The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-04-21
AIN EVENTFUL BATTLE
The Impending Struggle Between
Capital and Labor.
BUSINESS WILL BE PARALYzED.
Over Hundred and Twenty-Five
Thousand Workers Ready TO Strike
for the Eight Hour Day or In.
creased Compensation on May 4.
Capital Firm and UnyieIding.


/. PTTsBURa, April 2l.-Over a hundred
and twenty five thousand men are ready
TO strike for eight hours per work day,
or an increase of wages, on the morning
Of May next. The most eventful May
day labor ever had will occur this year.
Ominous mutterings from all over the
civilized world indicate the coming Of
the hercest battle that has yet been
fought between capital and labor. The
growing difcontent among worlmen of
every class has reached its elimination,
and Operators not only In The great cities
OF this country. but in Europe, have
been warned that on May the storm
will be upon them. The coal mines,
building, iron mills, carriage works and
stone quarrios OF the land will benumbed
with paralysis. The end Of the bitter
struggle cannot be seen at this distance.
In addition to the army of men who
will I've directly affected There Is another
army twice as large which has been af-
fected by these unprecedented agitations,
and which will continue to be affected
long after the trouble in sight is past.
The Pennsylvania railroad has already
begun sweeping dismissal of employees
and reduction of its working force. As
far east as Jersey City aud all along its
network Of lines men are laid off on Sat
urdays.
In the Coal Trade.
The bitulninous coal trade has suffered
o terrible blow from the co.xe strike, and
will suffer a greater one ON May |. As
far rs is known mp TO this time the eight
hour strike of May will be Joined by
the $1,000 bituminous miners Of the
Cleartield, Huntingdon and Broad Top
region and the 10000 men in what Is
known as the Pittsburg district of rail-
road miners. The 10000 coal miners of
Ohio, West Virginia. Indiana and Hi
nois are also in the movement, and most
Of them will make stand for the eight
hour day.
In New York the situation is alarm
ing, nnd half dozen trades unions will
go out of work on the refusal of an
eight hour day AT St. Louis the out
look Is black. Carpenters, marble cut
ters, carriage lnakers and others are in
line with the army uf strikers, and will
listen to no compromise. The stone
lnaHons and marble cutters of Pittsburg
went out yesterday on the shorter day
issue, and Other unions are prepared 10
follow. In Baltimore the stone cutters
have set their teeth in the face of en-
ployers, and unless their requisition is
heard before May | they will march in
the host Of the idle. The situation in
New England is far from bright. Boston
worlmen want a nine hour day and
more pay, and the smaller cities are in
sympathy Excepting the miners, tho
trouble does not appear to be dangerous
In Cincinnati and Cleveland.
1t viii BE Stubborn Fight.
In Philadelphia everything seems
peaceful. The carpenters, stone masons
and brieklayers hive fought their fights
and won. But in tire smaller towns in
this section the same discontented feel
ire that has stirred mp the French So
cialist and will place $4,000 London
workinen in labor parade on May l is
nrousing them To make the stubbornest
fight of their lives.
At all points capital is firm and un-
yielding, So far not whisper has gone
forth from the employers TO Indicate a
desire on their part to compromise.
The following table shows IN figures
the worllncn in leading cities who will
go out on May 1:
Coal Mines
In Pennsy sylvanla, Ohio, Indiana, Illi-
nois and West Virginia Estimated. 1900
New York
brlcklayers helpers. ..... a1OO
Bricklayers. .......... ................. 5O0O
Housesmiths =. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 3,UO0
Marble polishers and stone sawyars. ,a0O
Furniture workers. q. -. 5000
Varnishers. .......- ................... 1000
Machine woodworkers,...... 400
Baltimore
stonccutters ,.......................... 1000
Pittsburg-
Carpenters. .................... ........ 5000
81. Louis