The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-06-29
STRIKES HAVE COST
sI57,6O3,37O THIS YEAR
EARLY 100000 MEN HAVE BEEN
IDLE FOR VARIOUS PERIODS
IN FUTILE TIE UPS.
ISSUES NOT YET SETTLED
Federation of Labor Continues Fight
Against Open Shop, Which Was the
Bone of Contention in Majority of
Strikes. Some Big Fights.

Bone of Contention in Majority of
Strikes. Some Big Fights.
Strikes in the United States during
the first five months of 1920 caused
a known loss in wages and output OF
S104, 443,370, while strikes still in
progress add $50, 100000, making a
total minimum loss of $157,603,37O.
In reality the losses have greatly ex-
ceeded this sum, the losses of men and
Industries affected by strikes rolling
UP a total several times bigger than
the known minimum loss.
The number of men directly involv-
ed in strikes between January l and
June 1 was 274,643. They lost a to-
tai of 6,516,764 working days. the
equivalent of 20,82O working years.
The wages they lost amounted to $685.
743,S2O and the output to $780,
$50.
Public Disapproved.
In addition to these the United
States department of labor was asked
to take action in S6 strikes, eight
ockouts and two walkouts, which in
volved $1,000 workers and the loss OF
1902, $50 working days. The public's
disapproval had much to do with end
ng many strikes.
The complications growing out of
the switchmen's strike have affected
every line of industry. There was no
Question that this was as much an
6outlaw' strike to the public as it was
to the brotherhoods, whose orders
were disregarded. The strike in the
passenger service was broken by vol
unteers and, while the freight move
ment is still being handicapped, it is
evident to all that the men have lost.
In 70 strikes IL were won by the
men and Ia lost, with two others re-
pudiated by the international organi-
cations of the men and therefore call
ed off. The comparison in percent
ages is 16 per cent won and % per
cent lost. There were IA strikes com
promised and were settled by arbi-
tration.
Two significant facts developed in
connection with the printers strike in
New York city. One was that there
exists a considerable group who are
ready to renounce their international
allegiance upon slight provocation.
This fact is held to foreshadow the
inevitable struggle for control be-
tween the radical and conservative ell
ements throughout the body of organ
zed labor.
Compulsory Arbitration Opposed.
The second fact is that compulsory
arbitration, which is bitterly opposed
whenever embodied in proposed legis-
lation, was in this instance imposed by
an international union on one of it's
locals.
The question of the open. shop lay
at the bottom of the steel strike,
which began last September and was
not declared off until early in Janua-
ry. Notwithstanding the defeat the
fight is still being waged, the report of
the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor in convention at
Montreal declaring that the interna-
Etional unions involved express their
determination to continue with the
work of organization and not leave
the steel workers at the mercy of the
corporations bIacklisting system. In.
accordance with this decision the work
of education and organization is be-
ing continued"
Fight in Texas.
A statewide fight for the open shop
is now being waged in Texas, where
G. H. Slater, president of the state la
Dor federation, said the open shop
movement has caused walk-outs in
many cities. He added that the slow
ing up of building operations curtail-
ed expenditures to the amount of mil
lions of dollars. In some of the trades
the men have been out from three to
eight months, the loss in wages being
estimated at 100000.
The public attitude is held to be
Overwhelmingly in favor of the open
shop and against unwarranted strikes.
In Atlanta, Ga, the open shop ques-
ton has caused much comment since
the strike of the street car men began
in January. The men agreed to arbi-
tration and then, when the award did
mot suit them, struck a second time.
After being out two days they were
rdered back by their international of
fcers.
louisiana Takes Stand.
In Louisiana the state government
itself took hand when a strike was
called on the new state industrial ca
nal Governor Parker issued a state
ment in which he said there would be
10 closed shop and no temporizing
with the men.
1 In Spokane, Wash, the building
trades won a general wage increase
last spring. The employers declared
then for the open shop, which has OBJ
tanned in Tacoma since the failure of
last autumn's strike. The Spokane
men struck a second time and lost,
with the result that union men are
now officially permitted" to work
with non-union men.