New-York tribune., 1903-04-02
THE STRIKE SITUATION.
VIEWED IN WASHINGTON.
Officials and Labor Leaders DO Not
Expect Serious Trouble.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Washington. April 1.-Serious labor troubles
are not anticipated this summer. either by those
government officials who keep in touch with the
industrial situation or by the labor leaders in
Washington. notwithstanding the numerous re-
ports of strikes existing and threatened which
are appearing in the daily press. 1t is admitted
that on May 1 many demands will be made by
the various labor organizations. but the OFF,
cals believe that in many instances these de-
mands will be conceded and in others the dlf-
ferences will be submitted to conciliatory
boards, arbitration. etc. and that satisfactory
agreements will be effected without prolonged
or serious strikes.
1t is admitted that in times of exceptional
prosperity such as the country is now enjoying
there are likely TO be more strikes and the de-
mands of labor are more numerous and exacting
than In periods of depression. This Is due to
several causes. In many instances the workmen
see that their employers are making large prohts
and do not believe they are receiving their 1uii
share in the form OF wages. In the better paid
classes of labor the men, having accumulated
some funds, are more Independent and view
strike with little apprehension. The treasures
of the unions, full. and the prospect of pro-
longed period of idleness is not attended with
anxiety. One of the most important factors.
moreover In predisposing men to strike, Is the
absence of any unemployed labor. condition
which leads them to believe that their employers
will find it impossible to fill their places II they
go on strike. In hard times all these conditions
are reversed, particularly the latter. The pres
ence of few idle men ready and anxious to ac-
cept any form Of employment on almost any
terms proves a powerful deterrent to those who
would otherwise be inclined to strike. 1t is ap-
preciated that profits small, and there is Ike
ly to be a spirit of thankfulness on the part of
those who have steady work. accompanied by
little disposition TO jeopardize their positions
AS a result OF the predisposing circumstances
enumerated, IT IS believed that there will be
many small strikes. but that they will assume
serious proportions is not feared Already
many employers have yielded to the demands
of the unions and have granted higher wages
or shorter hours In fact. the wages now paid
are uniformly good that there remains little
ground for complaint. and the chief reason for
strikes will doubtless be TO secure official recog-
milton of the unions.
STRENGTH OF ORGANIZED LABOR.
That the recognition of labor unions will be
conceded in many Instances is the hope and be-
lief of the labor leaders. They say that with
a grand total membership of two millions, or
ganized labor In the United States. under its
various local, national and international af1ilia-
| tions. to April 1.-The opening of a new
season of activity-with all previous records
broken in the matter of membership, achieve
The industrial workers of the United States
are to-day working shorter hours and receiving
| higher pay than ever before The industrial sky
| is not without few clouds, however, and, as
has been the for many years, many move
rents are in contemplation at the present mo-
ment 10 strengthen the position all along the
line, bring reforms to crafts that think they
have been neglected in the general advance, and
| make new demands where victories have al
r iz
optimistic view of the labor leaders that organ
ized labor in the United States has reached a
point where its future advance is a matter OF
| certainty made comparatively easy by the very
momentum of it's great bulk. Organizations can
| be perfected rapidly and permanently
simply from the assurance to be had on every
| hand of the success in other lines. The work OF
| gaining membership is no longer slow and un-
certain process, calling for great moral courage
on the part of each new member. Frank Nor
rison, secretary of the American Federation Of
Labor says that in March he received over two
hundred applications for charters from new
unions throughout the country. This is the
| largest number record for any one month
| These application from unions which have
no national or international affiliations. and rep
resent entirely new growth in the field of organ
| ized labor.
| As a still further illustration of the growth
years ago there only hfty-six central
bodies connected with the American Federation
| of Labor To-day there are $40 such bodies.
At the former period there were also only fifty
eight international organizations. while to-day
/ their number is III. In the list of organiza-
! tions affiliated with the American Federation OF
Labor just issued. the number Is given as
| q $40 with a total membership of approx
| mateIy ], 700, 900. In the organizations which
| are not affiliated with the American Federation
| of Labor may be included the Brotherhoods of
| Railway Engineers, Conductors, Trainmen and
| Firemen, with total membership Of 10000.
| Then there the organizations of the brick
layers, plasterers, soft stone cutters bridge and
| structural iron workers. aggregating all to-
| gether 10000, making a grand total of over
| two million organized workers
| President Gompers has issued call for the
| formation of three more international unions.
which will bring together. respectively. the vari-
| Gus local organizations of railway clerks rail-
| way expressmen and building laborers. The
| railway expressmen meeting in Chicago for
| the perfection of their international organiza-
| ton. The railway clerks viii meet in that city
| on April 1S, and the building laborers. to the
number Of $50 organizations. will meet in this
| city to perfect their international organization
| on April 13. The bricklayers soft stone cutters
| and structural iron workers voting the
question of afiiating with the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor. The bricklayers' organiza-
tions of Massachusetts have decided this ques-
| ton in the affirmative by large majority. and
the same result is expected in other sections Of
/ the country in all the trades mentioned
THE MOST SERIOUS CONFLICT.
The issue between the United States Steel
| w. nF