The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-08-27
STRIKE HISTORY.
Early Efforts Of Workingmen to
improve Their Condition.
THE ONLY MEANS AVAILABLE.
When First inaugurated Strikes Were
Called Observation-Disclosures Must
Be Kept Sacred to Avoid State Of
Gsrui&uda


Servituds.
The strike OF workmaI against EN-
ployers for redress or grievances is
not a new instrument Ia this country.
Even half century before the sign
ing Of the Declaration OF Independence
strikes occurred. 1t Is true they We're
not Of n general character. being spo
radio and infrequent. but nevertheless
emphasized the spirit which was ris'
ing in the breasts Of workmen who
were compelled to work under unfa
vora BILE conditions.
Among the first of strikes TO occur
was that Of the journeymen bakers in
New York city in l14l. The men en-.
gagged In this strike We're indicted. bul
the records are Of so huzy a character
that itrannot be determined accurate
~ as to what disposition was made
Of the case. although from the best
information obtainable the men were
convicted under the indictment. but
sentence never passed.
The next strike of record occurred
in May, 1906, of the journey men shoe
makers in Philadelphia. strike was
then called turnout and was par
ticipated In for the purpose Of secur
Ing an increase in wages These men
We're also indicted in court. but the
issues Involved in the controversy
We're won by the striking shoemakers
Another strike by the shoemakers il
Philadelphia was had in 1T9S. whicl
likewise proved successful. another In
crease In wages being secured IL
1893 the shoemakers again struck t,
resist a reduction in wages. TIL
strike lasted about ten weeks. and the
shoemakers were partially successful
The number of shoemakers involve,
at this time was only about 100.
In November 1903, a strike occurre,
In New York city which is commonl,
known as the sailors strske A mum
Der OF sailors who had been receivin.
$40 per month demanded an increase
to S14. These sailors formed In a body
marched around the city and induced
other seamen who were employed t
leave their ships and join the strike
The strikers were dispersed by tn
constables and their leader ARRESTED
and lodged in jail This strike wa
unsuccessful
In 1905 the shoemakers Of Philadc
phia again went on strike for an in
crease In wages Of from % to 10 cent
per pair The strike was Of six
seven weeks duration and was onl
partially successful. Growing out o
this strike another court proceedin
was had, and the shoemakers wer
found guilty Of combination TO rails
their wages and were fined by tn
court So each. with the cost of the suit
A series of strikes ia the variou
trades, dating from 1909 to 1885, wa.
had, but in the latter year a humble
Of merchants 10 Schuylkill. N
pledged themselves not to employ la
borers unless they would agree t.
work by the day and from sunrise Il
sunset, with an allowance OF one houl
to breakfast and one hou- to dinner
June / and from that date one hour +
breakfast and two hours to dinner. ano
then we will not give exceeding 81 pc
day to laborers' This act had th
effect Of creating q change in publ
sentiment relative to conspiracy, th
position then being taken that il com
binations Of working men were wronl
combinations OF employers must ais
be wrong. This was the turning poin
which finally gave the right Of labor
the lawful right to strike.
Since this date the number of strike,
has increased, owing directly. OF
course, to the increase in population
AS to the general success Of all the
strikes that have taken place. it has
been apparent that the greatest gains
In increases in wages and shortening
OF hours through the medium OF the
strikes has been among the building
trades, and there are now In the build
ing trades alone In the United States
and Canada approximately 100000
men who are working an eight hou
day and at wage 20 per cent higher
than fifteen years ago In the great
contests between the employers and
workmen methods have been adopted
by employers and employers associa
tons to defeat the Just cause of work
men in gaining better conditions In or
der that an American standard Of liv
Ing may be maintained. Orders Of
courts have been invoked. Through
decision handed down by the United
States supreme court the organizations
OF labor are denominated Illegal com
binations In restraint Of trade, and
every other obstacle has been placed
In their pathway TO retard the prog.
ress of the legitimate and justifiable
demands Of labor. There Is not likely
to be any cessation of hostility be-
tween employer and employed so long
as inequalities exist. The ever chang.
Ing evolution Of industry compels
workmen to constantly engage in In
dustrial warfare to protect their inter-
ests. The right to strike Is an IN
allenable right, and were 1t not that
this right is recognized our country
would soon gravitate to one of the
worst despotisms Of which history re-
cords. The great race for wealth by
captains of industry intensifles the
struggle, but the exercise Of the rights
Of workmen to resist unfair conditions