Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-13
Good That May be Done at Rich
mond.


The strike in the Chicago stock yards
and pork packing establishments is grow
ing ID proportions. There are now some
thing like 10000 men idle. The hope Is
expressed by some that the difficulty be-
tween packers and strikers will soon be
settled. Ii it is not there will shortly be
considerable suffering among those who
draw their income from the pork and beef
packing industries.
The difficulty is about the number OF
hours which shall constitute a days
work. The packers insist upon ten hours
and the strikers refuse to work more than
eight unless their wages are increased IN
proportion to the increased hours re-
quired of them. When the eight-hour
system was adopted some months ago the
packers said that they would give it
trial, and that if it proved to be satisfac-
tory they would adopt 1t permanently.
They now claim to have given it
fair trial, and that it threatens to ruin
them. They cannot compete with Kansas
City and some other points where the ten
hour system prevails.
II it be true that the packers are losing
money, and that they cannot compete with
the ten-hOur packing establishments in
other cities, it is hardly probable that
they will recede from the stand they have
taken. 1t would be foolish for them to
conduct business which promises moth
ing but loss. 1t is evident that packing
establishments which get only eight hours
labor a day cannot compete with those
which get ten hours, assuming, of course,
that those who work eight hours get the
same wages as those who work ten hours.
Under the circumstances are the strikers
acting wisely? They hope, of course, to
force the packers to come to their terms.
Their hope may be realized, but just at
present it doesn't look as If it would.
They would stand better chance for
success if the packers at Kansas City, and
other points where the ten-hour system
prevails, could be induced to adopt the
eight-hour system. The ruinous compe-
titioa from which Chicago suffers would
then be stopped.
The Chicago strikers do not seem TO
take into consideration the question OF
eight-hour system. They demand so
much money for so many hours work,
and 1t appears to be a matter of indiffer-
ence to them whether the packing bust
ness can bear their demand or not.
If the packers have stated the facts
about their business there can be but one
outcome to the strike. The strikers will
go back to work at the old wages. Be-
fore they reach that point, however, they
may lose good many days wages and
may damage the packers many thousands
OF dollars. II, however, the packers have
not stated the truth about their business
the strikers may gain some concessions.
Would not the strikers have acted wisely
If they had made an appeal for arbitra-
ton before adopting extreme measuresf
1t may be that they did not want to agree
to the ten-hour system even if they found
that the prosperity of the business re-
| quired it.
1t will not be denied that strikes have
done trade incalculable damage within
the last year or two, and, that too, with
out doing workingmen any particular
good. Workingmen appear to regard
business men as their natural enemies,
| although dependent upon them. Their
strikes have had a depressing effect upon
business, and made it less possible for
| employers to meet the demands of en-
ployes. If some way is not found to set
tie labor differences without resorting to
strikes and boycotts, workingmen will
find, notwithstanding labor combinations,
their compensation gradually decreasing.
| When business is not prosperous it is i'm
| possible to pay good wages, and labor dis
turbances certainly tend to depress bust
ness.
The thing that the Richmond conven-
ton should strive to do is to bring about
more harmonious relations between en-
ployers and employees. 1t should, If pos
sible, arrange for the settlement OF labor
difficulties without disturbing trade. TIE
mills at Augusta, for instance, have been
practically idle for weeks. and the trade
of the city has been greatly hurt. The
business OF The mills has been damaged
and the strikers have gained nothing and
are not likely to gain anything. Unless
| there is a settlement of the difficulties
soon there will be suffering among the
strikers.
| If there is power for good in the Knights
OF Labor organization let 1t be exerted
| towards preventing disturbances, which
are disastrous to business men and
workingmen alike. Thus far the effect OF
the organization has been, apparently. to
increase the magnitude Of the disturb