One result of the strike at Bevier is the establishment of a co-opcrative mining company, the operations of which are presented under the head of "Co-operation." The subsequent troubles between the white and negro miners at Bevier is in no sense the result of a strike or a disagreement about wages, but merely the outgrowth of natural race prejudices, the merics of which it is outside the province of this Bureau to discuss. KNITTING GIRLS' STRIKE. The employes of the knit goods manufacturing establishments in St. Louis engaged in a strike in February against a contemplated reduction in pay. The work in this industry is generally paid by the piece, and is performed entirely by girls, mostly between 10 and 18 years old, and the earnings average from $2.00 to $3.00 a week. Only a part of the knitters took part in the strike, many of them remaining at their machines at work. Upon personal investigation, the manufacturers stated that on account of eastern competition prices for labor could not be advanced, but could scarcely be maintained. The striking knitters attempted to establish a co-operative manufactory of knit goods, but the enterprise failed, and most of them returned to work. HARSH AND UNNECESSARY CONDITIONS IMPOSED ON THE WORKINGMEN. In the course of a year's official duties, in which I have labored with impartial earnestness to make more pleasant the relations existing between the employer and the employe of Missouri, I have become convinced that trivial circumstances too frequently excite mutual distrust, and that bad blood and impetuosity are engendered to the injury of each, which frank and courteous conferences would avoid. The employer is very naturally jealous of what he conceives to be his rights, and is usually quick to resent what he regards as a presumptuous interference in the management of his own business. As the reverse of this, the employe, whose lot at best is a severe one, is prone to be suspicious of actions which he imagines will make worse his condition and draw more tightly the reins of the slavery of labor. Exacting operators and unscrupulous demagogues and agitators fan these suspicions and jealousies into flames of hate, resulting in "lock-outs " and strikes. The only remedy is, first, mutual consideration and forbearance; and, second, an unreserved presentation of all the facts pertaining to the grievances with an honest view to their settlement. It is too frequently the disposition of employers to exact harsh and humiliating conditions from their employes. Complaints on this score are constantly being made to this Bureau, which is powerless to give relief. I cite as an illustration of this the contract required to be signed by the employes of a coal mine at Bevier, which is printed in full in this report under the head of "Strikes." Some of these exactions are ludicrous, but are nevertheless exasperating, as the following rules and regulations of a great St. Louis industry creating a so called "Relief Society," illustrate: RELIEF SOCIETY. ARTICLE I. This body shall be known as the St. Louis power to make its own laws and rules of discipline. ARTICLE II. Relief Society, with The object of this society is to unite the employes and those connected with the St. Louis to establish a fund for the distressed members or those who may become disabled by accident, while at work. All persons employed by the St. Louis must join this society. ARTICLE III. The initiation fee of this society is fifty cents, weekly dues ten cents for men; and twenty-five cents for initiation fee, weekly dues five cents for boys. Any member failing to pay his dues for four weeks is no longer a member of this society. ARTICLE IV. A disabled member paying ten cents weekly dues shall be entitled to $5.00 per week, and those paying five cents weekly dues $2.50 per week and the attention of the physician. No benefits shall be paid for less than one week's disablement. ARTICLE V. Should any member of this society feign himself disabled for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining benefits (to be judged by the society physician,) he shall at once be expelled from the society. ARTICLE VI. The society physician shall be a competent registered physician. His duty shall be to attend the disabled members, and to report their ondition at the end of each week to the society. |