Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-12-17
A BIG LABOR FAMINE.
CHICAGO UNABLE TO GET ALL
THE WORKERS NEEDED.
Conditions for Wage -Earrers In the
Western Metropolis Are Unusually
Favorable Clerks and stenosra pliers

An unusual conditi n prevails in Chi.
cago. There is d Tabor 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 62,000 above the number that
could be supplied and. in consequence of
the insufficiency of help, some large con-
Germs have been unable to accomplish all
they desired to. Not since the soup house
period in 1895 has the condition of labor
in Chicago been so propitious as now.
OF the 100000 men enrolled in the ranks
of union labor not one is idle, unless he
De among the few ON strike. The de-
mand for union workmen in all branches
of the industrial world has far exceed
ed the supply, so much so that in great
number of instances the mechanics
and others have been able to choose
where they desired TO work and have
been given a higher wage than the scale
called for.
OF those not affiliated with unions few
are not receiving more wage for Ii )
same work than they did in former years.
Three chief clements figure in the exist
ing conditions: First, increased prosper
ity and added output; second, demand
for 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 thaA 5000
have been brought into Chicago from
States as far west as Nebraska to fill
Os9NV
which has a contract with one of The
largest railroads operating out III Chr
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 call
for 1000 men at once So far but 525
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 measure TO the fact that many
of the women who formerly attended to
the househ Id 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 n
consequence the wage has been raised
in 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 Steuogrnphers.
Not among the laborng 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 mex
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 TO hold a civil service
examination for male stenographers i'll
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. throug'l arbitration and IA
spirit of willingness on the part Of the
bosses who concede demands which they
mirht not have done before it became
apparent that the great mass of toiars
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 eqnal,
brings this alternative 10 the manufac-
turer and the boss-either agree to fair
conditions or else close up shop.