New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-18

stances of employees who admitted that
they quit work because OF threats OF
what would happen. These threats
were particularly eficacious in the case
of married men, their wives being
frightened by threats of the cottage
being burned or of the husband being
injured. The men who made these
threats we're always |. W. w. mem
bers. The men who sought to make
an arrangement with the employer were
always Federation of Labor men.
Employers in Quandary
Employers are now wondering wheth-
err they will still have the |. W. W.
to deal with If they yield to the de-
mands of the Federation CO Labor IN
response TO the appeal OF the National
Council of Defence that they concede
the eight-hour cay out of patriotism.
The |. W. ". is demanding far more
than the Federation Of Labor. It de-
mands that all new men shall be en-
ployed through the l. W. W. and in
sists that not more than two men
shall be assigned to one bedroom IN
the camps. Their main demand is the
eight-hour day on ten-hour pay.
Viewed as a labor trouble without
regard to the /. W. W, the present
strike is the outcome Of the determine.
ton OF the American Federation OF
Labor 10 unionize the Northwestern
lumber industry. At its annual meet
ing in Seattle two or three years ago
the Federation appropriated a large
sum OF money TO defray the expenses
of this organization campaign. The
lumber industry is perhaps the thlrd
largest industry in the United States
and vet it has been practically un-
touched by organized labor, excepting
the shingle-weaving department.
Owing TO the shifting nature OF the
business and the migratory habits OF
most of the laborers engaged in II,
and TO the peculiar conditions Under
which they live and work, 1t was long
considered as difficult to organize.
Men Are Well Treated
Moreover, 1t has always been an in
dustry in which the men are partleu-
larry we'll treated. Lumber camp
GRUB" has long been famous for its
quantity. variety and quality, ana
whenever business has been good the
nay has been generous. After years
of heartbreaking depression the indus
try has suddenly become prosperous
Laborers are now getting from 80 10
$3.50 q ten-hour day, with pro raVa
overtime pay, as against half as mucn
a year ago. In the camps emu punk
houses they pay $3.50 week Tor Doafd
and 80 cents week and up Tor Sleep
ing accommodations. In the remote
places, where there is little or no d.
version. il is claimed that the men are
eager for overtime and would rather
work ten hours than eight.
The principal basis OF the opposition
of the employers 70 the eight-hour
day is that it is only this section OF
the country in which it is being de-
manded. The Pacific Coast mills have
TO compete for markets with the South
ern mills.
No attemnt is being made TO organ
ize the latter, for the very good rea-
son that. owing to the class of labor
employed in them, which is largely ne
gro. there is no chance of success.
This means that if the eight-hour day
prevails on the Pacific the mills here
must compete with a ten-hour day at
less pay in the South. The Southern
mills have the advantage of lower
freight rates, too, in most Of the COM
petitive territory.
Government viii Suffer
If now the Northwestern lumbermen
yield to the demand made on them
in the name of patriotism and concede
the eight-hour day, somebody has got
to foot the bill for the difference.
Temporarily, the government, that is
to say, the people at large, will have to
pay. The government must have lum-
Der for ships, cantonments and air
planes.
Not more than 10 per cent Of log
yields the quality required for ship
building ana planes. The rest of the
lumber obtained from the log must be
sold in competition with Southern pine.
Uncle Sam will have to allow a price
for the portion of the log he takes that
will be large enough to yield a good
profit on the whole log. So long as
the government continues TO buy large
quantities on this scale all will be well.
Afterward, what?