Norwich bulletin., 1916-05-01

New York, April s0.-An analysis of labor conditions in this city and the metropolitan district shows that May first will dawn between fifty and six ty thousand workingmen and women on strike or locked out, with other in- dustriai disturbances threatened which may throw thousands more out Of ena- ployment.
 Strikes Involving Many Thousands.
 Strikes involving scores of thousands are in affect or threatened in other parts of the east, notably in Pisstu- burgh, where 1000 Westinghouse en- lpoyes are on strike. Settlement also Is pending also is pending of the coun- wide demands of 400,0 900 railroad em- ployes.
 Evidences of Industrial Unrest.
 Tken altogether, no May Day in re- cent years will have witnessed so many concrete evidences Of industrial un- thousands of workers have been grant, better wages and shorter hours.
 Labor's Right 10 Share in Prosperity
 New York, April s0-The right of labor to an increased share in the country's prosperity resulting from the war, joined with the higher cost of living, are declared by labor leaders generally to form from the foundation of labor demands.
 Operators and Miners Reach Agree
 naent.
 An encourafing development almost on the eve of May Day was the an- nouucement that tentative agree ment had been reached oby the repre- which probably would avert strike of 175,0o0 miners in the anthracite coal fields.
 Announcement was made tonight. also, that because of concessions granted by steamship companies and workmen on the water front in this city was not probable.
 Garment Workers May Strike.
 Industrial disturbances here in- clude one of the mos serious in the city's history. The Cloak, Suit and Skirt Manufacturers Association, members of which do an aggregate annual business estimated at $3T6, ,000,- GOO, anticipating a possible strike during the height of the summers ac- tivities in garment making, forestalled# such action last week by declaring a. lockout affecting between 30,000 and 35O000 employees Union leaders ex- will last until September 1. The lock- out was followed by threat on the part of some 35,00O employees in iI1de- pendent shops to walk out tomorrow or Tuesday unless the employers grant their demand for a continuance of the over those unorganized.
 Painters and Decorators Demand ln-
 crease.
 The next largest strike in this city numerically involves about I0,300 employees are idle include 200 eyvjelry painters and decorators who demand increased pay. Other trades in which workers and 1,500 customs tailors.s There also are scores of other strikes in the Metropolitan in the metropoli- tan district and in New Jersey in vo1ving small numbers but aggregat- ing thousands of ehmployes. The de- mands are highed wages and short ter house
 A. F. of L. Organizers Views.
 Hugh Frayne, general organizer here for the American Federation of Labor said today that, all tolds more men and more women were enjoying higher pay and shorter hours han ever before in this city.
 Labor Not Getting Too Much.
 f.Talk of reaction setting in," Mir. E'rayne added, "does not alarm me. Labor is not getting too much. What some have termed excessive demands on L06 spdIL OF the wage CdI46ES are nor excessive. Labor is adjusting itself. to conditions as they exist and wage scales now asked are only what labor is entitled to had the employers kept up wages with the gradual advance in the cost of living within the past few years Employers cite demands of labor, but they must remember that there also are demands upon labor that labor must meet to live"
 Threatened Strikes Settled.
 During the past two weeks, accord ing to Colonel M. J. Reagan, a member of the state board of mediation of the department of labor, threatened strikes in various industries in the metropolis district have been settled, averting idleness for more than S0000 persons. In a maorijty of the eases settlement has been through mediation in which the employees have benefited by ad- vanced wages and shorter hours. Wage Increases Average 10 to 14 Per.
 Cent.
 Summing up the labor situation for the year, Solonel reagan said that aside from railroad enloyes there has been a general advance throughout New York state that win average 10 to If per cent. Many railroad workers In unclassified departments of certain roads also have benefited.