The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-06
AN INAUsPIoIoUs SEASON FOR STRIKES.


The present seems an inauspicious
time for the extensive strikes which are
threatened here and there to secure an
advance of wages, particularly in those
employments for which many people
are qualified without great delay. If
there is not an absolute surplus of labor
in the country at the present time, the
volume of immigration or q distur bance
in the industries of the country may
produce such surplus at any time.
Considering the sharp competition in all
branches of business. it is very doubt
full il there are many industries in which
the wages can be materially advanced
without injury to employers which they
cannot sustain. There is the threatened
strike of the cooks i'm Chicago. 1t is not
possible that the employers can submit
TO an advance of so per cent. with
out subjecting many of them to
loss. Such strike may annoy
many people and subject many
others to loss, but there are many cooks
who have not so satisfactory employ
ment as have those i'm Chicago, and they
will naturally rush to take the places of
those who strike if they do so. Unions
may deter many, but people who arc
seeking employment will not De pre-
vented from getting it where they can
find it.
Wages have been advancing in this
country the past five or six years. In
deed, tho tendency for twenty-five
years, considering the purchasing power
of money, has been to higher rates.
Wages in the manufacturing States and
larger cities of this country are double
the rate paid elsewhere. In some
branches it will be very difficult to main
tain the present standard. The reasons
are obvious. Under the auspices of the
administration, leading Democrats are
preparing tariff bill which will be- pre-
scented in the House as party measure,
and which the official influence of the
administration, with its patronage, will
be- put forth to enact. Upon the free
list will be put coal, iron ores, wool,
etc. The duties upon the whole line of
manufactures will be reduced to a point
at which the largest revenues can be
derived. IL the duties on oil grades of
the manufactures of iron, steel. wool
and cotton, and upon earthenware and
glass are reduced % or 35 per cent. mil
lions of dollars worth of these goods
will be imported to take the place of
similar merchandise now manufactured
ut home. In such event one of two
things must follow: Either wages must
be reduced to point which will enable
the American producer to compete with
European mpetitors or the American
mills must close. Strikes will occur up-
der such conditions, not TO secure higher
wages. but to resist lower scale.
Lower wages in industries competing
with those of Europe is the natural and
irrevOcable result of tho policy which
Dir. Cleveland and his party are pledged
to adopt and to carry ont, and which
experts under the Cleveland policy are
now preparing bill for Congress TO
enact. In the face of such conditions,
when manufacturing wages must either
closed, sensible people must see that
strikes for higher wages in any branch
of employment must fail. and, therefore.
must be unwise. 1t is best to look these
conditions in the face before action is
resolved upon.