The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-26

CONSIDERABLY space has been
taken in the papers of late in
~ recital of labor difficulties at
Schenectady. That city is
undergoing about the same kind of
fretful turmoil on the part of men
in labor circles newly upheaved into
positions of power and responsible
ity that Scranton has undergone. The
ferment is on and must work off.
Doubtless the labor movement in
Schenectady, as we expect, of it in
Scranton, will then become sane, con-
servative and regardfu of the fact that
there are others.
1t is interesting to note the starting
point of the labor eXcesses in Schenec-
tady. AS in Scranton, the first fault
Jay with the employers. In Schenectady
the big employing concern is the Cen
eral Electric company. 1t is liber-
ally managed institution as such insti-
tutions go, but it has its share of sub
ordinate officials more intent upon the
mathematics of economy in production
than upon the ethics of the wage prob
lem. What happened may best be told
in the language of a Schenectady cor
respondent of the New York Sun, n
paper which will not be accused OF pre-
senting the employers side in terms of
unjust criticism:
Trade unionism never got II really se-
cure foothod in this city until after the
big strike last spring. That 1t is so
strongly entrenched now is partially due
10 the course pursued by the General
Electric officials when that trouble be-
gan The strike resulted from deter
mination to cut down the wages of a few
men-lesS than twenty-in the polishing
department, The cost of living here il
exceedingly high. almost as high US in
New YORK, In fact, and the men Dro-
Tested vigorously against the reduction
pllegihs that they could not support
Sheir families on less pay than they were
ieceiving, The managers were obdurate
however. and the men in the polishing
NpaIIment struck against the reduction
There Were then something less than 5000
union mon in the entire plant but the
non-union employees, fearing reduction.
went out, too In all nearly 5000 men
struck, completely tying up the plant in
a very busy season, The result was that
the employees won signal victory The
strike was short lived, but IL taught the
men, their power, Then began the union
izillg OF Schenectady. Most of the skilled
workmen tumhled over one another To
join the labor organizations. Others We're
forced to come In by the usual methods,
To-day there are hfty-iive distinct unions
In this town. Even the bootblacks and
the clerks in the dry goods stores are
organized.
The blunder of the General Electric
OFFICIALS in giving cause for grievances
and u soil for agitation is almost n
direct parallel of the stupidity of the
managing interests of the anthracite
mines in 1900 in declining TO heed the
advice of far-seeing men in the coal
fields who urged voluntary correction
of the powder overcharge, AN increase
Of wages before commanded by main
force and the arrangement of a ma
chinery of adjustment of local grlev-
ances whereby the individual miner
sould feel assured of fair treatment
Nithout running risk of revenge from
an unprlncipled foreman. All of these
things are being forced upon the big
companies at incalculabie money and