New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-14
Labor in Ncw-York-The Galdbcatcrs.


To the Editor Of The Tribune;
Sur: Some few weeks back, in an editorial notice
Of the apprehended dissolution of Trade Society
you put forth this inquiry: What are the Gold
heaters doing
Now am DESTROYS OF stating plainly ana orlehy
to you, and If you please) to the public, not only
what the Goldbeaters at present dong, OUT
also what they would rish to do For this pur'
nose and some few others, which l shall do my
best to set forth straghtway, do address you.
The query has been asked and shall be respond
ed to.
Firstly they would wish to be better paid tor
their labor than they now are. The journeyman
goldbeater is nsufiicently remunerated Conaid-
ering the arduous and health.endangering nature
of the employment fires being required IN Sum-
mer, rendering it facilitating to the last degree>
no workman at any other craft is more scantlly
recompcnsed simple statement OF the hours
cnstomariiy occupied will prove this. gold
heater good workman, working from the hour
of seven in the morning until six in the evening,
would not receive more than from seven TO eight
dollars per week. The glider, who uses the leai
so carefully prepared by the Journeyman goiu'
beaten, is better paid for h(s labor. Or CONTRAST
his case with that OF lnbOrlng mason, VINO, WIN
out riskng health at his outdoor vocation, obtains
his 81 IS or Sc day. High rents in New YORK
and rapid rise of nearly One-halt IN the price OF
provisions during the last seven years, nave
caused propOrtionate rise IN the rate OF payment
of the majority of New York artisans not 80 IN
the case of the oumeyman godbeater. very
little increase is now demanded one that would
rarely exceed one dollar per week to each person.
The Justice of the requistion is universally &C
knowledgcd both by the employer and the en-
ployed. Three parts of the number Of goldbeat,
ers Of this City have expressed this opinion, and
proclaimed a willingness to accede TO the triiflng
advance desired, Which if Ubtufncl. hoYyStu,
would not equalize his wages with those Of most
workmen, Some gentlemen h0ue done soj and
that the public in general and iourneymen gold
heaters in particular, who are thus conslderate OF
their interest, and friendly toward men employed
in the manufacture of mn article which, being
purely used rs q luxury, should and might well
pay those engaged ia its prOductOn-t0r this
purpose and no other | subjoin the names OF
Messrs Dean, HIATT, Smith, and Plant. 70 their
honor and credit be it spoken those gentlemen
who, by energy and perseverance have risen from
the station OF iourncyman to employer, especially
feel the necessity OF an advance in prices and
would wish it effected, But they may, and not
unnaturally, be supposed unwilling to see this but
in partial operation to know that boys are EN-
ployed at n lower scale OF wages, and an inferior
article consequently brought into the market;
that this unprincped spirit of competition forbids
their example being universally followed, to the
iniury of both boss and man A war is thus car
ried on against the fair trader, and he is com
PEELED to be unjust against his inclination, or gen
erous against his interest. Several large gilders,
nso acquainted with the existing state of things,
are prepared for an advance on the price OF packs
tot the boss goIbentcrs Therefore there can be no
possible objection on their part to the moderate
advance demanded by their i3utncymen
Now, on this side Of the Atlantic Mt least, the
truth that all power arises from and exists by the
consent OF the people, is unchallcnged, known
and proven And If So success must finally rest
with them in all things Only proper under
standing Of their own rights and interests is
needed, and an upright moral undivided stand
made upon them. Give Capital its due; let it be
allowed that the man who invests his thousands
or millions has right to fair remuneratiye inter
but also give Labor It's due; and cease not
till it be obtained. Render unto Mammon the
things which are Mammon's, unto Capital the
things which are Capitals And il men, knowing
their rights, have not spirit and courage enough
to demand and obtain them, how can they hope
to find them granted gratuitously1 In some meas
ure this oral cowardcc has done much to injure
the cause Of the journeynan goldbeater. Agita
ton and discomfort have been felt and are still
on the increase, and will be SO until q better
enumeration is obtained.
This, sir is the state of the case and if through
the medium OF the columns OF The Tribune these
remarks or some few by y0nr own pen, should
bring the matter before the tribunal of Public
Opinion, you will obli8e
n JoURSgYMAs GOLDBEATER.