Evening journal., 1920-10-28

OoplAibnt 1J1O, NcW loih AAbuhO
time, 10000 workers in Chicago had
their wages entirely cut off-and the
same condition prevailed in almost
every part Of the country. If, as was
claimed, every man, woman and child
OF all classes in the United States,
lost $40 each through this strike, II
Is probable that the loss in a large
country reached $50 each.
At election time last year, nearly
5000 workers Of the American Loco
motive COmpanys Schenectady plant
had been for some time previously
out Of employment. J. r. Bellinghan,
an employe OF the General Electric
Company. president OF one Of the
labor unions in the electric field and
recognized labor leader. who was
running for office on the Socialist
ticket made a special appeal TO these
American Locomotive Company en-
ployes on the ground Of their unenl-
| plOyment, demanding again and again.
with OratOrical emphasis, OF them, OF
the capitalists and OF the whole coun-
| try why these capable WOrkmen, who
were willing to work, whose families
desperately needed their wage, should
| not have work.
The answer in this particular in
stance happened to be particularly
easy; the exceptionally high wages
which another specially powerful
GLASS qf labor had forced from the
RAILROADS.. plus the constant strikes Of
other Glasses Of labor in the railroad
| field, had so reduced both the rail-
roads income and the use to which
! the railroads were able to put the
equipment they had that they were
at that time absolutely unable to buy
| the extra locomotives which would
haveagiven employment to these men.
Moreover, 1t is not at all necessary
that the strike be in some big, con-
spiouously basic industry like coal or
steel TO make a tremendous dent Ia
| the wages Of immense numbers OF
outside workers whom the strikers
| themselves undoubtedly never consid-
cred in the situation.
A streetcar strike. which In our
large cities often affects millions OF
people, making it dinlcult and often
| impossible to get TO and from their
work at least for more than a few
hours a day, but particular burden on
labor, because, while such a situation
seldom affects salaries, for every hour
that labor loses wages completely
stop.
] Take the case OF z hlflke OF WHICH
the public outside OF the little loca
area might never hear - strike
among the cotton spinners in lowell.
Such a strike by a comparatively few
thousand primary producers OF cotton
Immediately involves a vastly greater
number OF cotton weavers, cottof
hleacfers. cotton print men, etc. Sc
that nearly five times as many work
ers in the Lowell section alone Q.
actually struck loose all their wages
But this includes only the FIRST o.
the outside effects OF such a strike
In New York, makers OF all kinds o
women's and children's undergar
ments, wrappers, dresses. aprons; iI
Troy makers OF collars and shirts
in Utica. makers Of sheets and pillow
b cases: in Ipswich, HolyhOke and Rock
ford makers Of mems, wOmen's anS
J children's hosiery-in short, tens o.
thousands OF workers all over The
country also lose time and wages be
: cause OF the original strike whosl
cause they did not know and whOsl
, outcome Of success or failure, in M
2 way benefits them.
No better example perhaps can b
q cited Of how a strike or a compare
lively few men can have the most far
2 reaching effects on the work AM
, wages OF a vast number OF Othe
- workers. No better Illustration neel
] he given Of how helpless such a grea