New-York tribune., 1901-06-16
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
STRIKES AFFECTING BUSINESS IN SAN
FRANCISCO SERIOUSLY-THE ARMY
GOODS SCANDAL


Over six thousand men are idle. with no inn
mediate prospect of the settlement of the diff
culties between employers and employed AL
ready nearly 100000 has been lost in wages
by the strikers. and the employers have lost
fully as much in profits. Fully S25OOO0 has dis
appeared from general circulation, as this rep
resents the difference between the wages lost
and the 100000 paid in strike benefits The
strikers who are out are $500 iron moulders,
shipbuilders and allied trades: loo machinists'
600 cooks and walters and LOCO butchers In
all these trades employers agreed to reduce the
hours of work and to advance wages. but they
refused absolutely to permit unionizing OF theH
shops as they asserted that this would be the
surrender of the control of their business Ihey
formed an association and agreed to close their
places until this union demand was Withdrawn
The result has been the closing of several OF
the largest establishments in the city. like the
Union Works and the Risdon Iron Works. and
the throwing out of employment of an army or
men at the very season when work is urgently
demanded With the forces of capital against
them the union agitators see that the only nope
of success is to cripple the Industries that fur-
nish food to the public Failing in their attempt
to close the restaurants. they egged on the
strike among the butchers. but this strike failed
yesterday, when the journeymen butchers re-
turned to work in the big slaughter houses Ihe
net result of this army of idle men and this re-
duction of business in so many Industries is a
great shrinkage in the amount of money spent
even for the necessaries OF life San Francisco
ought to have had busy and prosperous sum-
mer but the season is dull. all business is
seriously hurt and there is no stimulus to
start new Industries until the present trouble is
ended
The Employers Association of San Francisco
which has beaten the strikers at every point is
the most perfectly equipped organization of cap
ital ever seen in this country 1t has large
means. and by its power over many industries
1t is sure to defeat the labor unions in the end.
1t is the first test Of the power Of organized
capital against organized labor. and the results
so far show that labor has suffered in the con-
fict
Sensational reports printed here this
week Of big frauds in army goods at the Pre-
sidio. IL was declared. the authority OF a
local police captain. that thousands of pairs OF
new army shoes many blankets and shirts and
tons of rations were being offered for sale by
small local dealers. who evidently secured their
supplies direct from the officials in the quarter
masters department Careful investigation
showed there was no deficit in the quartermas-
ter's stores and that these goods were simply
sold by returning soldiers from Manila, who
have mania for bartering Uncle Sans supplies
OF clothing and food. Nine out of ten OF the SOL
diers seen on the street do not wear army shoes.
and as soon as they are mustered out they sell
their uniforms. The system OF accounts in the
qrartermaster's department at the Presidio over
which Colonel Oscar II. Long presides. is such
that no one could dispose Of army goods without
speedy detection.
The battleship oregon. in whose exploits San
Franciscans have always taken special pride as
she was built here at the Union Iron Works.
had a great reception this week when she ar
rived from China. AS the huge fighting machine
came up the bay at racing speed, with great
roll Of foam at the bow and a pennant that
streamed far behind. she presented a splendid
spectacle; and was greeted by naval salute
ana hundreds OF whistles. Lying in San Fran
cisco Bay. near together there were four big
war vessels. the battleships Oregon. Wisconsin
and Iowa and the cruiser Philadelphia but the
Wisconsin went away yesterday and by next
week only the Oregon viii remain.
The prospects are bright for great gathering
at the coming International convention of the
Epworth League in San Francisco. All the
large Eastern railroads are arranging for big
excursion parties, and the members of the
league will have the choice of a number of fine
excursions at unprecedentedIy low rates here.
A six day trip 10 the Yosemite may be taken
for 500 covering all expenses and equally cheap
rates offered for trips 10 Alaska Yellow
stone Park. Puget Sound and over other scenic
routes. The missionary exhibit at the cOnven-
ton viii be most interesting il will include
a collection Of the maps charts and banners of
the countries To which the Gospel has been
taken.
President Valentine of the Wells Fargo EN-
press Company announced this week the re-
newal of his cOmpany's contract for handling
express business the Santa Fe for fifteen
years. The company's contract with the South
ern Pacific has still fourteen wears 20 run so
Wells, Fargo & Co are pretty secure in their
hold of express business on the two main trans
continental lines.
Henry Miller at the Columbia Theatre scored
a decided success this week in ID Arcy of the
GUARDS, a romantic drama Of the American
Revolution. by Louis Evan Shipman. which was
given here for the first time on any stage The
play. which is cast during the British occu-
panCy or Philadelphia, is sentimental. not melO-
dramatic but 1T has one strong scene The
leading character young Irish officer frs
Miller admirably. and IL is sure to be popular
with his admirers.
Old old F. J. Baldwin; who once rejoiced in the
titles of Lucky and Millionaire Is living in a
local SanatOrium, where he has Just undergone
an operation FIR swelling of the knee Baldwin
recently started for Nome. where he proposed no
open "A big variety theatre and dayaIoD sOroa
mines. hut he got no further than Seattle There
his trouble with the knee became so serious he
was brought here for medical treatment DR.
McNutt says IL will be months before Baldwin
VIII be able TO get about again. all his Nome
plans have fallen through
Governor TilIey of the American possessions
in Samoa had disagreeable experience this
week of the danger of strOlng along the water
front at night On the beach at Pago Pago no
one would dream of molesting the popular Cow
ernor. but here, when he went out in civilians
clothes for an evening walk. he was attacked bv
two footpads. beaten over the head with a sand
bag and robbed of watch and $50. Fortu-
nately the robbers only lacerated his scalp and
did not fracture his skull. so the Governor was
all right the next day. but much chagrined over
the report that gained currency that he had
fallen a victim to drugged liquor as he is opA
OF the naval men who do not drink