Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-09-10
THE PENDING STRIKES.
They Are Of No Tee az Democratic
Campaign Material

HateFfaL
After cropping about biindly for some
thing to take the place Of the dead l6
10 ! free silver issue OF 1896 aud 1900.
the Democrats have apparently seized
upon the unrest OF labor as indicated in
numerous strikes in various parts of the
country as condition which can he
charged to the Republican party. This
is merely another illustration OF the ira
ditIonai faulty Of Democratic issue hun
tsrs 20 monkey with a live wire. when
they are iookiu. for something to win
votes
Strikes. ike the poor. We have with
us always. But unlike the poor they are
not proofs Of hard times and misfortune
More often strikes are the signs and at
tcndGnts OF prosperous times. In hard
times wage earners have nothing to
strike FOR, except against sharing in the
losses which wait on nnremuneratiye
industry. In good times. such as we
have been experiencing under Repubii-
can rule during the past eight years,
strikes indicate the natural ambition Of
labor to secure an increased share in
the profits OF their remunerativs indus
try.
Under Cleveland. from 1898 to 1895,
strikes signifei the protest OF labor
against declining wages.
Under Mckinley and Roosevelt, from
1897 10 1901. strikes have marked the
strides by which labor has raised its
wages to a point never before known in
the history Of the Industrial world.
No Official statistics OF strikes have
been compiled later than for 1900. but
the hsnres for tho sixteen years to and
Including that year show the follow
ing loss of wages TO employees during
two Republican and two Democratic
administrations.
Wages lost
10 employees
by strikes.
iss5 TO isss Cleveland. ......s 4s.5s.a 81.
lsa5 10 1876 cleveland. ......-. s1.S2u.dI1
Total years Democratic
- administration ....+.... .sila- -seo, ,0oi
lss9 20 isge uiarrisoni. ........$ ~. SO. Isl
4eS' !" 'p"' 'Nehihieyl. oi."o.s-S
Total years Republican
administration ..... -fIio. eBf- -s1s
Thus il will be seen that employees lost
nearly 100000 less striking for an in
creased share of the prosperity under
Harrison and Mckinley than they did
striking against reduced share OF the
dwindlin: profits under Cleveland.
But more to the paint are the figures
which show the proportion of strikes
succeeding in the respective periods as
follows:
of.5,,s9, f.5 ssa:
Inclusive ,grresssuI
isss to Isss fclereiandl. .............. - -
1873 TO 1875 tcleyeiandl. dl............. 53.25
Eight Democratic ysars......... 81 81
lSse TO lSs- Nharrisonb. b.-.-........... ~ -
isys 10 ~" tMckiRleyl.. yl.............. &. ~
Eight Republican yesrs...... 81 81
The banner year for strikes was 1891.
which involved less Of $3T.li5.532 to
employees ia wages.
IL has been estimated that the strikes
of 1905 lessenei the purchasing power
of the American people by fully $1,000
Vbo.ooo; and yet. 50 universal was the
increase In pay os wage earners that
the savings deposits OF the country were
increased By the enormous sum of S2i0,-
'sJ, l55 In one year. This affords q
striking contrast 10 the memorable year
of Democratic Adversely. 1894. when
sS.,ls96ii more savings were with
drawn than were deposited.
There is a vast difference between the
significance OF strikes in years Of adrer-
sity and years OF prosperity. According
TO the annual report OF the American
Federation Of La Dor the 2,oD4 strikes Of
the organizations affiliated with that
body in 1905 resulted In benefits TO no
less than 192-59i. or a per cent of the
2i9.Sle members involved. In 1894 the
proportion Of successful strikes was only
31-35.
Clearly the present prevalence Of spor-
adic strikes viii not serve the Demo
Gratis as campaign issue. except a.
boomerang