The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-24
!. FEWER STRIKES.
The Year 1905 Holds the Record
Since 1892.
Twenty-First Annual Report OF
Bureau of Labor.
MOST NOTABLE YEAR
For Number and Magnitude of
Disturbances Was 1894.
In % Years There Has Been a
Total of 36,757.

Washington, July 24.AThe industries
| of the United States suffered less from
strikes during 1905 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 a
measure. According to the twenty first
annual report of the bureau of labor of
the department of commerce and labor,
| In 1905. there were 221, $50 employees
| thrown out of work by 2,077 strikes I'M
dertaken by 176.337 strikers in 1929 es-
| adjustments and lasting an averge of %
days in each establishment involved.
The sreport in part says:
The year 1894 stands out in the his
tory or the country as the year most
nota Bile for the great number of work
ers thrown out of work by strikes, over
| $4,000 employees being thrown out Of
work by 1,349 strikes undertaken by 5o4,-
O94 strikers in S,196 establishments, and
lasting an average of AZ days in each
establishment involved. &c .s--Ts
Statistics for a % year period from
1881 to 1905, show strikes in the United
States numbered &c, 757 and Iockouts
1,546.
The total number of persons who went
on strike during the 25 years was 6,72S,-
O4S and locked out ZIG, 731.
The dependence of one occupation
upon another in the same establishment
sWells the aggregate of employees affect
ed during the period to 9,529, 434. The
average duration of strikes per estab-
l1shment was % days and of lockouts 81
days.
The greatest number of strikes in any
one industry was in the building trades
which had over 26 per cent of strikes
and 3s per cent of all the esta blishments
involved in strikes.
The Importance OF the part that
organized labor plays In strikes" the
report says, is indicated by the fact
that of the total number of strikes in %
years practically 90 per cent were or
'iered by labor organizations. Employees
who struck succeeded oftener than they
failed and employers were similarly sue
cessful in lockouts.
Win Oftener Than Lose
Employers succeeded in winning all
the demands for which the strikes
were undertaken in Is per cent of the
establishments, succeeded 1;artly in
over $ per cent and in only So per
cent of the establishments did they
fail entirely to win any of their de-
mands."
Lock outs resulted wholly in favor
of employers in over 81 per cent of
the establishments involved, succeed
ing partly in IL per cent and failed
entirely in 80 per cent. Strikes order
ed by labor organizations were wholly
successful In practically so per cent
of the establishments involved, par
TALLY successful in almost 16 per cent
SAlIIeyl III only cent
of the establishments.
During the quarter century period
mentioned, Al per cent of all strikes
were undertaken for increase of
wages alone. or in combination with
other causes, over % per cent wholly
or partially by disputes concerning
the recognition of union and union
rules. practically IL per cent caused
by reduction in wages, almost Is per
cent were to enforce demands for a
reduction of hours and only little
less than four per cent were sympa-
thetic.
Strikes for increase of wages have
been more successful than those for
any other cause. Strikes concerning
recognition of union and union rules
entirely failed in 43 per cent of the es-
adjustments involved and sympathet-
ic strikes most unsuccessful of all, en-
tirely failed in 76 per cent of the es-
adjustments involved.
During 1908 six per cent of all
strikes and IL per cent of all lockouts
were settled by joint agreement and
less than per cent of the strikes and
a little over 2 per cent of the lock-
outs were settled by arbitration.