The morning call., 1890-10-31
A GIGANTIC STRIKE.
Nearly Fifty Thousand Hen Out
of Work in Australia.
Industries Shut Down and Millions Of Dollars
Lying Idle-Capitalists Sending Vast
Sums Out of the Country.

Latest advices from the antipodes are that
the strike among the laboring classes in the
Australian provinces have assumed such
gigantic proportions that every industry Is
at standstill. Nearly $4,000 men are out
employment, and about S30,000,GO0 that
would have been at once expended in WORK
is lying idle. From Carl Won Warberg, one
of the most extensive railroad and govern
ment contractors in the world, who recently
arrived on the steamship Zealandia, a state
ment Of the labor troubles in Australia was
obtained yesterday.
"A true statement of affairs at the time
left Melbourne 9 month ago." began MI.
Won Warberg, would be read with great
interest. To begin at the commencement OF
the present troubles / will state that the
working classes formed a union. Each man
paid an initiation fee of $25 and dollar a
week to form a striking fund. They founded
trade halls where labor union officials sit as
advisors of the strikers.
First the workingmen demanded that
| eight hours constitute days work, ana
this was complied with. Now they ask that
! the present wages, which are about 81 day
| for laborers and So for mechanics, be IN
creased. They also ask employers TO hire
no one who does not belong TO their union.
Recently additi, ma! trouble was caused by a
| conf plant that the men on the intercolonlal
| vessels were not paid enough.
EMPLOYERS REFUSED TERMS.
''Ship-Owners were informed that common
seamen received higher wages than the sec
| cond and third mates and other petty OH
GERS of vessels. The ship-ownerS refused 10
increase wages and these officers marched
| in body to the trade halls, handed in their
| certificates and put themselves under The
| protection of the union. The trade halls
requested masters and owners of vessels,
! particularly of ocean steamers. to come TO
! terms, but the employe refused
The labor union at once called out all sea-
| fariug men, Sievedores and Ion ShOremen.
| Then the stokeiS Of the gas companies were
| called out and for TWO nights tile streets OF
! the principal towns and cities were III total
darkness. All the men employed IN the
| various industries also followed suit and
| Joined the strikers.
| This peculiar condition of affairs caused
| the Colonial Parliament to sit In special SEES
sion at Melbourne. 1t was decided to call
out The militia, horse police ami swear in
many private constables. Soon there were
2UC0 troops and 10000 special cOnsIables,
WHO were divided into divisions al d STA
toned at Melbourne, Sydney and New
castle. l was at Melbourne while the streets
were in darkness. There was great con-
luS4OI III lllc uOtSIS anu OA tIIt slittb CIoso-
ings until electric lights were hastily put up.
GREAT DEMAND FOR MEN.
$50 great was the demand for men at the
wharyes that the wool dealers sent their
| clerks and book-keepers TO load and dis
charge vessels. One afternoon two Of the
clerks were seized by strikers and ducked
| in watering trough. For this J1iense
twenty OF the strikers were arrested. Some
were fined from $50 to 500, aud others sen
fenced To three months Imprisonment With
! out the alternative OF fine.
The coal-uinerS OF Newcastle were or
| Gered out, and about S0C0 Uf them joined the
strike. Then the drivers of carts and nearly
| every one employed in the mines struck.
| The greatest punishment inflicted, or rather
| the most telling card played by the strikers,
was the calling out OF the Sheep-shearerS,
| some 10000 men in all. This was Il severe
blow to the wool-growers, because when the
sheep are ready to be shorn the wool Spots
| If it is not quickly removed.
I'VE have formed an employers union, to
include all employers in Australia and ship
| owners in England, representing capital
| Of SJ00,0C0,0C0. Each member Of the union
| paid a sum to be set aside and held for pro-
| curing labor at any cost W hen | left Aus
tralia the trades unions had about or over
| $1,000 men out on strike, and 10 support these
| men il requires from 100000 10 $500 a
firms where the workinginen had their say
ngs deposited and from foreign countries,
! including England.
| A CONFERENCE DESIRED.
1.-THE principal cause Of difference between
| employe aud employer is the declaration OF
the trades unions that we must employ no
| non-uniun men. The members of our union
| employ the men they require, and are pay
| ing double the usual rates. The trades
| unions now desire Il conference, as they are
short of money. The Employers Union
| will not consent to a conference OF arbitra-
| ton, unless it is with the condition that they
| be permitted to employ any men they choose,
regardless Of unioniSni.
| MANY persons, particularly merchants
| and manufacturers, have become frightened
| at the turbulent condition of affairs, ard
| vast sums are being shipped 10 this country
| and Eng and for investment. Capital that
| would otherwise have been expended in the
| industries OF Australia is being sent away,
| mostly to the old country, but some to the
| United States. Millions IN sOyereigns came
| here on the Zealandia.
II am now constructing the Gnuburn Ma
| tional Water Works for irrigation. and the
| Victorian water supply at cost of over
| g27S.0 For the present, however, this
aud all other Government work is stopped
stopped, and the expenditure of over $780,
| COG. coo is prevented. In Australia the neceS-
sarieS of life are very cheap, and 81 day
| there is better than receiving 81 here.
| BOUND FOR THE CONTINENT.
81 have been employing from 5000 to
| 10000 men. Now | am on trip to certain
foreign countries. What is the object of my
| mission? That is at present secret" was
the reply; but it is believed that Mr.. Won
| Warberg'S destination is Germany, where, 1t
is said, he Will endeavor to procure laborerS