Evening star., 1924-11-30
SHORTAGE IN LABOR
NEXT SPRING SEEN
Prosperity of Railroads May
Mean Wage Demands-But
Few Disputes Now.
BY HARDEN COLFAX.

The first sign of approaching labor
troubles has made it's appearance in
the railroad field. No larger than a
small cloud on the industrial horizon
of itself 1t is regarded as almost in
consequential. but as an indication
Of labors possible attitude during the
expected period of prosperity. it is
causing some concern among officials
here.
The development is a request on
the part of the railroad brother
hoods for conference to discuss
wage readjustments. The request has
been made to officials of the South
ern Pacific Railroad. and, it Is ex-
pected, will be extended TO other
Western roads. 1t follows by two
months or so a readjustment by the
New York Central of wages among
engineers. firemen, trainmen. conduc
tors and telegraphers. amounting to
an estimated per cent increase.
Confined to Western Roads.
No similar request is said to be con-
templated at the present time in the
case of the Eastern or Southern rail-
roads, but it is regarded as quite
likely that the success of the work
ers in the forthcoming conference
with Western roads would be fol-
lowed by similar conferences with
roads in other sections. Thus the
point of the entering wedge of high
er wages. first among railroad broth
erhood men and later among organ
lied workers generally, is seen by
some officials here.
Such a movement, II is believed,
would not fail to spread from the
railroads to other Industries. A gen
eral period of widespread Industrial
activity would make the time op-
perfume for such demand. and as
leading business men are almost a
unit in forecasting an era of great
prosperity. the opinion prevails that
the present slight surplus of labor in
some lines soon will be replaced by
a labor shortage in many lines. The
time then would be ripe to demand
higher wages and there is little
doubt that the demand will be forth
coming.
Great Railroad Prosperity.
First demands naturally have been
centered on the railroads. which at
the moment appear to be the advance
agents OF the new prosperity. The
railroads generally are prospecting.
but not so much as they hope to
prosper when business hits its ex-
pected stride. Equipment orders
totaling more. than $1,000, 100000 de-
cided on recently by the chief car
rters in New York speak eloquently
the railroads view as to the i'm
mediate future
The extent of the sharp depression
through which the country has passed
and the rapidity of it's recovery have
not been generally realized Five
months ago. according to estimates
made by Labor Department officials.
from 100000 to 1000 600 work ers
We're unable to obtain employment
Today idleness is but little greater
than normal. Considerably less than
100000 workers. including the So
called foaters. are believed to be un-
employed.
Almost No Labor Troubles
y labor shortage by Spring is ex-
pected here by officials in daily touch
with the situation. With the excep-
ton of sporadic strikes in the hard
coal fields. the conciliation board of
the Department of Labor at the pres
ent time is engaged in attempting to
settle only 56 cases Of labor difficult
ues. These cases involve from
handful Of men to 500 each. The
total number of workers. exclusive of
anthracite miners. involved in labor
disputes throughout the entire coun-
try, according to this reckoning, is
less than $4,000 at the present time.
The showing is regarded as almost
astounding. It succeeds a situation
involving the strikes of more than
1000 600 men at one time.
Copyright, 1924