The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1916-05-05
THE GREATEST LABOR
UNREST IN MANY YEARS
Despite Higher Wages and Shorter
Hours--Many Strikes Threatened
More Tranquil in Middle West

nine-hour day without reduction in
pay is expected to bring the workers
back to their tasks this week.
Demands of the railroad brother
hoods for an eight-hour day, refused
by the railroads, does not figure in
the May Day situation, as negotia-
tons do not begin for a month, and it
is expected that conferences on the
subject will consume the summer,
Also while the scale Of coal miners
is under consideration in several of
the States, there is no present threat
of the mines being closed.
Among the building trades the sit
uation is considered the most encour-
aging in years. There are no strikes
of Importance being waged at present
or in prospect. Chicago is enjoying
a building boom.
Cincinnati Reports Few Strikes
Unrest is more apparent in Ohio
than in other Middle West States, al
though Cincinnati reported today
that "there will be fewer strikes in
Cincinnati tomorrow than on any day
for years past"
Cincinnati labor leaders, however,
predict an extension of the machin-
lists strike, which has been on for
eight months, by 5000 or 1000 addi-
tiOnal men. Employers, on the other
hand, asserted that they expected to
lose few, if any, more of their work
ers, Cincinnati garment workers are
expected to begin movement for an
eight-hour day tomorrow, but there
is no present talk of a strike. An
agreement with electrical workers at
Hamilton is looked for.
The greatest anxiety in the State
has been felt over a possible general
strike in the Mahoning Valley, be-
tween Youngstown and Pittsburg,
where organized labor has been con-
sidering whether to strike in support
of the machinists. Labor leaders
were said to be meeting today to con-
slider the sympathetic strike question.
The demand is for an eight-hour day
and Ohio employers generally have
declined to concede it.
At Cleveland and Columbus street
car men are making demands for more
pay, but the strike stage has not beer
reached. Cleveland electrical work.
ers threaten strike for higher wages
tomorrow. Their demands have beer
refused.
Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma
Kentucky, Minnesota, Illinois, Mich,
gan and Missouri all reported that
there wasn't any labor situation,
except scarcity of workers, men anC
women, skilled and unskilled. Michi
gan reported sharp advance in com
| pensation all along the line. In this
State, as in others, readiness of EN-
pivyers to share their prosperity with
; their employees settled or avertet
! small strikes. Detroit, jackson, Sag.
NAV, Lansing and other cities Of
Michigan reported that women in par
ticular had benefited by sharp adj
vances in compensation.
In Wisconsin manufacturers were
reported somewhat apprehensive ovel
demands for higher wages and thu
eight-hour day expected to be pre-
sented tomorrow Organizers hav,
been busy with unskilled labor, but n,
direct threats of important strike!
have been made.
Louisville reported Kentucky tran
gull, except for the coal mine wage
negotiations, which are making littlt
progress. indianapolis said that tht
situation was the most favorable il
years, although the street car strike
at Fort Wayne has not yet been call
ed off.
Oklahoma is included in the undis
turbed States. The coal miners of thi.
State, like those of Kansas and Mis-
souri,, are working under an agree
ment which does not expire until Jul,
81. Nevertheless, negotiations for /
new scale will be taken up May 8.