The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-23

been sold and delivered which could not be du-
plicated at the prices paid. In New York bust
ness Is slow. II Philadelphia it is no better
Several inventors are devising improved ele-
waited railways. The Mack elevated railway is
one of the latest. Manufacturers of structural
iron, who have been giving particular attention
to the possibilities OF elevated railway building
throughout the country, are of the opinion that
the demand for this kind of railway building will
very greatly increase within the next twelve or
eighteen months.
A crop of small cooperative concerns are now
passing through the Group period. Ii they live
long enough to enter the measles period there
will be some hopes of their continued existence.
Most OF these new enterprises are better man
aged than in former years. and are backed up
with more money Besides, there is less opposi-
tlon from other competing interests, and they
have a better chance in the market
At Hamilton. Ont. the manager of the Grand
Trunk railroad has restored the 10 Per cent. cut.
AT a mass meeting there, the eighthour system
was voted to be inaueurated May l.
In the Otis steel works, Cleveland, thirty-nine
accidents occurred among 600 men in January.
and I'D to the middle of last week thirty-two &C.
Cured this month. The men pay their own sur
geon to patch them together.
Dangers That Menace the Knights of Labor.
Interview with Hugh T. McMurtry OF st. Louis
do not speak with authority nor for any one
but myself but speak from knowledge &C
quired during almost quarter Of a century OF
work in behalf of organized labor. l know of
no movement on foot to bring about general
seems to be in the air. and some people will en-
deavor to make trouble.
The question is now not one Of wages. AS q
rule, workmen, especially skilled workmen who
have employment, are adequately paid, but it is
question of hours of labor. The eight-hour
movement is agitating all the assemblies of the
Knights of Labor and al trsdes-unions. But as
yet the matter has not assumed the proportions
Of an organized or concerted effort to bring down
the hours Workmen are united only on the
idea that the increase of labor saving machinery
has made it necessary to reduce the hours of
labor in order that more men may fno the means
OF earning livelihood, but how to bring about
this reduction has not been determined The
Knights of Labor is now one of the most pow
erful bodies on earth, and its phenomenal growth
to such enormous proportions is source of
weakness Nearly all trades and labor unions
are now organized under the auspices of this
giant. and should any strike start this spring or
summer it will bs Knights of Labor affair, and
will spread with lichtnlng.like rapidity all over
the country. When l said source of weakness
spoke advisealy, for this immense body of work
people has inherent weaknesses that believe
even at this time threaten its very existence.
Even now believe the organization is about
TO break IN two IN the middle, simply OF It's own
weight It has grown too rapidly, the sole
object being to increase the number of its mem
bers. regardless of all other features Political
demagogues have got into it, and there are
already fights under the surface everywhere for
the control locally of the assemblies But the
worst feature is that reckless men of very low
grade of intelligence, and men of turbulent and
criminal characteristics have gained admission
to the order in such numbers that there are
everywhere advocates of agitation and men eager
to strike the least even on no provocaticn.
mo; i do not think socialism has attained
footnold in any labor organizations. or course,
in nearly all lodges or assemblies there can be
found one or nero members who are Socialists.
and. of course, they seek to promnlgate their
been cogn;zant they have been promptly sat
down on, and that very hard.
Another thing that is assuming threatening
proportions is convict contract labor; on this
again work people are agreed. The main idea is
that criminals should not be permitted to take
the means of getting bread from honest men
who are willing to work They are agreed also
that this competition shall be stopped, but they
are not agreed as to how iG can be done or az to
what shall be done with the inmates of the pris
ons. This matter, know will be prominent
feature in the labor question that calls for inn
mediate solution, and will be brought to the
front this spring, and it is one of thu things on
which the professional agitators will have much
of their work. To sum up, after careful
vey of the situation. will say that hope there
will be no trouble of serious nature. out very
much fear that the railroad men will get into
deep water and drag the entire knights of Labor
with them"