The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-30
LABOR AND LABoRERs.
Matters of Interest To Employers and EN-
ployed-The Eisht-Hour Law.

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Philadelphia Record.
The workingmen of Great Britain are looking
with astonishment upon the industrial uprising
in the United States, and some of them are writ
ing to know what 1t means They cannot under
stand how it is that in a land of high wages and
plenty of work there should be occasion'for such
general strikes and such opportunities for pow
erful trades combination. They are making no
effort, except In an inquiring sort OF way, to
adopt the American methods of labor organiza-
tlon and do not seem to feel the need OF 1t. The
various trades unions of England are numerical
ly strong, but accomplishing very little
either in advancing wages or preventing reduc-
tons Most of their efforts resolve themselves
into assistance'to the sick and burial for the
dead. At the same time these labor agitations
throughout the United States will not be lost
upon British workmen They have surpassed
American workmen in cooperation and in
trades unionism pure and simple and in polit-
ical action, but are far behind American work
men in the perfecting of machinery and taking
advantage of fuctuating labor values.
There is more doubt of the success of the eight
hour movement now than there was month
ago. Able leaders are quietly advising COM
promise upon a nine hour day. Three months
ago it was thought that, with the assistance of
the Knights of Labor and some of the other
strong organizations, the movement would be
almost universal. This is not expected now.
| The eight hour leaders will be satisfied with
whatever progress they can make, and they will
make great deal. Logically there is occasion
for shorter hours. Munhall, in his History of
Prices" shows that since 1850 the white popula-
tion in Europe and the United States has in
creased 81 per cent, and the working power has
increased los per cent, consequently five men
can now accomplish as much az six in 1870 or
eighth 1850. The worlds steam power is now
five and half times what 1t was In 1850, and
nearly double what it was in 1870 The eight
hour men argue the economic fact that the eight
hour day will create demand for fifth more
labor, and thus bring back into the field of labor
the hundreds Of thousands who are now said to
be idle They also claim that the consumptive
power Of the country would be greatly stimu-
lated, and that this fact is very important one
to the producing interests generally.
Edward Atkinson calculates the price of an
adequate supply of food served in the ordinary
way in boarding houses or in workingmen's
families at from 20 to 30 cents day. In penal
institutions the cost is from Ii to Is cents per
day. Factory operatives in Lowell, Mass. are
furnished with twenty-o one meals per week at
from 81. 60 to 81. 90. He says the question how
to live better for the same money will receive
careful attention, and he cites the economic
practices of English housekeepers in support of
the statement that much of the poverty in
American households is due to negligent and ig-
norant cooking. The price of food is half the
price of life. aad half the price of food is wasted
for want Of knowledge how to buy it and how to
cook it.
Some estimates report that there are 5.235
railroad employees on strike on the Gould system.
The number striking in New York city is 1864;
in Cohoes, N. Y, 5000; among the bituminous
coal miners, 1900; there are 5000 nailers
on strike in the West and 1850 workers
strike in New England. of whom 4 100 are in
the boot and shoe industry. TO in cotton goods
mills. 300 in the metal trades. $50 in the woolen
goods mills and 725 in carriage shops cutlery
works and other industries About 5000 men
are on strike in Pittsburg, Chicago and it three
strike is estimated at So, 538. But the worst is
over. 1t is certainly surprising that so much
newspaper talk is made over the fact that one
laborer in 120 is on strike. The other 1l9, from
statistical statements, seem to be at work and
have very little to say. Much of the unrest Is,
no doubt, due to the unintentional stimulus
given to labor agitation by the newspaper press,
which is the best support that the labor leaders
have been receiving
The value and desirability Of labor organza-
ton have been clearly exemplfed by the COM
parative exemption of strikes in those trades
which are most compactly organized, such
the iron and steel workers. the locomotive en-
gineers and firemen, the anthracite miners, and
others that might be mentioned. The opposi-
ton to labor organization is well meant, but in
the long run it is short, sighted.
a ell-attended convention, according to pres
emit indications. will be held in Chicago next
month, of employers who desire to take steps to
protect themselves against organized labor. La
Dor leaders have always said that there would lie
fewer strikes, and that these few strikes would
be more promptly and moro satisfactorily settled.
if employers were compactly organized. What
Is more needed among employers ia an organza-
ton of their respective trades rather than an at
tempt at federation of employers of different
trades. This convention will accomplish moth
ing. There is much room for and need OF or
ganiZation of the other kind.
The suggestion has been made that the police
force throughout the country be organized into
| assemblies under the knights of Labor, but it
is an impracticable one A great many employ
ers who have refused to yield directly to their
workmen, have done so through the help of out
side parties representing labor organizations
Already a great deal of projected work has
been postponed until labor troubles are over.
Architects and builders in this city feel much
annoyed, in several instances, over the abrupt
termination Of work in hand The same COM
plant is made in the building trades in other
cities. Several very important contracts in
New York city are being held in allegiance, but
it is probable that the work will 60 on as soon as
projectors feel that they are SAFE
Three labor bills are before the Albany Legis-
lature one on arbitration, one on State printing
and ona on convict labor; great deal of inter
est is felt in the latter, because there are 5000
convicts in the State prison. The New York
public are being educated very slowly up to the
necessity of doing shopping within fixed hours
Mayor Grace and several dgntarios of the
Catholic church addressed large meeting on
Monday in New York, in favor of the Saturday
halfholiday. The proprietor of a New York
concert hall paid 81 900 for the pleasure OF hav-
ing his establishment boycotted until he gave
in. The New York bakers have resolved to
work only ten hours after May l. All the build
ing trades of New York and Brooklyn have
adopted the nine hour day, except the cabinet
eight-hour day. The car drivers have won
twelve hours. but there are good many trades
still working fourteen to sixteen hours.
The Chamber of Commerce of Wheeling. W.
Va, has passed a resolution appealing to all sim
liar bodies in the country to unite in sys-
tematic effort to stamp out boycotting.
A meeting Of 200 butchers was held last week
in Cleveland, at which it was agreed to close
their shops every evening at from April l, ex-
cepting on Saturdays
A grand eight-hour meeting is to be held to-
night in the New Era Hail. in Boston. and
mass meeting of carpenters will also be held to
agitate the same subject The brcklayers held
meeting on Tuesday and gathered in about all
the rest of their craft, and Observation-Disclosures
have done the same.
Treyellick has been lecturing in North Caro-