Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-05-09

OF prosperous times than these very
same strikes. the post Of which are
being won by those who are pursu-
ing an orderly course and whose de-
mands are within reasonable bounds.
Artisans r not fools enough to
strike when business Is depressed, or
ders scarce and thousands Of men
walking the streets looking for work
enough To keep their families from
starving, as was the case under the
late soup-house Democratic admins
tration OF national affairs. Men were
slow To strike under Grover Cleve-
lands reign. They were glad to get
enough to eat and work half time.
IL will be remembered that strikes
were quite numerous just before the
close Of President Harrison's admin
istration, when the wage scale had
reached the highest point ever at
tained before in the history Of the re-
public. Artisans were busy every
where and every branch Of industry
was prosperous. Even the dema-
sogue was busy, but he was engaged,
AZ now, in poisoning the minds Of
laboring men by making them be-
lieve their employers were making all
the money and that they should d.
vide their earnings with their m
ployes. Apparently they listened to
these place-seeking hlatherskites and
az n result invited hardships and mis-
cry upon themselves TO give them a
bed Of roses and n chance To feed at
the public crib. VIII they court such
folly again? We should hope not.
Some strikes ure just in the object
to be gained; Others are
able and untimely. How is the pub
lie to Judge Of the merits Of the differ
ent ones without being familiar with
the facts and the local situation?
Some are striking for an advance in
wages, some for a shorterd day; many
have already won. While all indus
tries are making a profit, some are
realizing greater margins than 9th
ers. Every firm or company is bet
ter able to say what they can afford
to pay than the public. Some COM
panies are mean, arbitrary and mis-
erly, no doubt, and the strikers are
frequently unjust and unreasonable
In their demands, but we believe the
employers and the employed are 60
Ing to get together In time. 1t In
one OF the problems that will event
ually be settled without strikes or
boycotts. But il will never be settled
10y demagogues who incite labor to
deeds OF violence, nor by a party that
can offer only n stone when the wage
worker needs bread. The following
record for n few weeks past shows
that in most cases labOring men are
carrying their point, something they
could not do and would not attempt
il business was not good in their
lines and the time propitious:
About 200 members ri the Calkers'
and rappers' union. in New York,
have been granted - for an eight
hour day. About 5000 I ilurs inChi-
cngo have resumed work with "A wage
scale fixed for three years. \ small
strike among brewery workers at
LIKE View, Ill, has been adjusted.
Miners and operators ut Terre Haute,
Ind, have agreed on new terms. Al
Pittsbufg about $4,000 men in the
building trades have received an ad-
vance in wages that went into effect
MAY l.. The "Freie Pressc,' OF Gin
cinnati, has become n union office
after n seven years fight, wages be-
ing raised and the hours nj labor re-
duced. Bricklayers have been grant
pi an eight-huur day, without reduc-
ton oi wages, at nontclaira and Long
Branch. y. j. At Fairmont andCnt-
ling, H.. miners wages have been
advanced. Carpenters wages at Min
neapolis have been advanced to 3lk
cents per hour. AT Joliet, ILL.,, the
bricklayers and stOnemasOns have
now an eight-hour day, with an adj
vance OF ; cents an hour in wages.
About half the employers at Duluth
have given an increase of > cents an
hour to painters and decorators.
Copper miners got IA 10 per cent in
crease at Houghton, Mich. AtSpring
Valley, H., the coal miners and oper-
ators have adjusted their differences.
Ia New York the marble cutters have
been granted an e%ight-hour day with
an advance of p cents in wages.
while their helpers get an advance Of
H. cents per day.
We hope the day will soon come
when eight and nine hours will be the
limit Of n days work for all classes
Of labor. But such changes cannot
be brought about in a day or hast
cnrd II iota by the vicious who re-
sort Ia violence,