The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-14
THE MAcHIN1srs, DEMAND.

For a number of months past prepara-
tons have been made for the Inaugural
ton of the nine-hour demand on the
part OF the members of the International
Machinists union. May 90 will mark the
inauguration of a huge strike among
the members Of that union in case the
demand is not conceded Such at least
is the avowed programme and policy of
the Machinists' International union.
Current press reports give the informa-
ton that the employers have refused to
accede to the demand of the men. 1t
is Of course generally understood that
movement is steadily in progress among
the members of the various union labor
organizations for the Iessening of the
working hours There is no man Of
humane tendencies that will not syrnpa-
thize with such movement. There is
no man in any walk of life who does
not desire to see the hours of labor re-
duced and the hours Of leisure extended.
On May 20 we are to have inaugurated
a huge strike among the machinists of
I"S 1HiISu states. mat as the great
proposition which the American people
are brought up against It may be that
the strike will never he in1uguratel.
The working machinists themselves nav
not deem it expedient The opposition
offered by the employing mach2nfsts MAJ
be too strong to warrant the experiment.
The conditions of trade in one direction
or another may not be favorable. In
this way the country may avoid the
grave consequences which must follow
such a movement
But no one on eitherside considers what
the disposition or feeling of the public
may be in the premises The public does
not count in the transaction at ALL Mr..
OConnen the president Ct the Machin-
lists International union. has his views
and he enlightens the world on the sub
iect and also on the views of the officials
Of the organization of the employing
machmists A clash is almost certain as
the result of the failure to agree among
the two sets of officials; but that seems
to he accepted as ore of the Inevitable
incidents of movements of that general
character.
To outsiders it does not seem very diff
fcult for employers and employees alike
to reconcile themselves to given con-
dition in the conduct of their business.
Or at least it would not be difficult We're
the organizations of employers and en-
ployes able to control the markets. the
one in labor, the other in the other Gle.
ments of constructive cost. Unhappily
the unions do not control the labor
market, and the employing bodies do
not control the othe~ elements that enter
into the cost Of constructive work in the
machinists' calling The result naturally
is disagreement
in such q situation the action of on
Of the bodies in insisting on given term
at all hazards does not Sc m on the face
of things just or equitable If Fres. dent
O'Connell and his men can control tn,
market for skilled mechanics they can be
regarded as in pcs ton to dictate TIL
number of hours which men Shall work
and the amount of pay they shall se
ceive; but until this prime cond. tion is
realized there is n,thing Snort of invit-
ing disaster to both interests to issue
an absolute mandate and insist on its
fulGllment
The Globe hopes that May 20 viii
find the employing and employed ma
chinists all acting on the Il ne-hour day;
but 1t does not expect to see the event
realized, 1t does hope and believe that
s9me ether satisfactory adjustment will
be made.