The evening world., 1920-04-22
Outlook More Hopeful in
Country Than Any Time
Since War Closed.
FEWER MAJOR STRIKES.
Rival Government Agencies
Claim Credit for Bringing
About the Change.
By DdUid Laurence.
Especial Correspondent Of The Eve
ming Worldly

UNtH NSENasl
WASHTNGTON, April % Copy
right, 1920. - Labor conditions
throughout the United States present
a more hopeful prospect to-day than
they. have since the close of the war.
The number Of major strikcs has been
reduced to few, While there are
many minor strikes and while there is
an undercurrent Of unrest, the out
look Is distinctly satisfactory to Gov
eminent on1cials.
There u a difference of opinion as
10 what broke the so-called outlaw"
strike on the railroads, but every
body Is agreed that 1t Is petering out.
Attorney General Palmer naturally
believes the expose of the rndicalisms
alleged to Fbe behind the railway
strike did the trick. Others think
the quiet work of trained conciliators
employed by the Government, to
gether with the establishment OF the
Railroad sIAlbor Board helped send
the strikers back 70. work.
EVIDENCE TAKEN ON THE
CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
Certainly the evidence gathered by
the folks at the Department Of Labor
would seem 10 indicate that dissatis-
faction with the cost of living as well
as feeling that Brotherhood officers
were too slow an pushing the wage
demands had moro to do with the
strike than radicalism or oven the
activity Of the 4. w. w. 1t Is admitted
at the Department OF Labor that the
I. w. WIS have made use OF the OPP
portunIty TO agitate for the "one big
union" but that in itself has not been
declared illegal.
Investigation of the causes OF the
strike is proceeding, and 1t Is In
teresting TO find that the information
gathered at the Department of Labor
emphasizes internal troubles in the
railway brotherhoods as well as the
cost OF living. II is reported, for In
stance, that many OF the railroad.
men have been dissatisfied with w.
@. Lee, president of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen, and that the
strike is an attack on his leadership.
Some reports would seem to indicate
resentment over Mr. Lees alleged ac-
tivity or support in behalf of Gen.
Leonard Woods candidacy. This is
understood to have given rise TO a
controversy over impending mihtar-
ism in the United States, food indeed
for the radicals and orators in labor's
ranks. Il
There Is every Indication, however,
that the men have been persuaded TO
believe the Railroad Labor Board
will give full consideration TO their
difficulties over the cost OF living
Trained conciliators employed by the
Department OF Labor have been at
work in the principal railroad centres
trying TO help the brotherhood CHIEFS
get the men back TO work. The stu
alton in Jersey City is not yet
cleared up, but looks hopeful.
HOPE FOR ENDING NEW YORK
HARB0R STRIKE.
Outside OF the railroad trouble, the
most perplexing strikes OF major i'm
portance are those OF the longshore-
men. in New York Harbor and the
copper miners in Butte, Mont. The
Department of Labor Is expecting to
solve the situation in New York this
week. The issue has been battling
because alongside OF the deep sea
vessels 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 Go cents an
hour.
Their plea has been that. being en-
gagged in interstate commerce. the
coasbwiSe owners are unable to in
crease their rates at will and can't
meet the higher compensation OF
overseh traffic. Reports to the De-
partment OF Labor Indicate that n
compromise is in sight.
As for the strike IN Butte, Mont, II
is too early TO anaiyze the causes or