The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-10-27
STRIkE En- IN JTaLY.
Interesting Record of Labor Organizations
Growth and Az re ssivenesa.

ROME, Oct 1O.-Statistics OF strikes are
making I'M officially in almost every Eu-
rorean country. England took the lead
In this matter with n Blue Book" pub
lished In 1900. 1t was not very we'll prepared,
but imperfect as it was it suriccd to show that
the strikes OF 1890. numbered by thousands.
had seriously affected the PROFITS OF most OF
tho leading industries OF England inthat year.
An Italian official. Commander Bodio. Direc-
tor-General OF tho Statistical Department.
Inns lust issued a report on tho strikes In
Italy from 3 to 1891. which goes to show
that In Italy tho strike rs n weapon
has SO lar not made much impression on
the organization OF Italian industry. White
tho strike is an Indigenous institution in
England. it is an exotic in Italy. 1t has no.
where In that country apparently taken firm
hold OF tho popular mind.
In the eighteen years between 1850 md 1873.
according 10 Commander oiir.there were only
400 strikes In nll Italy. which l. Mt the ratio Of
only n little moro than twcnty-sevcn per an
nun. They gradually increased in number
ur to 1886. There was n failing of in 1897.
aud II rapid increase again from 1883 up to
1870 Tho largest number OF strikes ever
known In II year in Italy were organized in
1870. but even then they only numbered 13i
Between 1878 and 1871 Commander Bodio
finds that Of 1.02D strikes more than halE. Dab.
wero organized to secure an increase in
the rate u wages. 6t TO secure a diminution in
tho hours OF labor. no to resist n reduction OF
wages. lB to resist an increase in the
hours Of labor. and POI. a very large
percentage. to settle disputes between
tho wage rarners md the employers
about discipline. management. modes and
forms OF payment. and personal questions
ARISING out "l. changes proposed or desired in
the organization. OF tn, different Industries
concerned. Strikes brought about to sup
port md ENCOURAGE strikes already existing
ftr;kcs. lnve 50 lar been cxcr"iingly rare in
naly.. Asto the result OF strikes. the Italian
record is not encouraging from the point If
y.rW OF TIE wage carriers out If Loco
only IA. hnrdl? II rcr cent. ended by a
triumph OF. til. wag" cnrners. 44S ended I'M
@@HS Snarrssy we're 1T , .n.y. |I ,Si,h "a!n tGs wn a.s el in sIs
Whit NY wanted: Ths ininsirisss most 'St-
mines. n,cta.lGrsy. and machine shops.
idMt the m"st imrortrmt strikes have
l.ubiic WORKS. which have Leen going on in
thc various Italian cities So literally: and. as
% @1rs ls"'isS ', sincs ;m. t s;;sn, to think III i. 50
:lanlrhtary Gnvcrnm"nt over the whole pen.
insnln. Possibly The strikes on tho rail-
Mnsati-fart".y condition of tn. Italian railway
ilnnnccs under the s,Sicm adopted by that
BY private, connaniss. Tie network 81 tho
n n,".ln" f f"r' 1xnm, H. is na nS r tnG Nc sM u, 4. T.,s
resented. aud the 'Ahriatic;"" at lie ' rate Of i less
l.nnlhardy and Piedmont are the Chief the.
atIn o. tn" italian %st,ik;s. out q 1.U3o
those. almost exclusively in the mining in.
dus,ri"s Of tina: island: many Of which
GI n tia. carrie" local on industry sf 'S OF Srira G"1!,tsI's, So
h"urishing in sicily. no strikes are yet
reported although ii 1t be true. as it seems
carn"rs in the rural districts upon. II basis II
"%nlitnl owned in tne large towns there would
nrignn!s.. who take the risks. should not
upstriks' Tor " Larger percentage in the profits;
ofth" at;a"s VIII MIic iot Il. 6 G5 SasI M 2a' is te now
making on this Sirilian industry. our latest
ndiiccs report nearly two hundred arrests in
be c ritalists
The nUmIer Of wage eerners taking Part
strikes. This, is a noteworthy feature, of
! !.S 1'" JIG ca s''Ha!1GSi 1 Svi iss 'G tt to te 1873 tas
ssT n"m Never o. excs wassi ff""r1n%sG5s nut IN 1883 e
DOC. In 1891 no icwer than II 1000 wage earn
ers went out in - strikes. q which alone.
Tlr most important Of these strikes of
If 1T Mi M%re w The S'1 RI s;,d in M the Machlhe os shor ta
which 1000 wage carncrs went out: tho
;t;iSc OF ,he wrayers at Schio. IN which
100 went ont: tn" strike Of the cigar
makers at Naples. IN which 2.OUn wage earn
crS went ont for ten days: tn" strike of tho
female wcaNcrs at Como. in which more than
1000 went out for n fortnight. aud the strike
Of the tanners at Genoa. Q! whom 500 went
ont. Most OF the Italian strikes huv. been
Of very brief duration; whirl, seems to indi-
cato either that the savings OF the
waIC earners ,2rG scrnty or ,whi.h
wage earn"r-. like tho French peasants.
have no; much faith in cooperation. In tho
whole record Of Italian strikes only l2i
have lnsted thrc" months out "t 1913 tho dura-
ton Of which has been precisely ascortuin"d.
whi'cG2l ended in less than four days. One
OF the most i'm purtant ASPECTS OF the strike
system finds n" place in Commander Bolio's
rcIort. Although since 1891 the system OF
strikes las taken on u decidedly socialistic
turn in the rIlra! districts Of Italy. Commander
Eodin ellis us nothing about the agricultural
strikes.
Now that Mr.. Joseph Arch. the great chief OF
tho famous Warwirkshira strikes of twenty
year rs ago. has got himself reelected n member
nfihe British .Parlinment. 1t is probable that
ltllinn politicians may soon soc their way to
utilizing the principle OF strikes In tho great
rural industries. which are after all tho MAIN
stay II labor and Of national wealth in the
Italian peninsula.