The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-05-01
GREATLY STRAINED.
DIadstreet Says u . SItuatlon In Labor
lircie> Is AiasminG-A Keview.
New York, April 26.-Bradstreets
| - IL

New YORK, April 26.-Bradstreets
sayJ OF the labor troubles:
The Industrial outlook has not improved st
oil this week. In fact signs Of re.tlessness
among the wageworkers have become more
conspicuous, the number Of strik = reported
boing larger than during any previous week for
nearly two years. BY far the most
serious outlook Is that reported from
Chicago. The strike OF 5.0D carpenters at that
idleness Of nearly 1000 other workers In
allied trades, has already been noted.
The number OF idle men has now been mug
mented by tire strike OF 1900 brick.mnkcrs
and brick yard laborers for shorter hours and
more pay. Late aiyices would seem TO point
TO the uueasincss Of labor in etier lines at that
city. and this Is likely to culminate on May In
one Of the greatest strikes on record.
Nearly 5000 packing house employees at Chit
eago are said to contemplate strike for the
eight hour day. Harness-makers. clothing
workers fwomen) stairbuildcrs, gasht-
tiers, iro0-molders, shocmakers and other
artisans have either already announced
their intention Of going out or are con
templnting such action This action on the
the advice Of leaders, who are on record as op-
posing strikes for the eight-hour day In any but
the building trades.
THE effect or such widespread strike uron
Chicago industries can not fail to be hurtfuL
That the Wholesale st,tke is against the ads ice
Of the American Federation OF Labor Is proved
by the issuance this week OF . circular to I ,e
wage.workers by Samuel Gompers. president
OF that organization.
Money 1t Is said Is urgently needed. While
the situation in Chicago Is sufficiently grave,
that outside Of that city Is only little bet
ter, at least SO far as the building trades
are conc i ned. Strikes OF building hands
or kindred trades for an eight hour
day are reported from Sharon Pa;
Portland, Ore; Indianapolis, Ind; New York
City and Joliet III. Nearly l,5D coal miners
ore out In the Conncllsville region owing 10
wage di1iculties. This stoppage Of production
IL said 70 threaten the suspension OF blast fur
naces In Cleveland dependent upon this
source for coke for fuel. Tho situation
as regards general strike on May 10 not Of
the best. The carpenters and other building
trades at Boston Milwaukee. Birmingham. Ala,
and Lancaster, Pa, are on record as proposing
70 strike for shorter hours ON that date.
More cheerful advices are received from In
dianapolis and Wheeling. where the men have
practically gained their point and gone back to
work At Louisville. Philadelphia and Port
land Me-. it is said, no strike will occur, the
employers have agreed on an amicable arrange
ment with their men.
"All in all, the situation In labor matters II
more strained than for several years. and the
outcome Of the present concerted movement
will be watched with interest. The total mum
her OF strikes in April was l26. involving g, ,;I
employees, whereas last year during the
same month there were only sixty-onc strikes
involving 1908 employees. Since January
this year there have been 308 strikes, involving
&C. IA: men, while in the first four months OF las,
year there were only 22i strikes, involving 4S.
Q2A perSOnS. =.