New-York tribune., 1917-12-24
Labor, in Strategic
Position, Pushes
Wage Demands
Contest With Unionized
Workers in Wyoming Val
ley Anticipated
fSDecjal CorrespoRdenceI
JTHkcs-Barre, Penn, Dec. -.


The labor situation in the Wyoming
Valley is becoming intensely interest
ing with the approach Of the January
1 wage settlement. The pressing ques-
tion is that Of the closed shop and the
ability of the unions TO force the adop-
ton Of the principle at this critical
time. Scarcity Of labor is so great that
the men have strategic advantage
which they may force upon the big
manufacturers, If the Federal govern
ment does not interfere. II Is largely
a government question, since the axle
works, the locomotive plant, the ma
chine shops and various producers are
loaded up with heavy contracts for
various Federal departments. Some OF
the plants are working under great
pressure, and for that reason it Is Of
the highest Importance that this sec
ton should be spared the almost Grim
inal annoyance of a strike disturbance.
But this is about as highly a unionized
community as there is in the United
States, and the men are urged on by
skilful agitators, who stop at nothing
TO push the cause of the union and
thereby fortify their own jobs.
Wages al Top Notch
The average wage in this valley. both
in and out Of the mines. is at top notch
level. The familiar plea is made. how
ever. that because of high living ex-
penses the margin at the present scale
OF wages is no greater than it was for
mcrly, when the pay envelopes were
less bulky. So The men have fled their
claims for increased wages and a closed
shop. and spirited contest seems
probable. II the strife ends there. no
one will have been hurt, for the man
ufacturers are ready to increase wages
II the men get down TO the basis Of eff
cient production and enlarge their out
put. This is difficult to achieve. how
ever. since the men are not doing more
than they have to do to earn their 50,
50 or SO q day.
The average workman thinks through
his labor union. The consequence is
that most Of the thinking is narrow,
one-sided and utterly selfish. It is
hoped that the closed shop issue will
not be pressed, for this would mean
more serious complications for a COM
munity which views the professional
union agitator as sympathetically as il
would an |. W. ". representative af-
icted with smallpox.
Bonus System in Vogue
The shortage of labor prevents the
manufacturers from increasing their
facilities as they would like to do, were
10 possible TO push great additions 70
an early completion. But this is not
feasible because it is impossible TO pro-
cure the labor required for the erec-
tion of the great buildings. even II the
structural steel was at hand with which
to fabricate the structure. Every en-
poyer is, therefore. desirous Of max
ing the most efficient use Of the trained
man-pOwer at MS command. Through
offers OF bonuses and premiums he is
trying to increase his output as far as
it is possible for him to increase it,
This community has suffered with
others from the offers OF ruinous wages
by munition makers and war order fac
tories OF other districts. Hundreds Of
competent workers have been enticed
away by the agents Of munition makers.
shipbuilders and others. Some Of the
men who left 70 get % or 80 per cent
more wages than they were getting
here could not stand the ramshackle
structures that they were asked to live
in. and returned as soon as they tested
the living conditions of munition
town. But many others have not re-
turned. and their loss has been aggra-
waited by the more serious Withdrawals
Of able bodied men for military SER
vice.
Anthracite Miner Independent
OF all classes Of skilled labor. how
ever. the anthracite miner is perhaps
the most Independent. He can work or
not as he pleases, for he knows that a