The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-07-27

gained labor plays in strikes is indi-
Gated by the fact that Of the total
number of strikes in twenty-five years
$3.50 per cent. were ordered by labor
organizations and the strikes so
ordered included SO.34 per cent. of all
establishments. involved in strikes, 1859
per cent. of all strikers, and 77.45 per
cent. of all employees thrown out of
work in establishments involved in
strikes.
More Strikes Succeed Than Fail.
Employees who went on strike sue
ceeded more often than they fail :
They succeeded in winning all the de-
mands for which the strikes were I'M
dertaken in 47.94 per cent. of the es-
Establishments, succeeded partly in 1928
per cent, and in only 1878 per cent. of
the establishments did they fail en-
tirely to win any of their demands. On
the other hand, the employers, when
they took the initiative and locked out
their employees, succeeded more often
than they failed. Lockouts resulted
wholly in favor of employers in 1920
per cent. Of the establishments involv-
i ed, succeeded partly in 1911 per cent,
and failed entirely in 5000 per cent. of
the establishments.
Strikes of Organized Labor Most Sue
ccSsful.
The strikes which were ordered by
labor organizations were much more
generally successful than those not so
ordered. Thus strikes ordered by labor
Organizations were wholly successful in
1913 per cent. Of the establishments in
volved, partly successful in 1857 per
cent, and failed entirely in only 9465
per cent. of the establishments. On the
other hand, strikes not ordered by la
Dor organizations were wholly success
full in but 1886 per cent. of the estab-
lishments involved, partly successful in
1888 per cent, and failed entirely in
5G81 per cent. of the establishments.
Leading Causes.
During the twenty-five year period
covered by the investigation of the Blu
reau of Labor 4O.72 per cent. OF all
strikes were undertaken for increase of
wages, either alone or in combination
with some other cause, and 1924 per
cent. were for increase Of wages alone.
Disputes concerning the recognition of
union and union rules, either alone or
in combination with some other cause,
| produced 23.S5 per cent. Of all strikes
and were the sole cause of 1884 per
cent. A reduction of wages was the,
cause, wholly or in part, of 1870 per
cent. Of the strikes, and 9.7S per cent.
were to enforce demands for a reduc-
ton of hours. Only 3.74 per cent. of the
/ strikes were sympathetic.
Of the total number of establish
ments involved in strikes 5791 per cent.
were involved in strikes undertaken
wholly or in part to enforce demands
for increase of wages.
| The most important cause of lockouts
was disputes concerning recognition of
union and union rules and employers
organization which alone and combined
with other causes produced nearly one
half of all lockouts and included more
than one-half of all establishments in
volved in loekouts.
| The percentage of strikes for each Of
! the leading causes has varied largely
from year to year, but in every year
save 1884 and 1904 strikes for increase
of wages, have outnumbered those for
any other one cause. In 1884 a greater
number (3S.15 per cent? were undertake
en- wholly or in part against reduction
Of wages, and in 1904 1892 per cent
were for recognition of union and union
rules. In recent years the percentage of
strikes against reduction of wages has
shown notable decrease, as is of
course natural in period of advance
ing wages. On the other hand, the per-
centage of strikes concerning recogni-
ton of union and union rules has shown
a remarkable increase. for while they
constituted less than nine per cent. Of
all strikes between 1881 and 1885, and
never reached 20 per cent. in any single
year prior to 1895, yet during the FIVE
year period 1901 to 1905 they constituted
more than one-third of all strikes. The
sympathetic strike, which In the early
eighties was comparatively rare, but
between 1S9 and 1894 became Of consid-
cradle importance, since 1894 has not
constituted as much as three per cent,
of all strikes in any year except 1904
Strikes for increase of wages have
been more successful than those for
any other cause, having entirely failed
in only S1.36 per cent of the establish
ments involved in strikes for that cause
while the next most successful, those
Iagainst increase of hours, entirely fail
ed in 9709 per cent. of the establish
ments involved. Strikes concerning rec
Iognition of union and union rules en-
tirely failed in 42SS per cent of the
establishments involved, and sympa-
thetic strikes, the most unsuccessful of
all, entirely failed in 1858 per cent of
the establishments involved.
Settlement of Strikes.
Within recent years the effort to
bring about the settlement of strikes
and lockouts by joint agreement of or
A. Il