Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-10-05
CHANGE seen IN
STRIKE REASONS
Wages Alone Do Not Constitute
the Basis for Most Labor
Disputes Now.
FIGURES FOR SEVEN YEARS
In 1922 New York Had More Strikes
Than the Seven Next Largest
Cities in the Country-Chi-
cago Came Next.

A study of strike and lockout figures
for the past seven years gathered by
the Department Of Labor shows that
last year, 1922, had the fewest disputes
of any year or about one-third the
number In 1916, the initial year of the
statistical series.
Statistics gathered upon the causes
Of labor disputes serve as an index of
changing labor conditions in the last
seven years. They show that wages
alone do not constitute the basis for
most strikes, and they indicate to
marked degree the periods Of high
prices and the ensuing defation. While
prices climbed from 1915 until 1920,
demands for increased wages caused
about one-third Of the strikes. More
than 1000 strikes annually were called
for this reason, but there was an i'm
pressive change in 1921, when employ
ers were unable to maintain wages
paid during the high peak Of prices.
In this year but 12O strikes were due
to demands for raised wages; last
SS0A (hC AuAUOI w dS LOO.
The same tabulation shows that pre-
ceding and during the war period COM
paratively few labor wars were fought
because Of wage reductions. In 1920
there were lat such disputes, followed
by S95 the next year. Last year the
number of strikes for this cause sank
to 255, but this item remained the most
important in the column for the year.
Strikes for an increase of wages
and a reduction of hours apparently
have ceased to become important con-
siderations. In 1915 and 1919 there
were, respectively, 4S1 and 578 indus
trial disputes for this cause, but in the
last two years the number has dwin-
died to negligible quantity. Strikes
for recognition Of the union have also
decreased at greater rate than the
proportionate reduction of strikes for
all causes in 1922. The same thing
Is true of controversies over the closed
or open shop.
Tabulated by the month of their be-
ginnings, there is a general increase in
the number Of strikes during April and
May, which IL due to a greater indus
trial activity at that time Of the year
and to the fact that trade agreements
in many Industries terminate then, CIV
Ing rise to controversies over wages In
making new agreements. More than
one-half of the strikes occurred in the
leading manufacturing states of New
York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, New Jersey and Illinois. One Of
the things shown in this tabulation Is
that Michigan, with it's varied indus
tries and its virtual monopoly of auto
mobile manufacturing, ranks with ag-
ricultural states in the small number
Of strikes called last year.
As to the number Of strikes by cities,
New York, as usual. heads the list with
12S for 1922, followed by Chicago with
"a, Boston with ~, Cleveland with q
and Philadelphia with 10. That New
York city is the greatest industrial
storm center Of the country is shown
by the fact that the total number Of
strikes taking place last year in the
seven next largest cities Of the coun-
try is ten less than New York's figure.
The average number of days for
strikes last year was 80, the same as
for 1920, while In 1921 the average du-
ration was 81 days, compared with %
days and 10 days for 1917 and 1918 re-
spsctively.