Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-25
Comparatively, Occurred
In Year 1905.
Industries Suffer Less Than In
Any Year Since 1892.
Government Issues Interesting
Figures on Labor Question. =.

Washington, July 24.-The industries
Of the United States suffered less from
strikes during 1906 than in any year
since 1892, if the number of employees
thrown out of work by strikes and the
duration of the strikes be taken as
measure. According to the 21st annual
report Of the bureau Of labor OF the
department OF commerce and labor in
1893, there were 22l $50 employees thrown
out of work by 2,d,1 strikes undertaken
by 1881 strikers in S.2'2 establish
ments and lasting an average or -
DAYS in each establishment involved.
The report in part says:
The year 1894 stands out in the his
tory OF tho country as the year most
notable for the great number Of work
e1S thrown out Of work by strikes,
over So, 900 employees being thrown out
of work by 1.349 strikes undertaken by
!r,..Oi9 strikers in S,l96 establishments
and lasting an average OF y days IN
each establishment involved
Statistics from Isl to 1903 show
strikes in the United States numbered
36,757 and loc<outs 1,54G
The total number of persons who
went out Oh -lilht "a vi illG tl' ~ S0tii'
was 6,72h,O4S and locked out 7l6,.31.
The dependence Of one occupation up
On another in the same establishment
swclls the aggregat" Of employees af-
fectcd during the period t" o.529,43i.
The average duration of strikes per
establishment was - days and of lock-
outs 81 days.
The greatest number Of strikes in
any one industry was in the building
trades. which had ever o6 per cent. of
strikes and 20 per cent. of all the es-
Establishments involved in strikes.
''The Importance uf the part that
organized labor plays in strikes" the
report saws, "is indicated by the fact
TINT Of the total number of strikes in
- years practically 90 per cent. were
ordered by labor organizations. En-
ployes who struck succeeded oftnper
than they failed, and employers We're
similarly successful in lockontS. En-
ployrS succeeded in winning all the de-
mands for which the strikes were un-
d"rtakcn in As per cent. Of the estab
lishmcnts. succccd.d partly in over l.
per cent and in only Sc per cent. of the
establishments did they fail entirely u
I.ocliouts resulted wholly in favor of
employers in over 81 per cent. of the
establishments involved succeeded
partly in II per cent. and failed entire
~ in 3. per cent. Strikes ordered by
labor organizations were wholly sue
cc.sSful i'm practically - per cent. of
the establishments involved, partly
successful in almost 16 n"r cent AMI
failed entirely in only - per cent. Of
the establishments.
During the urIdrtrr-ccntury period
mentioned, II yer cent. e all strikes
were undertaken or increase of va .yCH
alone. or in combination with other
causes. over - per cent. wholly or par
TALLY by disputes concerning the roc
osnItion of union ana union rules. prac-
ticdlly l. per cent caused by reduction
in wages, almost 10 per cent. were to
enforce demands for reduction of
hours and only Il littl" less than tour
per cent. We're sympathetic.
Strikes for increase Of wages have
been more successful than those for
any nthrr cause. Strikes concerning
recognition Of union and union rules
entirely failed in ~ per cent. Of the
establishments involved. and Sympa-
thctic strikes. the most unsuccessful Of
ali entirely failed in Is per cert. Of the
establishments involved.
During 190l-l0?5. six per cent. Of all
strikes and l. per cent. of all lockouts
We're settled by joint agreement and
less than two per cent. Of the strikes
and little over two per cent. Of the
loCkouts we're settled by arbitration.