Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-24
CONDITIONS
IN u. s. NOW LOOK
MORE OPTIMISTIC
NY DAVID LAWRENCE

Copyright, 1920, for The Atlanta Journal.)
WASHINGTON, April 22.-Labor
conditions throughout the United
States present a more hopeful aspect
today than they have since the close
strikes has been reduced to. a few.
While there are many minor strikes
and while there is an undercurrent of
unrest, the outlook is distinctly sat
isfactory to government officials.
There is a difference of opinion as
to what broke the so-called OUTLAW"
strike on the railroads, but everybody
is agreed that it is petering out. At
torney General Palmer naturally be-
lieves the expose of the radicalism
alleged to be behind the railway
strike did the trick others think the
quiet work of trained conciliators
employed by the government, to-
gether with the esta blishment of the
railroad labor board helped send the
strikers back to work.
Certainly, the evidence gathered by
the folks at the department of labor
would seem to indicate that dissat1s-
faction with the cost Of living, as
we'll as a feeling that the brother
hood officials were too slow in push
ing the wage demands had more to
do with the strike than radical1sm or
even the activity of the /. w. WIS. 1t
it admitted at the department of Ia
Dor that the I. w. WIS have made
use Of the opportunity to agitate for
the zone big union" but that in itself
has not yet been declared Illegal
Internal Troubles
Investigation of the causes of the
railroad strike is proceeding and 1t IS
interesting to find that the informa.
ton gathered at the department OF
labor emphasizes internal troubles In
the railway brotherhoods as well as
the cost of living. 1t is reported, Tor
instance, that many of the railroad
men have been dissatisfied with w.
G. Lee, president of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen, and that the
strike is an attack on his leadership
Some representatives would seem to
indicate resentment over Mr.. Lees
alleged activity or support in behalf
of General Leonard Woods cand1-
dacy. This is understood to have
given rise to a controversy over I'M
pending militarism in the
States, food indeed for the radicals
and orators in labor'S ranks.
There is every indication. how
ever, that the en- have been. per-
labor board will give full considera-
ton to their difficulties over the
cost of living. Trained conciliators
employed by the department of Ia
Dor have been at work in the pr1n-
cipal railroad centers trying to help
the brotherhood chiefs get the men
back to work. Tho situation in Jer-
sey City is not yet cleared up, bur
looks hopeful.
Outside OF the railroad trouble.
the most perpleHing strikes of major
importance are those of the long
shoremen in New York harbor ana
the copper miners in Butte, Mont.
The department of labor is expecting
to solve the situation in New York
"H. c. L." Blamed
The issue has been battling, be-
cause alongside OF the deep sea YES
sells docking in New York, long
shoremen have been paid 80 cents an
hour, while in adjacent docks, near
enough for the workers to see and
hear and feel the contrast. the coast
wise and cross harbor vessel owners
have been paying only IS cents an
hour. Their plea has been that being
engaged in interstate commerce. the
to increase their rates at will and
can't meet the higher compensation
Of oversee traffic. Reports to the }de-
partment of labor indicate that a
compromise Is In sight.
AS for tho strike in Butte. Mont
it is too early as yet to analyze the
causes or probable outcome. The In
dustrial Workers of the World IS
agitating the strike and has sue
ceeded by picketing methods in keep
ing IS per cent OF the miners from
entering the mines. The cry is for
a six-hour day at 81 per day
It is clear from all the informa-
ton gathered about the different
strikes IN the country that the cost
Of living and the demand for labor
in other lines of work more, <profiA-
able than that of the dfscontented
worker has helped unsettle labor con
ditions. There is no convincing evf-
dence of radicalirm. There is album
dant proof Of economic unrest as a
result Of high prices and reconstrue-
ton ills and deep disappointment
with the campaign to reduce the