The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-08-06
SIGNS OF UNREST
MULTIPLY RAPIDLY
War Labor Board Kept Busy Ad-
justinu Threatened Strikes;
Stands for Basic 8Hour Day
(By ERNEST a. wALKBR)

Speciai 10 Inc ADVERTISER )-baDOr
problems seem to be naring into con.
Stantly increasing importance at Wash
ingtOn, The machinery for adjustment
and Cancellation, which the gov eminent
has been providing on an extensive
scale, appears to be engaged to the
limit of its capacity and yet the signs
of labor unrest multiply. The national
war labor board, which is tho Taft
Walsh board, with headquarters in the
department of labor building, is ono Of
tho very busiest places at the federal
seat. 1t is trying to keep in touch
with numerous industrial conflicts, that
are now running into hundreds of
strikes, or threatened strikes, in the
course Of the last two months.
The term threatened strikes" is the
more appropriate. because the Taft
Walsh board refuses TO take up cases
where workers are actually on strike,
unless there is immediate agreement to
return TO work while the war labor
board is investigating and an agree.
ment to abide by the decision when
it is reached. This Is one of the most
successful features of the board IS work.
But industrial troubles seem to be mul,
tiplying so rapidly that the tasks ahead
loom very large.
Thus far the war labor board has
proceeded with market unanimity,
which is another noteworthy feature.
Although it's representatives are even.
ly divided between capital and labor,
they have voted unanimously on al!
decisions to date. The only inability
to agree was upon the making public
of reports by one Of its subcommittee.
Accordingly the recent announcement
by President Wilson that "ten disin-
torested persons suitable to act as UNI.
lected was of significance only as car.
rying out original provisions agreed
upon when the war labor board was or.
ganized. The choice of these men is
precautionary against labor disputes
upon which the war labor board can
not unanimously agree.
Rapid Changes Indicated
However, the board has recently
been making decisions that indicate
rapid changes in tho labor situation, as
we'll as the exercise of very important
authority. For example there was the
board s decision, readjusting the exist
ing wage schedules in eight plants, en-
ploying 5000 men at Waynesboro
Pennsylvania, where it fixed a minimum
wage Of forty cents per hour "tO be
paid any class of workers, including
common laborers. "
"In the Waynesboro case" to quote
the announcement made through the
official committee on public informa
tion,' the award of the board gives
many of the workers wage increases
greatly in excess Of their demands tC
gain which they recently went on strike
For instance, the minimum rate is fixeC
at forty cents per hour, while the mini
mum rate demanded was thirty cent
per hour. Until now common laborer
ut Waynesboro have been receiving a,
little as twenty-five cents per hour
The increase to the lowest paid men
therefore, will be eighty-one percent
Skilled workers were awarded the in
creases they demanded"
The war labor board thus not Onl,
appears committed to increases o
wages, well up to the standard indi
Gated in the WaynesbOro case, but i
is committing itself to "the basic eiRh
hour day. This action was justifie'
in a recent decision affecting a contro
versy between the Worthington Pum
and Mac hinery Company and its EN-
ployes in a plant at East Cambridge
/ Massachusetts, and in a plant at But
| falo, New York. The board predicate
its action for the basic day upon
statement of the secretary of the nav
that a governmental necessity oxiste
, in the plants and that the navy depart
/ ment favored the installation Of tn
basic eight hour day in all plants Ell
j gagged on navy work.
Strikes Are Frequent
! A few weeks ago one of the large
fields of activity for the war labO
I board was the adjustment of labor cor
! trOversies on electric trolley road
| There has been some falling off no.
in these cases, due, perhaps, to tn
many adjustments made. But empIOye
in other branches of industry seel
eager to have their cases aired befor
, the board Strikes or threatened strike
are occurring frequently in many qua
tiers and, often, on government worl
This is particularly notable in sOuther
New England, particularly at Bridg'
port, Connecticut, which is center Il
the manufacture Of arms and ammun
ton. OF like import was the actu'
strike a few days ago in the Smith
Wesson pistol factory at Springfield
Massac husetts.
The war labor board is working O
the Bridgeport case and cOnductin
hearings. Its decision there is likel
to have far reaching Importance
many thousands Of munitions worker
in various eastern states. But it
to be borne in mind that apparehtl
the war labor board is identifying !
self with very general readjustmer
of wages throughout the country an
with the placing of labOrers, skilIe
and unskilIed, in thousands Of .VariOu
branches of industry, upon war foo
ing. The board is undoubtedly impelle
to this course by the existing evidence
of unrest, which it is seeking to que
for the general welfare and also to Civ
the workers sufficient means to NEE
the higher costs Of life s necessities.
~ W. 3. 3. -