threatened danger
may be averted, ana that some Compromise NAV
be arranged between the contending parties
which win admit 81 the dispute being settled
upon stable and satisfactory basis. The case
IL one IN which There & great deal to be said
on both sides. The masters were JUSTIFIED In
making the reduction, both by necessity and BY
the terms Of tAelr agreement with the Amalgar