New-York tribune., 1886-01-23
TAROR 4ND ITS W1RS.

The latest news in the world of Labor is not
of good omen for the interests OF the workers.
The cigarmakers show disposition to reject
the arbitration which the employers invite.
The consequence is that public opinion will not
conclude that they are conscious of right on
their side.
The spinners end weavers at Fall River are
about to strike, apparently, for an advance OF
10 per cent in wages. The employers hold
that they cannot afford TO pay more, because
they already pay higher wages than competing
works in other cities. They say, too, that the
nresent price of print cloth, 3li cents, Is
exceedingly low; that still lower prices have
nreyailed for a long time, so that mills have
had no chance to make good past losses. On
thc other hand it is stated that the fret reduc-
tion of 10 per cent in wages was made two
wears ago in February, and that second has
since been made. In February, 1884, low
miidling cotton sold at lOas cents ut the begin
nino, and 1Olo Mt the end of the month, and
nrint clothp at 3.G3 at the beginning and 3.47
ot the end of the month. Bnt now the same
quality of cotton sells at S.S7 cents and the
same quality of print cloth at 3.25. Little
Gpuring is required to show that the margin for
profit to the manufacturer is greater now than
it was before the first reduction of wages. The
workers only ask, if their statements are
correct, a restoration Of half the reduction
made in the two years. IL would seem that in
n case like this the workers ought to be ready
to submit to a fair and impartial arbitration,
and if the employers should refuse, public
opinion would not support them.
The workers of the Edgar Thompson steel
works have once more refused the terms
proppscd, and the works are closed again.
This also seems to be a case for arbitration, and
one does not understand how the men can be
ayerse to it, They claim that the works have
advanced prices from $2S to $50 per ton for
steel rails, or % per cent, since last June. and
that an advance of 10 per cent in wages, if
niyen TO all the men, would not be O fair share.
The employers urge that the advance in prices
may not be lasting. The truth is that it has
been effected by a combination of the steel rail
makers, and they are just rs able TO maintain
present prices as they were to advance prices
from 1913. The Braddock works also have an
enormous advantage in the use of natural gas
for fuel, which ought 10 enable them to produce
more cheaply, and therefore to afford better
wages to workers than most other concerns.
The riotous conduct of the Hungarian ard
other workers in the coke region deprives them
of public sympathy. If they had conducted
themselves decenty it might be. said in theiI
| behalf that the combination of producers in this
case also has advanced the price of the product
greatly, and that the coke workers have not yet
! shared in the benefit. Bat the competition 0i
natural gas is diminishing the demand for cokl
as fuel, and it may be that the producers, lik'
the mine operators of the Monongahela, arr
really unable to meet competition and emplo,
a fairy full force Of laborers with higher
wages. The brutal aud violent behavior OF th'
strikers, however, indicates that reasoning OIL
either side would be wasted Oh them, ant