New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-29
LABOR MOVEMENTS IN 1886.

The year 1886 has been distinguished by re-
markable uprisings of organized labor 1t Is
now clear that the year will end without
evidence that the organized workers have
gained any thing ON the whole by these sur
prising efforts. They have startled the country
by their demonstrations of political power.
But the Democratic party retains control of the
city government Oe New York and of the House
of Representatives, and is expected to elect Mr.
Carlisle Speaker, so that a committee named by
him will pass upon the claims of the Knights of
Labor who contest the seats of Mr.. Carlisle and
Mr.. Lawler. The industrial movements of the
wear have been even more striking, but hardly
more fruitful according to present appear
ances. 1t has been a year of many and severe
contests between workers and employers, and
the numbers of the Knights have been greatly
increased, and federation of trades unions
has also been formed. But the struggles nave
generally ended without material advantage
for the workers the dictatorial spirit shown
in many strikes and bOycotts has prevented, in
no one can tell how many cases, voluntary
concessions by employers, and 1t may fairly be
questioned whether the working force has
gained az much on the whole, in wages or In
terms of employment, AS it would have gained
in a year of marked Improvement in business
without any organization W hatever
The organized workers, no doubt, Will be
advised by their leaders that the year has been
one of great gains for them. Discrei table and
cripDling defeats, like that in the Missouri
Pacific struggle, will be explained as due to
mistakes The fact that they have harmed the
cause of all labor greatly will not be acknOw-
IL il HI FIR hat ma
great strikes of the year have nearly all failed
in their essential Objects and the boycott.
which was a weapon much feared when it was
held in reserve for rare emergencies, has been
used this year until it has become to dull for
use. Out of the great number OF minor strikes,
many have succeeded wholly or in part, but
many more have failed. The eight-hOur rule
has been seriously considered but thus far not
adopted for any large proportion or workers.
Ii the gains resulting from many successful
strikes are reckoned, the losses must not De
forgotten, and the workers should also remem-
Der that Improvement III business. such as has
occurre this year. brings better wages to men
not organized, and has brought better wages
this very year to many thousands without the
iuterv enton of any order or uniOn. 1t must
therefore remain a serious question whether
organization has gained for the men more than
would have been gained without it, and mean
while the cost has been great and Il hourly
increasing.
In the political field the net result so far il
defeat of labor candi lates in almost every
Important contest, although the laborers had a
clear naj prity of votes in every case had they
been united. The attention Of the whole
Nation has thus been called to the vital fact
that the labor vote mainly prefers to adhere to
the great parties, and Is not united In its
purposes. Ii has been unfortunate for the
future of the labor movement in politics that
it became identified here with Free Trade
opinions, aud the use of the labor organization
for political ends has kndled much opposition
among the members. Indeed, Mr.. Powderly
seems to have been not far wrong when he
said, years ago, that ii the workers attempted
to form a political party of their own, they
would thereby take an attitu ie of hostility to
large proportion of their own Der. and so
would impair their influence in all other
directions