The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-25
THE DAYTON STRIKE.
IL Has Done More Harm than Good TO
Organized Labor.
Washington Times.

Washington Times.
No recent event involving the relations
between labor unions and employers has
attracted more attention and been made
the subject of more carefully digested
comment than the strike which took place
several weeks since at the factory of the
National Cash Register Company. in Day
ton, o.. and which has been settled
by complete surrender of the labor union.
Mainly through the efforts of the company
named 10 improve the condition of its en-
ployes Dayton had come TO be regarded as
a wage-worker's paradise. The news of a
general strike or rather a strike and lock-
out in combination. filled the whole country
with surprise Many were the inquiries
as to the cause. and the answers have
served merely to intensity the surprise.
II appears that the Cash Register Com
pany has from the first treated it's en-
ployes with unusual consideration. Not
content with paying them the highest
wages paid anywhere for the same kinds
OF work. the company has provided them
with numerous comforts and luxuries US
ually unknown in and about such estab-
lshments. To enumerate them in detail
would require too much space. They con-
sisted In aiding the wOrkmen TO beautify
their homes. providing them with free
lQnCneS, DdlnS, a TedQlnR room, klnQeI-
gartens for the smaller children. and for
the older ones schools IN which were
taught sewing. cooking, gardening, me-
chanics, and various other useful arts. In
a score of ways the company endeavored
10 brighten the lot and smooth the path
way of its employees and their dependents.
All OF these things were done freely and
voluntarily. No labor union applied any
pressure. 1t is obvious that the aids and
gratuities mentioned are entirely outside
the purposes for which such unions are
formed In this The il all of
the extras referred 10 were granted by the
company long before unionism began TO
play a part in the operation of the works.
The trouble began with the advent or the
walking delegate" who speedily created
conditions which forced the nonunion en-
ployes TO become union men and then sue
ceeded n convincing the unions that they
were suffering many wrongs and griev-
ances that they had never suspected before.
There was no question of insufficient pay or
too long hours. On both these points the
men wre satisfied. The company had never
wronged them in any way or shown dis
position to-"but then 1t might. Thus ar
gued the walking delegate. and 10 guard
against anything of the kind a movement
began with the object in view or forcing
the company % recognize the union, with
all that such recognition implies.
Among the grievances brought TO light
was: The free baths provided by the com
pany were, as a necessary adJuAct, 1ur-
nished with free towels, which had regular
~ TO be washed. 1t was discovered that
this work was being distributed among
poor women OF the neighborhood instead OF
being sent TO some laundry in which union
labor was employed, and a complaint was
promptly made by the, union committee.
Other complaints equally trivial and ao-
surd were made. and gradually the reia-
lions between the company anu lls men oS-
came strained.
The final break came when four or five
men were discharged by the company, some
OF them for alleged incompetency and some
because their services were no longer need
ed. The alleged incompetence Is denied by
the union. and IL seems that the claim that
some Of the men were not required is also
denied. The molders quit work, ana the
company at once shut down the entire
plant. claiming that sucn action had been s
foundry. Later the strike extended TO other
plants, and IL IS said that In the city OF
Dayton nearly 10000 men. women and chill
dren have been idle about month as
result of the trouble which thus sprang
from insignificant beginnings.
Whatever may be fairly said on behalf
of labor unions in general. IT seems beyond
question that in this case the union was
not only in the wrong but that Its action
necessary. With no substantial grievance
the union deliberately undertook 10 dictate
TO the owners the management OF the
works. extending the dictation into the
most petty and inconsequential details, even
attempting. as we have seen. 10 control
the action OF the company in the matter of
washing towels for the free baths. IL
brought up the question squarely whether
the owners of factory should have some
voice In its control. or be subject absolute
" &c the whims and caprices of those who.
at any particular time. happen to be in
position 10 influence the action OF the
union
Probably no case has ever occurred show
ing more conclusively how easy IL is for
the principle of unionism to be abused
tending more strongly to the inJuring OF
such organizations in public esteem. That
the union was In the wrong is fairly we'll
proved by the fact that in the settlement
Just effected the men yielded and returned
10 work. after having sustained a loss in
wages amounting TO Sl200O0. How they
ever going 70 get even on that loss perhaps
some walking delegate can explain. but II
IS entirely beyond the ken OF the public at
large.