Evening star., 1902-05-01
EPIDEMIC OF STRIKES
Thousands Quit Work ALI
Over the Country.
QUESTION OF WAGES
MAY DAY SELECTED TO ADJUST
DIFFERENCES.
Serious Rioting Among the Laborers
and Peasantry in Rural
Russia.

PITTSBURG. Pa, May MAY day was
ushered in with strikes in most Of the
building trades for reduction in hours more
wages and adjustment of trade conditions.
The trades involved are structural iron
workers, carpenters, bricklayers. sheet
metal workers, slate and tile Ioofers, In
side electric wire workers, portable and
hoisting engineers and wood and metal
lathers. The plumbers strike was averted
by the master plumbers meeting last night
and signing the advanced scale. The strk-
ers will tie up work on all the large build
ings in course of erection in this city
Numbers Of the leading architects OF the
city have stopped the receipt OF estimates
on new work and on some important con-
tracts already placed they have notified the
contractors Of indefinite delay I'm letting
contracts. One of the architects this morn
ing showed specifications on work aggre-
eating SlOe0~o, which is being held UP
by the labor trouble.
On account Of the carpenters strike the
largest planning mill operators have agreed
to close their shops pending d settlement OF
the trouble.
Furnace Mems Demands.
The National Association of Blast Fur
mace Workers and Smelters Of America has
sent copies of a new demand to the United
States Steel Corporation, the Republic Iron
and Steel Company, the Bessemer AssocIa-
ton and the Independent furnaces The
workers demand that on and after June 4
eight hours shall constitute a days work
a the same rate of pay now received for
twelve hours, and that all ten-hour men
shall be reduced TO nine hours at the pres
ent rate Of pay.
The men are now working twelve-hour
turns. Turn men," receive 81 per twelve
hours, engineers and keepers s. 80 and Ia
borers 90 for ten hours. If the demands
of the association are granted, 1t will mean
the introduction of third shift. This VIII
mean the employment OF additional keep
ers, helpers, blowing engineers and filiers
and top filters where electricity is not used.
Reports received up to noon indicated
that the number of men out will not exceed
5000. A number of firms have signed ths
various trades organization scales and with
the exceptions of the carpenters and struc-
tural iron workers, the strikes are not as
extensive as expected. a strike OF / no
fcemen was averted by the principal COM
panies signing the scale
Strike at Youngstown. 4
YOUNGSTOWN. Ohio, May 1.-Two thou
sand men employed in the building trades
went on strike this morning for an eight
hour day and increase of wages all ef-
forts to settle their differences with the
contractors proving unavailing Some Of
the smaller contractors conceded the mems
demands last night, and it is said several
others may sign today. but this will only
reduce the number of striking Norkmen
very slightly.
CLEVELAND. May 1.-At the local hesd-
quarters Of the Structural Iron and Steel
Workers Association it was stated today
that about 800 men employed by the Amer
lean Bridge Company at various Ohio
points went on strike this morning. Not
to exceed 100 men are said to be involved
in this city. one hundred men are also
reported out at Akron.
NEW YORK, May L-Machinsts and
bench men to the number of 100 In a
dozen large saw mills and moldng mills
in Hudson county. y. j., went on strike to-
day. The men demanded a uniform rate
of $50 for an eight-hour day, which was
refused.
Walk-out at Buffalo.
BUFFALO, y. Y. May 1T is estimated
that more than 1900 skilled laborers are on
strike here today. Most Of these are car
penters few structural iron workers and
the rest plumbers. The carpenters, who
are receiving 30 cents an hour, demand 37A
cents; the plumbers demsnd $50 per day,
an increase of 90 cents and the iron work
ers ask for 80 cents an hour. Fourteen con-
tractors, employing about 4J0 men, have
agreed to pay their carpenters 31i2 cenis
Most of the contractors have conceded the
demands of the structural iron workers but
few of the smaller ones are holding out
ROCHESTER. y. Y, May 1-About 300
drivers of coal wagons. all members of the
Drivers Union. struck today for higher
wages and shorter working hours.
Serious Labor Troubles in Russia.
COPENHAGEN. May IA dispatch 10
the Politiken of this city from Russia (fled
or the German frontier, announces that
the labor population of the whole district
between Moscow and Vladimir, central Rus
sia, is in revolt. There have been numer-
Gus encounters between the workingrnen
and the troops, and many persons have
been killed or woundedN A Uhlan regiment,
act against the workmen.
The trades unionist workmen employed at
the free port of Copenhagen have suspended
work, in sympathy with the dock laborers
and seamen's struck against vessels belong
ing to the steamship owners federation
The latter strike was further extended to-
day to all the Danish ports excepting EST
jorg, on the coast of Jutaland, where the
dock laborers refused 10 leave their work
The dock laborers strike at Copenhagen
began about April 10. Four days later 10
was announced that more than $500 men
were on strike at the various ports of Dem
mark.
ROME, May 1.-The usual May day DEM
onstrations throughout Italy have thus far
been perfectly orderly. About 15,093 work
men participated in a meeting here.