Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-11
HISTORY OF STRIKES.
The Amountof Money Lost in America
Has Been Enormous.
TROUBLES FROM ALL CAUSES,
Hanging From Hours and Wages to the
Privilege Of Smoking.
SOME LONG AND COSTLY CONTESTS

dclphla Since that cate the losses incurred
by emp,oyers and employees through strike:
in this country have been simply incalcula
lie.
Between the years 1881 and 1887, inclu
sive, there occurred q, 51S American strikes
From these, according to the last Govern
nent labor report, published in 1888, tn,
total loss to the strikers was S51, S14, 74a
The earliest strike in America, alluded Il
above, was that of the journeymen boot
or turned ont" as they phrased it, for ar
increase of wages. After two weeks sus
pension of trade their demands were granted,
and this success gained them greater strength
and popularity, so that when they turned
OUT in 179S and again in 1899, for further
increases, they were still successful, and
escaped Indictment. The example of the
sturdy Quaker bootmakers spread rapidly,
and was indirectly the cause of the impor-
tant sailors strike of 1903 Meanwhile the
pioneer strikers of the Philadelphia Shoe
making Guild had been growing more
audacious and on Nov. 1, 1905, they turned
out en- masse for higher wages. The increase
asked for ranged from 25 cents to 75 cents
per pair of boots.
An Early suit for Conspiracy.
This strike lasted seven weeks, and was
signally unsuccessful. In fact, it ended
in a trial for conspiracy brought against the
men by the master cordwainers, one of
whom, Mr.. John Bedford, testified that he
had lost over $1,000 annually through
turns out" ordered by the Journeymen's
Association. The defendants were found
guilty of ''conspiring to raise their wages"
and Recorder Moses Levy sentenced them
TO fine of IS and costs each.
This crushing blow effectually killed
labor organization in Philadelphia for many
wears. The New York shoemakers, how
ever, took up the war and turned out in
1909. Nearly 200 men were engaged in the
strike. At that time a stoppage of work in
one shop was called 'strike, while a
general stoppage was known as general
turnout - The New York strikers were
finally victorious
Six years subsequently. Pittsburg, since
the hotbed of strikes, experienced its first
turnout the ubiquitous shoemakers be-
ing once more the strikers. Their attempt
ended unsuccessfully, and the leaders were
tried, convicted and fined.
In 1921 occurred the first printers strike
1t took place in Albany, n. Y, the Typo
graphical Society of that town striking
against the introduction of non-union
workmen.
For a Reduction In Hours
The earliest recorded strikes for reduc-
tions in hours of work were started in 1880
by the carpenters and masons of Boston,
The men wanted to limit the workdav to
ten hours, but they were unsuccessful The
growth of organized labor had been SO great
that the employers became alarmed, and on
May Is, 1882, the merchants and shop own
ers of Boston met and adopted resolutions
against unions.
Strikes increased in number all over
America, but particularly in Boston. where
the ten-hour system movement continued to
be agitated.
In April, 1884, the militia were called out
TO suppress a riot caused by striking labor
ers on the Providence Railroad, at Mans
field, Mass, and several strikers were taken
prisoners
The first big mill strike began in August,
1885, when the operatives of 20 mills at
Paterson. \. j., struck for reduced hours.
Six weeks idleness and a loss of $24 600 in
wages and expenses to the workmen were
the results. In May, 1885, the workmen in
the Philadelphia coal yards struck for the
ten-hour workday. After several weeks
idleness the differences were settled by the
workmen agreeing to work 'from sunrise to
sunset" with an intermission of three hours
each day. The loss 20 the employees in this |
strike was estimated by the Pennsylvania |
Industrial Statistics Bureau report of 1880 |
at over $4,000
A very peculiar strike was that of the |
French-Canadian laborers on a dam in |
Maine in July, 1886 The men struck ''be- |
cause they were not allowed to smoke their |
ninas hon II -
point, and their pipes.
Calling Out the Niltia.
From 1886 to 1912 Is noteworthy strikes
occurred. OF these ten were unsuccessful.
two successful, and the results of the re-
manning three unknown. Two of the strikes
were among females, and in three cases the
militia had to be called out to suppress
rioting
On February 5, 1S42, the first strike in the
long and costly war between the ironmas-
ters OF the Pittsburg district and their en-
ployes commenced. The strikers were de-
ieated, owing to their lack of organization,
and resumed work on July 9, after over five
months idleness and a loss of many thou
sands Of dollars to both sides.
Philadelphia was once more the scene of
a labor war in August, 1912 The Moya-
menslng and Kensington weavers struck for
higher wages. Weakened laborers were
lntimidated into striking; much rioting oc-
Cured, and attacks were made on the mills, |
in the course of which looms and chains
were destroyed
In 1850 began the big iron strike of Pitts
burg. The trial of the tariff for revenue
only" measures of 1876 had brought about a |
serious depression in the iron trade, and
the manufacturers proposed TO reduce the
wages of puddlers, boilers, refners, scrap
pers and heaters. A strike was the result.
On February Is four mills started with i'm
ported workmen at reduced wages Nobs
Fl led the streets and fierce attack was
made on Browns mill, Wayne street. Men
and women Joined in the onslaught The
women drew the bars from the CRATES of
furnaces used by the uon-union workmen,
and with these did some terrible execution.
Arrests were made in great numbers and
heavy fines followed. The result wa. a
great victory for the bosses, nearly all the
strikers returning to work after six months
ldleness From that time until the war,
and the readjustment OF the tariff, iron
workers wages were gradually reduced, al
most to the starvation point
Protested Against Less Wages.
Meanwhile, however, other branches of
labor did not possess their souls
in peace by any manner of means The
,pinners and weavers of Fall River Mass,
struck against the January reduction of Is
per cent in 1868 The strike lasted two
weeks, was partially successful and cost the
men $50, 900. Seventeen big strikes occurred
n 1868 and 1862 one of them being that of
he Workingmen's Benevolent Association ]
If Eastern Pennsylvania, which failed after c
hree months
The great railroad strike of 1877 began on e
he Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at Martins Z
Durg, w. Va, its immediate cause being a :
eduction of 10 ner cent In Mapes This | =