The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-10

r The Stone Cuttsrp.- 70 fAs Ediiors Of
az D;saetek In reply . the article Of ~The Grante
TJnderfekers 10 your paper q the Sth ineeant the
Cornnritfee of the Journsymen Gr.nite Stone Cut
ters 81 the City Of Richmond, on behalf q their 3d.
ciety. desire 10 show 70 the public that hey have
not nnig Justice on their side, but thst thcse "Un
dertakers" have, for some time past, oppressed the
workmen, and tor sordid love Of gain and want Of
! iuaf idea of right would drive . number Of citt
out Of sMpomsIa .nd ~bss
man, who has q true heart and honest conscience,
would demand. II 10 with very bad grace tnot to
say pitful effrontery,) that they say they would
not call on the sympathies of the community ior
protection" Protection for WHAT They have no
sympathy to callfor. They have no justice or even
clemency to demand They ethe aggressors, the
wrong doors. They would drive. by their combined
and unjust action, those who have spent one nail OF
their lives in learning an honorable trade, many o.
whom have families, to want, tauntng them WIN
the impudent boast putting their hands In their
pockets and rafting the hard earnings OF the work
man, that they could live without tnem; and nave
they not done this wrongf Did they not cause the
necessity of the formation of society," Their own
hard exertons, their breaches of faith, their en-
deavors to lower the pay of the mechanic TO hardy
living and when even they have toile d and work
ed, what they have earned has not been promptly
paid them, and they would 'not ask sympathy tor
protection" To tell this community, we ask you
TO protect US, poor, needy houseless undertakers,
against our workmen who, after having served
long apprenticeship, dare ask fair price for their
services, who wish to work on equal terms, and
who do not wish to be reduced to the degradation
and insult of having negroes put on footing with
Them To show the false positions which they nave
taken, they aIledee we are bound take their ac-
cusatons seriatim: "lst The employer has no right
to have but one day workman" These "Under-
takers" know full well that they can employ two
piece men per day for the year. from 81 soto % 25
This is the regular price throughout the country,
and both on the pant OF the State OF Virginia and
the General Government this amount Is paid -
What then, becomes of this false charge that they
are restricted of one day workmen. They know
better, and ought, in candor, to have said So
End. The undertaken is allowed the privilege OF
one or more piece workmen to go Jobbing at 81 70
cents per day. and, 3d. catalogue Of prices is laid
down for him. which higher than are paid either
in New York, &c The local condition of work
men here being somewhat different from that of
Northern cities change but lit the prices, but
less in the main than those of other places.
4th. They must have four journeymen to one ap-
prentice, and not more than three at any time
This objection is in character of the dealings Of
these I" Undertakers," with the community; they
make use OF more apprentices, who are incompe
tent to do their work to the exclusion of those VINO
have served until they have become proficient in
their business.
And, mosG excellent gentlemen, these "Under-
takers" they have resorted to the humiliatine OBJ
lection to their felow.citizens, that the Society
would not allow =" colored man. tree or slave, to
come at last The negro is now to be made your
equal. The white me- hanic must be brought into
competition by these worthy " Undertakes" with
the negroes. The intelligence skill and judgment
ofthe white man is to be disregarded to CRAFTY the
cupidity and avarice of these Undertakers."
Thus far we have gone with the objections of
these "Cndertakers,' and we might continue this
communication to shew TO the public that SO far
the Society is concerned, their bill of prices and
the rules OF their Society concerned the capital
list is altogether protected by certain prices publish
ed to the world, and woi to be done by competent
mechanics, not by negroes and uDskiiful appren
tees. The public are not left in the dark and made
to be paid these Undertakers' exorbitant prices
and to have their work done in an unworkmanlike
manner. They speak of their rights. The public
the employer and the workman have their rights.
The capitalist wishes his work done well and at a
reasonable price, the empl yer the price for his
trouble and attendance, and the workman his pay
for his labor And how is this OBJECT to be gained
if the employer is to impose upon the capitalist
those who do the work at low prices, and such as
are incompetent to execute it9 These "Underta-
kers" are not SO ignorant az they pretend to be-
that they do Lot know the difference between EN-
ploying men by the day and the piece. If the EN-
ployers are at will to engage men by the day, the
most profitable work is entrusted to them, while
the piece workmen are LETT with the mCst com
mon work. and their St rvces are not often needed
and they have to wait without employment until
they are absolutely compelled to work by the day.
These Undertakers" know full well Of which they
have been often informed, that the day workmen
as well as the plecemen agree in the tact of the in
justice OF an employer engaging men by the day at
his will and pleasure They see the unjust effects
of such an arrangement, and have condemned it
In conclusion, the committee would appeal to the
public why these "Undertakers'' can take upon
themselves to justify the system of oppression
which they are attempting to carry against those
who have faithfully served them. What are we TO
expect! DO THY wish to get our services for less
than reasonable prices Do they expect to de.
prive US OF those rights which, as treemen, We
have of demanding fai equivalent fer our labor,
otherwise we must seek employment elsewhere
Are We to be made to submit to their humiliating
terms, and pander to their selfish and sordid ava
rice their will and pleasures Many of these in
divduals know better, and, but for the combination
among them to unustly force the Society into su:h
terms as taey choose to impose upon them, this
difficulty would not have occurred. To the public
we are ever willing to submit as we have said be-
fore. the justice of our cause and the feeling which
has prod uced this difficulty with those have grossly
and in bad faith treated US.
je l0-It+ THE COMMITTEE.