The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-23
THE OUTLOOK FOR LABORERS
A Glance at the Condition of Labor and
Trade All Over the Country.
The Knights of Labor Rapidly Increasing in
Strength-Dangers that Menace the Or
Observation-Disclosures Shoemakers.
Philadelphia Record.

Employers generally are exhibiting a DISPOSE
ton TO abide by arbitration. For weeks past two
thousand hands at Gloyersville, N. Y, have been
on s1rlka: Tat TIE other day two modest working
men-one from Michigan saw-mil and the
other from Hooking Valley coal mine-intro-
duced themselves as members of the general ex-
ecutive committee of the Knights of Labor. II
took but short time to induce the employers to
agree to arbitration, which is now in progress.
The efforts of the Knights to establish arbitra-
ton will do more good and accomplish more prac
tical results than all the reports of the special
investigating committees seat out by Congress,
and more than all the paper laws which Congress
can pass. Employers have frequently expressed
surprise at the reasonableness of organized
labor, its intelligence and thorough understand
ing of the questions discussed. This respect gen.
crates confidence and smooths the way for ne
gotiations.
The silver working strikers Of Derby, Conn,
offered, a compromise on 10per cent. increase.
with per cent. to be added in May, but the en-
ployers refused. and the works are idle and the
goods are boycotted.
The organized brush-makers of New York are
appealing to their craft in the United States and
Canada ito pause. think and reflect" that
brushes arc now made in tho STATES prisons and
reform schools all over the country; that organi-
cation is their only refuge. and that the estab-
lishment of national brush makers bureau
must be accomplished.
The brlcklayers stors-masons. stone-cutters
and painters in ell the large cities and in good
many small ones are coming MP to the eight-hour
question with rush. In Washington the
masons will work only eight hours after May g.
and the stone-cutters have assented to the same
proposition, but they want the same wages then
as now This may make trouble The Wash
ington 81 Georgetown Street-car Company will
reduce the hours Of labor from sixteen TO thir-
teen on May l. The hod-carriers, masous
painters and carpenters of milwaukee, have all
agreed to the eght-hour rule, and the Eight hour
League is full Of excitement. In other North
western cities organization is occupying the at
tention of workers of all kinds, and higher
rate of wages will be attempted If the eight-hour
system goes into effect.
The pocketbook- and leather-workers
of New York are earning from $40 to $l2 per
week, where few years ago they earned $24
The leaders blame the result to ignorance and
beer The cabinet-makers of New York are
urgent advocates of the eight-hour day. The
clothing cutters are we'll organized. Nearly
every cutter is in the union. In several Shops
an advance of So per week has been secured.
Middle Ditch's job Office on Courtlandt street
has surrendered to the union.
The carpenters of Brooklyn will enforce the
nine-hour rule on March g. The New York car
drivers are marching on. On Wednesday even
ing the Sixth-aven conductors secured all the
concessions they desired after an hour and q
half's discussion. On Thursday morning, after
a fourhours discussion, the Eighth and Ninth
avenue roads were 'tied up" but at 3 o'clock in
the men resumed work
The knights of Labor are taking in new as
semblies at the rate of fifteen per working day
Lecturer Trevellick goes South in the spring to
set the South Atlantic and Gulf States on fire
with his eloquence Several organizers are
already there. There is fever heat of en-
thusiasm among the workers of New England
The ore.fSzation of the BARRIERS Of Boston will
result in the abolition of fvecent shaving
shops. 1t is mistake for many of the labor
papers to accept advertisements of drinking
shops The order is rising to the dignity OF de-
nouncing intempsrsace and has for years ex-
cluded rum sellers, yet many labor papers con-
tinue to do business with the sellers of whisky.
The farmers of Iowa are coming into the order.
In Cincinnati ten new assemblies have been or
ganized within few weeks. In Tennessee
steps are being taken to organize an assembly
in every town and city in the State. An assem-
bly, has been organized in St Joseph, Mo-, and
three new assemblies have been recently added
third for men, It is estimated that there are
20. 900 Knights in Montreal where few months
ago there was not a single one. Boycotting is
the charm which draws in membership,
and its success is phenomenal. The work
ers will run candidates at the next
parliamentary. election. who will subscribe
to the work for the accomplishment Of eight
enumerated demands representing the require
ments of labor The English workmen have
their own organization, as well as the French
men, and they are working in harmony. The
plate printers at Washington have an assembly.
The shipwrights are coming in, and the Clerks
Early Closing Association will soon join. The
spirit of unionism is at high pitch in Baltimore,
and nearly all the skilled workmen in the city
are in the order. In Milwaukee the Knights are
as numerous as flies in summer. The carpenters
and cabinet makers are also coming in. The
planning mill men are now all organized. Lect-
rrers are now working through Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Iowa and Wisconsin. The Germ.;c,r;.. IN
those States are taking as much interest in or
ganiZation as Americans The st. Louis district
has forty five local assemblies and TO- 900 mem
bers The Rhode Island district has fifty locals.
and district assembly No. 30. of Massachusetts,,
has over three hundred local assemblies.
Last Thursday James Gordon Bennett cabled
from Paris to his local agent here to interview
the Knights and obtain their opinion on current
labor topics General Secretary Turner gave
Mr. Bennett very comprehensive reply. The
rapid increase of the Knights of Labor is a mat
ter of congratulation on all sides; but its growth
may be too rapid to last. The hope Of the great
mass is to improve the laborer's condition by
higher wages, and the danger is that. If 6isap-
pointed at any time in the future, they will be-
come discontinued and drop out.
The labor lyceums are crowded. and the lect-
ures, as rule are studious presentations of
the labor question There is very little appeal
to passion or prejudice. The membership is
taught that mere legislation can accomplish but
little, and that the real reform must come
through education, intelligence and combina-
ton, and the adoption of measures for the ascer-
tainment and enforcement of justice.
English manufacturers are concerning them
selves over the possibility of competition of
Spanish with British pigiron. The movement
is causing alarm. 1t is stated that q lot of Span
ish iron sold here recently at 800 rs per ton.
It is bad enough to be beaten by German iron
and hardware, but to be beaten by Spanish pig
iron is adding insult to injury.
The forty five brick yards at Haverstraw have
capacity for $40, 000. 900 brick annually. There
are 1000 men employed, besides 800 in the river
carrying trade. Ninety four barges and vessels
are constantly employed in transporting the
products of these yards. They use 80, 900 cords