New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-27
AN ENGLISH LABOR WAR.
THE LOCKOUT AND RETALIAroRT
STRIKE OVER THE EIGHT-HOURS
DAY-A TRIAL OF ENDURANCE
BETWEEN GIGANTIC FORCES.


,or,,iaoh,. industrial war opened yesterday
I'm Free Trade England. There was skirmisning
last week in four or five engineering establish
ments but to-day there IL pitched batte IN
progress between masters and allied trades
unionism i'm more than forty machne-yards In
Iondon alone: and a decisive campaign is 10
he fought In the Industrial centres OF the
limited Kingdom. bloodess war. conducted
without rioting or outrage II is certain to e,
bur even without the cashing Of physical for"es
it threatens to be a desperate fght iraught
with disaster to Industrial and material Iher-
ests. 1t has the characteristics OF all modern
warfare In highly civilized communities IL mas
broken out unexpectedly; each side depends
upon It's financial resources and the magnitude
and perfection Of its organization ana aroitra-
ton OF differences is impracticable. Tne pat
tie has begun, and neither compataht mas
counted the cost OF 1t In advance
The origin Of this struggle was demand on
the part Of London trades-unions for an eight-
hours working day. 1t was refused by the
Thorneycrofts and two other engineering nrms.
although 1t had been granted by majority OF
London employers in the trade. the Amaiga-
mated Engineers, with 10000 members ana
large fund available for supporting suike'
called out its members who were in the employ
tional Federation, assuming that the London
demand for eight hours would be taken up ui-
,,matelv throughout the Kingdom retaliated by
issuing notices for the discharge OF 20 per cent
Of the men connected with the unions identified
with the strike This lockout followed by
reprIsals from the Amalgamated Engineers, who
ordered out the remaining - per cent Of their
members Between lockout and strike about
100 600 men in the engineering trade Will be
thrown out OF employment in the chief Industrial
centres OF the United Kingdom II other trades
are brought within the circle Of influence OK the
strike IL 1. not improbable that the number OF
mon affected by the movement may be doubled
within fortnight.
The struggle may be regarded as triai OF
resources between two powerful combinations
of labor and capital. The Society OF hina'-
ramated Engineers with fund OF sl,'ooV"
on hand for the payment of strikers wages
has undertaken to compel minority OF the
London employers in the engineering trace W
follow the example Of the majority IN suosu-
tuting eight for nine hours as a days worhins
time The Employers National Federauoh' per-
ceiving that the success OF the movement III
London would be followed by demand Tor the
eight hours day in Manchester. Leeds, GLASGOW
Belfast and other industrial centres mas inter-
yened In defence of the masters WITH ho'ceS vi
a partial lockout. The challenge mas oeeh
promptly accepted. and unless compromise
CON be effected there will be a prolonged strug-
gle Of financial endurance between masters anu
,rades-unions in one of the most highly skilled
and important industries OF the kingdo"' II
ia estimated that the Amalgamated Society OF
rre,neers will distribute 100000 week in
strike pay while the campaign is in progress
That is a heavy tax upon the savings and re-
serve fund of labor What will be the cost Oh
this fight TO the industries themselves it is futile
to estimate.
THE CAUSE OF WAR.
Justice must be done to trades-unionism IN
one respect. 1t has a cause wnich comes ies''
mateIv within the sphere of action of organ
lied labor For several years Mr. Kerr Hardie
and the Independent Labor party could do what
they liked at trades union congresses, and the
working world was committed by it's representa-
tive men to the Socialistic policy OF nationaliza-
tion Of land and industries. During the last two
years the recoil from the domination OF agitators
who failed to understand the essential conserv-
ot;en, of the British workman has been unmis-
taxable After handing over the destinies OF the
,.orkirg millions for a season to Ctopian
dreamers and deep-lunged politicians, the trades
unions have returned TO more direct and prac-
ticaI work The reduction of working time from
nine IN eight hours Is a question which trades
unionism has a clear right TO raise in the inter
ests of labor 1t is an issue which Justlhes
labor revolt and a desperate struggle for prin-
cpe.
II is also true that employers themselves are
not agreed either in the engineering or In other
trades upon the expedency Of rejecting the de-
mand for a working day Of eight hours The
experiment has been tried by many employers
and often with satisfactory results The Duke
of Norfolk as head Of the British Postoft1ce. has
testified that in two telegraph factories where
eight hours have been substituted for nine tnere
has been no diminution in the amount or work
accomplished and on the other hand, there mas
been marked improvement in the appearance
and behavior of the workmen. There have been
MANY EMPLOYERS I'm the engineering and other
trades who have voluntarily conceded an eight
hours day and its economic possibility has been
demonstrated in conspicuous instances Inc
ninth hour is not entirely lost under the eight
hour system Workmen begin work after break
fast and, with the exception or the luncneon
hour are employed continuously and WITHOUT
break Under the nine hour rule there are two
stops for breakfast and luncheon. and margin
Of time f. always lost before and after each
break There is also decided gain IN the er-
fciency Of the workmen, that the output FOR
eight hours equals that OF nine hours in many
instances
The eight hour question is at least debata-
Bile one Many masters-probaby majority In
the London engineering trade-have introduced
the principle and while practical experience Is
not massed on one side, much OF 1t is In favor
OF eight hours. That system has also been In
operation for several years in Government shops.
and apparently without detrimental effects to
public interests. Consequently, the Amalgamat-
ed Society OF Engineers has had reason on Its
side FOR seeking TO extend the eght-hour prin-