The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-05-07
IN THE LABOR WORLD.
THE OUTLOOK Is FOR MORE AND
GREATER STRIKES.

ne Situatiou AumttteU 10 DO One Of tn0
Most Serious that Have Ever Confronted
Wage Workers and Empioyers--Govern-
ment Aid Invoked by n-Union Car
penters at Chicago.
New York dispatch: Bradstrset says:
THE industrial outlook has not i'm
proved at all during the last week. In
fact, signs OF restlessness among the
wage-workers have become more conspic-
nous. the number of strikes reported be-
ing larger than during any previous
week for nearly two years. BY far the
most serious outlook is that reported
| from Chicago The strike of 5000 car
penters at that city, sweled as 1t has
been by the necessary idleness OF nearly
10000 other workers I'm allied trades, has
| already been noted. The number of idle
men has now been augmented by the
strike OF 1000 brickmakers and brick
| yard laborers for shorter hours and
more pay. Late advices would seem TO
! point TO the uneasiness Of labor I'm other
| lines in that city, and this is likely to
eliminate May ia one of the greatest
strikes on record.
NEARLY 20, 600 packing house en-
| ployes at Chicago are said to contemp-
late strike for the eight-hour day.
| Harness-makcrs, clothing workers,
| (women), shareholders, and other artis-
ans have either already announced their
intention OF going outor are said TO con-
template such action. This action on
the part OF so many trades is alleged TO
be against the advice Of leaders, who are
on record as opposing strikes for the
eight-hour day in any but the building
trades.
1.-THE effect OF such n widespread
strike upon Chicago industries can not
| fail to be hurtful. That the wholesale
strike Is against the advice of the
American Federation of Labor Is proved
| by the issuance this week of circular
TO the wage-workerS by Samuel Com
| pers, president of that organization. in
| this circular he outlines the action 10 be
| pursued by the federation in its fight for
an elght-hour day. Early advices,'
Mr.. Gompers says, mad led the officers
! Of this body to expect that the building
| trades employers would meet the men
half way In their efforts TO adjust the
hours OF labor, but recent de-
vclopments at Chicago and indianapolis
| prove their expectations to have been
unfounded.' He claims that the wealth,
| power and influence Of the employing
and corporate classes OF the country are
to be concentrated TO defeat the move
ment, and therefore recommends that
action toward securing shorter hours in
other trades be deferred until the build
! ing trades fight is settled. DifTusing
organized labor strength in various
| movements, he thinks, means final de-
| feat for all.
money is said 90 be urgently need
ed While the situation in Chicago Is
sufficiently grave, that outside of that
city Is only a little better, at least so
! far as the building trades are concerned.
Strikes OF building or kindred trades for
an eight-hour day are reported from
Sharon, Pa; Portland, Ore; Indianap-
oils, Ind; New York city, and Joliet,
! III. Nearly 1900 coal miners are out
in the Connellsville region, owing
10 wage difficulties. This stoppage
of production is said to threaten
the suspension of blast furnaces
in Cleveland dependent upon this
source for coke for fuel The situation
as regards general strike on May l is
rot Of the best. The carpenters and
other building trades at Boston, Mil
waullee, Birmingham, Ala, and Ian
caster Pa, are on record as proposing
to strike for shorter hours on that date.
All i'm all, the situation in labor mat
tiers is more strained than for several
years, and the outcome Of the present
concerted movement will be watched
with interest. The total number Of
strikes in April was 126, involving 49,
s53 employees, whereas last year during
the same month there were only 81
strikes, involving 12,193 employees
Since Jan. this year there have been
3O3 strikes, involving Sc, l42 men, while
in the first four months Of last year
there were only Cpl strikes, involving
1924 persons"
Chicago Dispatch A number OF the
non-union men who claim TO have been
roughly handled by striking carpenters
have appealed to the United States
government for protection. A secret
meeting, at which large number of
| non-union carpenters were present. was
| held on the South side. They had been
told by contractor that those
who were from other States could
appeal to the United States au-
thorities for protection if they
were not protected by Chicago or Illinois
authorities. Some Of the men claimed
that they had been driven from buildings
by strikers and that they hav-
ing recently come here from
| OJncr states were CuJTdgeOusly treated
by the police. A committee was APP
pointed TO draft a suitable petition and
forward it to Secretary of State Blaine
Immediately. The committee brought
i'm the following, which was adopted
unanimously and sent on to Washing
ton:
ITO the Honorable the Secretary OF
State OF the United States, Washington,
ID. GIVE, your petitioners of the city
OF Chicago, being tradesmen and bona
fide citizens of the United States, now
by intimidation, threats, and actual
violence, being prevented from
following our avocatlons to the
great injury of ourselves and families.
humbly petition the government Of the
United States for protection I'm the ex-
ercise OF our constitutional rights. now
denied by mob Of riotous outlaws, who
defy the authorities and who main
tain q reign of terror over those who
differ with them on questions of trades
unions.
I'VE also state that the above state Of
affairs has already continued for several
weeks and that we have no protection
of city or State authorities here; hence
we petition your honor that protection