Page:William Ernst Trautmann - Industrial Unionism (1908).djvu/11

peat these methods over and over again until the manufacturing was demoralized, the factories crippled, and irritation of the employers enhanced by the fear that such a well-trained body of workers might exercise their power in other directions also.

Of course, such methods and tactics cannot be used effectively where the capitalists can induce a portion of the workers to stay at work, by offering them a contract or improved conditions; so also is a thorough knowledge of the general industrial conditions required. Only when the factory owners have large orders on hand do they fear the constant interruption of operations; yet where workers are well organized for such action, notably in the metal industries in different countries, they have forced the manufacturers to employ the same number of workers during periods of market declines; that is, the lay-off of all in proper rotation was enforced, so that at even reduced earnings the workers did not swell the reserve army of unemployed and were able to maintain what they had gained in the conflicts during busy periods.

In Granite City, Illinois, and vicinity thousands of workers are employed in the big steel and iron works.

Comparatively few mechanics are organized in their respective craft unions, but the large