The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-05-01
IN THE LABOR WORLD.
THE OUTLOOK is FOR MORE AND
GREATER STRIKES.

The Situation Admitted to Be One of the
Most Serious that Have Ever Confronted
Wage Workers and Employers-Govern-
1nent Aid Invoked by Non Union Car
penters at Chicago.
New York dispatch: Bradstreet says:
''The industrial outlook has not i'm
proved at all during the last week. In
fact, signs of restlessness among the
wage workers h ave become more conspic-
uous, 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, swelled as it has
| been by the necessary idleneSs of nearly
| &C, 900 other workers in allied TRADES, has
| already been noted. The numberof idle
men has now been augmented by the
strike Of 1900 brickmakers and brick
yard laborers for shorter hours and
more pay. Late advices would seem to
| point to the uneasiness of labor in other
lines in that city, and this is likely to
eliminate May in one of the greatest
| strikes on record.
''Nearly 10000 packing house en-
/
| 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 out or 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.
''The effect of such a 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 to be
pursued by the federation in it's fight for
an eight-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-
| velOpments at Chicago and Indianapolis
prove their expectations to have been
unfounded.' He claims that the wealth,
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. Diffusing
! organized labor strength in various
| movements, he thinks, means final de-
| featafor all.
/ ''MOney is said to 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,
| Ill. Nearly 1,5OO coal miners are out
| in the Connellsville region, owing
to 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 1 is
not of the best. The carpenters and
other building trades at Boston, Mil
waukee, Birmingham, Ala, and Lam
| caster, Pa, are on record as proposing
| to strike for shorter hours on that date.
All in 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 1876, involving 49,,
! $50 employees, whereas last year during
| the same month there were only 81
strikes, involving 12,193 employees
Since Jan. 1 this year there have been
| 3O3 strikes, involving 6G,142 men, while
in the first four months of last year
| there were only 221 strikes, involving
| 4s, 924 persons"
| y 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 hay
ing recently come here from
other States were outrageously treated
by the police. A committee was APP
pointed to draft suitable petition and
forward it to Secretary of State Blaine
Immediately. The committee brought
in the following, which was adopted
unanimously and sent on to Washing
| ton:
ITO the Honorable the Secretary of
State OF the United States, Washington,
D. GIVE, your petitioners of the city
of Chicago, being tradesmen and bona
6de 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 in the eX-
ercise of our constitutional rights, now
| denied by a mob of riotous outlaws who
! defy the authorities and who main
tain reign of terror over those who
| differ with them on questions of trades