Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-07-19
THE STRIKES OF A CENTURY.
Brief Review of Labor's Battles Beginning
Ninety.eight Years Ago.

Brief Review of Labor's Battles Beginning
Ninety.eight Years Ago.
The first recorded labor strike in the
United States occurred in 1896, nearly
century ago. 1t is significantaact
that it originated in Pennsylvania, the
"dark and bloody ground" of the great
est battles of labor in the new world.
The distinction Of leading organized
labor through hitherto untrodden paths
belongs to the boot and shoe.makers
of Philadelphia. They struck for an
increase of wages, and were successful.
They renewed the struggle in 1898 and
1899 for additional increases, and won
in each instance.
The initial strike of the present Gen.
fury was that Of the sailors of New
York in 1903. Here the strikers caused
other seamen to leave their ships-a
fact that shows modern methods were
not unknown ninety-one years ago.
The proceeding discredited the strikers
and failure followed. In 1905 the
Philadelphia Crispin, flattered by pre-
vious successes, repeated the walkout,
but it failed and the leaders were fined
for "conspiring to raise their wages"
The New York shoe-makers took up
the struggle in 1909, 200 men being en-
gagged in it. They were successful.
The Pittsburg knights of the awl fol-
lowed with general walkout in 1915,
which resulted disastrously, the leaders
being arrested and fined for conspiracy.
The first strike against the employ
ment of non union men was inaugu:
rated by the printers of Albany, N. Y,
in 1921. The agitation for shorter
hours began in Boston in 1880, by car
penters and masons. They demanded
reduction to ten hours. Although
unsuccessful, the strike resulted in
auymenting the membership of all
trade unions. Their growth alarmed
the merchants and ship owners of Bos
ton and at mass meeting in May, 1882,
they resolved not to employ "any men,
Der or supporter of such combinations"
The resolution had no effect. Strikes
and unions multiplied all over the
country, particularly in Boston, where
the ten-hour slogan was heard on all
sides. In April, 1884, the Massachu-
sets militia was called out to suppress
riot caused by strikers on the Provi-
dence railroad at Mansfield. The fol-
lowing year saw the first big mill strike
at Paterson, N. j., resulting in twenty
six weeks idleness, the closing of
twenty mills and the loss of 1924, 900 in
wages. The ten-hour fever secured a
footing in Philadelphia in May, 1885,
when the coal yard men struck. A
substantial victory was gained in re-
ducing the days work to eleven hours,
and was followed by similar econse-
quences by employers throughout the
city.
A peculiar strike was inaugurated
by French Canadians employed on a
dam in Maine, in July, 1886. The men
demanded the right to smoke their
pipes while at work and they won.
BATTLE OF THE IRON WORKERS.
From 1886 to 1912 there were some
fifteen strikes, ten of which were sue
cessful, and in three the militia had to
shoulder their muskets to frown upon
the disorderly. In February of the
latter year began the irrepressible con-
flict between the iron mastets and
workmen of Pittsburg. 1t resulted in
defeat for the men after lockout of
five months, mainly through lack of
organization. The battle was renewed
in 1S45 for an increase of wages, and
lasted through May to August, result
ing in victory for the men and great
losses to the bosses. 1t broke out
again in 1850 with volcano force, wo-
men joining in the fierce conflict. An
attempt to start the mills with imported
workmen resulted in numerous bloody
collisions, but the bosses triumphed
and large number of the strikers
were arrested and imprisoned. With
the advantage thus gained, the iron
masters applied the screws, and at the
outbreak of the war had reduced wages
to the starvation point.
From 1850 to the outbreak of the war
there were numerous costly strikes and