Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-12-16
A BIG LABOR FAMINE.
CHICAGO UNABLE TO GET ALL
THE WORKERS NEEDED
conditions for e-Earners in the
Western Metropolis Are Unusually
Fnvorable-Clerksa and Stenographera
as Well as Laborers Are Wanted.

All UNUSUAL condition prevails in Chi
cago. There is a labor famine. The
city needs workers and cannot get them.
although the conditions, as to wages and
manner of employment, are favorable.
The number of employees demanded last
year was 62,0O0 above the number that
could be supplied and, in consequence of
the insuficiency of help, some large con-
Germs have been unable to accomplish ali
they desired to. Not since the soup house
period in 1895 has the condition of labor
IN chicago been so propitious rs now.
VI the 10000 men enrolled in the ranks
or union labor not one is idle, unless he
be among the few on strike. The de.
mand Tor union workmen in all branches
or the industrial world has far exceed
ed the supply, so much so that in q great
number of instances the mechanics
and others nave been able to choose
where they desired to work and have
been given higher wage than the scale
called for
OF trose not affiliated with unions few
are Lot receiving more wage for he
same work than they did in former years.
Three chief elements figure in the exist.
ing conditions: First, increased prosper
- ~A o0ONd OutpQlt StEOut. Ntutlliu
Tor better class of labor; third inabil-
ity in securing the supply of labor in
keeping with the demand
Railroad Workers Needed.
Railroad laborers are also greatly in
demand, so much so that more than 1000
have been brought into Chicago from
States as far west as Nebraska to fill
contracts. One employment bureau
which has contract with one of the
largest railroads operating out of Chi
cago has taken off its fee for applicants
and has received all the men the State
labor bureaus could send. 1t has also
sent notices TO other cities agreeing to
pay fares for workmen to Chicago in
order to fulfill the contracts which cali
Tor 1000 men at once. SO far but 521
have been secured, and they are being
shipped as fast as possible to the points
where construction work is in progress
A problem for housewives is the se-
curing of domestics Here as in other
fields the shortage is marked. This is
due in a measure to the fact that many
of the women who formerly attended to
the household work for families have
found more profitable employment in the
factories and other places where the
shortage of men has opened new ave-
nue. of employment for them. Over 1900
servants are wanted, and the supply is
less than a third of the amount. As a
consequence the wage has been raised
i'll many instances.
In the large packing plants there is
room for hundreds of men at this sea-
son of the year. Trouble has been ex-
perienced in securing desirable material
In the labor line in many instances, and
as result better conditions among those
employed prevail at present than in the
past.
Clerks and Stenographers.
Not among the laboring class alone
does the present condition exist 1t is
equally marked among the workers in
the large stores, the clerks, office help,
and all those connected with the mer-
camille institutions throughout the city
Stenographers, bookkeepers and others in
the same class are in demand owing TO
the increased stimulus in the manufaetur-
ing world.
Stenographers are particularly scarce.
1t was intended 10 hold a civil service
examination for male stenographers in
the county building recently, but so few
applicants appeared that the attempt was
given up for the time being.
An indication of the betterment of the
working classes comes from the charita-
bic organizations called upon to help the
needy families in the city. Within the
last two months the reports show that
the calls for help have been fewer than
heretofore.
The demand for labor is apparent in
the speedy settlement of many of the re-
cent strikes, through arbitration and
spirit of willingness on the part of the
bosses who concede demands which they
might not have done before it became
apparent that the great mass of toilers
who are the bone and sinew of the fac
tories and manufacturing plants, has as
much work as it desires. The demand
and the supply being so nearly equal,
brings this alternative to the manufae-
turer and the boss-either agree to fair
conditions or else close up shop.