The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-01
GOOD LABOR YEAR
| Workers Received More Than
Ever in History.
Many Wage Increases and
/ Shortening of Hours.
| MORE MEN ARE EMPL DYED NOW
Fifteen Hundred Strikes De-
CURED During the Year.
Many Laws Passed in Favor OF
the Workers.
MORE MEN ARE EMPL DYED NOW

Washington, May 1.-Organized la
Dor received more in the year ending
with May 1 in increased wages, short
ening of hours and legislation than
ever before in its history, according to
{ OFFICIALS of the American Federation
OF Labor Wage advances were gen.
eral the country over in virtually ev-
cry line of industry and laws benefit
ing labor were put on the statute
books of every state in the union ex-
cept five.
Wage increases were greatest in the
metal trades, many of which were
stimulated by war orders. Cotton man
ufacturing was the only main industry
which did not grant substantial in
ereases. The metal trades. too, claim
ed the greatest number of strikes dur
ing the year, though many plants in
creased the pay of their men and cut
working hours voluntarily.
One benefit brought by the indus
trial revival which labor officials
consider as important as increases in
wages was the effect on unemploy-
ment. which has disappeared within
the past year. Statistics just COM
pleted by the department of labor
show that men of all trades have been
called in to work. Ircn and steel mills
have on their payrollS now So per cent
more men than were employed year
ago and the car building and repair
ing industry has increased its forces
by about the same percentage. Man
ufacturers of boots and shoes are en-
ploying 20 per cent more men than
this time last year.
Wage increases during the year
have ranged from to Is per cent
No statistics have been compiled by
either the department of labor or the
American Federation of Labor, but
reports coming in to both tell of what
is being accomplished in manufact-
uring plants in all parts of the coun-
try.
Strikes Were Short.
The department of labor puts the
country's 1915 strikes at 1900, about
500 more than the year before. About
two-thirds of them were for wage in
/ creases or decreased working hours
and most of them were successful
Munitions strikes starting in the sum-
mer of 1915 attracted much attention
Most of them were for shorter hours
without pay increases Shorter hours
generally were obtained by the NUM-
tons workers, but where wage in
creases were asked the workers sell
dom got as much as they asked for.
Strikes in the clothing industry in
eastern cities involved a number of
strikes. but their duration was COM
paratively short. A middle western
clothing strike, in Chicago. however,
| lasted for three months and involved
J from 5000 to $4,000 workers. Other
| strikes of Importance during the year
/ included the building trades strike in
/ Chicago, which halted building in that
city for a time; the oil and chemical
I strikes at Elizab beth. y. J., and neigh
| boring cities and the Chicago street
/ car strike. The Eastern Ohio coal
strike was settled just a year ago.
| The causes of strikes and lockouts
were numerous In a total of 1900
| strikes three hundred were for wage
| Increases; 1873 for a shorter working
day; 90 because of wage cuts; 90 be-
cause of discharge of union men; 40
/ because of employment of non
union men, and 90 for open or closed
shop.
I Labor Laws Passed.
| The most significant feature of the
years labor legislation is given by la
Dor leaders as enactment of work
mems compensation laws The growth
| of the Industrial commission plan is
/ considered of great Importance also
/ This plan unites in one authority the
! administration of wOrkmen's compen-
satfon. factory inspection and other la
Dor laws It was adopted during the
year by Colorado, Indiana, Montana
/ Nevada and New York
/ Unemployment received the atten-
/ ton of a number of legislatures Hi
/ nois established a commission on I'M
! employment: California and Nevada
/ investigated unemployment conditions
and Idaho provided emergency en-
ployment through county boards.
Public employment officers were
/ established by California, Idaho, Iowa
New jersey and Pennsylvania Illi-
nois, Michigan and Oklahoma extend
ed their public employment systems
/ Seven states provided for licensing and
supervising private employment Of
/ fees.
/ Laws relating to the employment OF
women and children were passed by a
/ number of states. Arkansas and Kan
/ sas enacted minimum wage laws and
! California, MaSsa chuSetts and Wash
/ ington amended minimum wage laws
already in force. Eleven states now
have minimum wage legislation. Ar
| kansas and Pennsylvania passed child
| labor legislation during the year
In the field of safety provision the
most detailed enactments were those
! formulated by the industrial commits
sion of Wisconsin and the industrial
1 boards of New York and Pennsylvania
/ The seaman's act, the Alaska and Ari-
IONA old age pension laws and Cali
fornia's appointment of a commission
to report on social insurance were 9th
/ er important enactments-