The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-01-09
Cause of Ninety-Five Per
Cent of the Strikes
FIGHTS IN LABOR RANKS
Endless Controversies Arising
Over Who Should Perform
Certain Work
IAssociated Press Dispatch. !


| New York, January 3-Ninety- five
| per cent CT the strikes and seventy
five per cent Of the days CT idleness
! in the building trades in the past
have occurred through what is
| known as "snowballing" or con-
| troversies between wage earners
themselves as to which trade Should
do the work, says Franklin T. Miller,
| pany and formerly director of the
division of public works and con-
struction of the United States de-
partment of labor. Only five per
cent, he declares, have been on ques-
ton between employer and employee.
Mr.. Miller, who has been in touch
with the construction industry in
this country for twenty five years,
cited the case of big Chicago ho-
tel costing millions. the work on which
had been delayed, he said, more than
year because of a disagreement
between skilled workers as to who
should handle certain doors because
of the prepCnGerance Of metal ove.
wood. This he said was ain newt
able consequence of the rapid devel-
opment of the industry. Analysing
the situation and the building outlook
for 1920, Mr. Miller said:
Board of Award.
'The creation of a board of juris-
dictional award by the United States
department of labor, board CON-
posed of architects, engineers, con-
tractors, material men and wage
earners, promises a solution of one
of the most difficult labor problems
in the building industry. AS result
of it decreased cost of construction
may be expected. The board of
jurisdictional award has been form
ulated with the full approval of all
interests concerned, who seem to
have entered into it without reserva-
ton.
1.-THE labor outlook in the building
industry tnus promises a condition OF
greater stability during the coming
year because of the organized deal
ings between employers and employees,
with full recognition of the term con-
tract and arbitration principles.
Serious Labor Troubles.
"The first serious labor troubles
in the building industry" said Mr..
Miller in reviewing the national
construction shortage, occurred in
the latter part of October 1918,
through a strike of carpenters on
government work in Brooklyn in vi
olation of the Baker Gompers agree.
ment, pact between the war de-
partment and the American Fedora
ton of Labor. This strike was set
tied by compromise early in March,
1919. but in The meantime it threat
ened a sympathetic nation wide
strike of the building trades and
held I'D construction not only in New
York but made it uncertain through
out the land. Other labor troubles
sprang I'D throughout the country,
notably in Chicago, where the whole
building trade was tied up from July
to September, 1919" Since then con-
ditions have improved but there would
not be complete harmony in the
building industry he indicated until
the federal board of jurisdictional
award began to function.
Promotion of Public Works.
From April 1919, to last July, the
war department, through Colonei Ar
thur Woods as special assistant 10
the secretary of war. engaged IN the
active promotion of public works IN
order to provide jobs for returning
soldiers" concluded Mr.. Miller.
"Then it appeared that there would
not be sufficient labor, materials and
CAPITAL for the necessary new con
struction of the country The pro-
motion of non productive public
work was abandoned. The federal
reserve board, early in December,
1919. announced its purpose OF post
poning the erection of it's contem-
plated banking institutions. These
are among the factors in the present
situation"