The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-24
THE PASSING OF STRIKES.

The three great strikes Of the year have
been those of the building trades in Chi
cago and of the street-railway employees
in ST. Louis and Kansas City. There was
also an attempted strike of building trades
If Kansas City. but, like the strike of the
street-railway employees. although 1T looked
formidable at first, it failed almost imme-
diately. The public is tolerably familiar
with the course of the st. Louis strike.
1t lasted several weeks. causing much
violence, considerable destruction OF prop
erty, and the loss of several lives. 1t has
now reached the boycott stage. which is
the last ditch, and means speedy failure.
In fact. as the lines are all open and cars
running regularly without guards. the
strike is already a failure. and compare
lively few of the strikers have been taken
back. In Chicago the building trades have
submitted a basis of settlement to the
contractors, which comedies nearly all the
points for which they originally struck.
Their proposition embraces the following
points:
That we declare in favor of immediate
arbitration between the employer and en-
plcye of the various building trades now
at war.
That there shall be no limitations as to
the amount of work a man shall perform
during his working day.
That the use of machinery or tools shall
be a matter for arbitration between the
employer and employe OF the trade di-
rectly interested.
That there shall be no restriction of the
use of any manufactured material, except
prison-made.
Only when it is necessary shall the
agents of the unions visit the stewards
on the job.
That the use of apprentices shall not be
That the foreman shall not be the agent
of the employer; that he shall be a COM
petent mechanic at his trade and member
of the union, and shall be subject to disci-
pine by the Joint arbitration committee
only.
That all workmen are at liberty to work
for whomsoever they see fit.
That employers shall be at liberty 10 EN-
ploy and discharge whomsoever they see
fit, we reserving the right to refuse to
work with ~non-union men.
That eight hours shall constitute a days
work, except during the months of June,
July and August, when work shall cease
at IL o'clock on Saturdays, with four hours
pay for that day. Trades desiring half
holiday Saturday the year around may
make working rules to that effect.
Tha the rate Of wages shall be a matter
for each trade to arbitrate among them
selves.
The proposition also leaves the central
union without the power to call a sympa-
thetic strike, deprives the business agent
of the authority to summarily order a
walk-out or to interfere with a contractor.
and comedies the right of contractors to
employ apprentices. In short, it comedies
every material point which the contractors
claimed.
The failure of these strikes seems to
show that no strike can succeed unless 1t
is based on real grievances and a just
cause. and that the strike as a means of
settling questions is losing its potency. In
all these cases the men were receiving
good wages and were well treated. They
struck for the right Of debating to cap
italists and employers how they should
manage their own business and property.
No strike based on that principle can or
ought to succeed. The failure of these
strikes is a practical victory for the prin-
ciple of arbitration.