The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-06-09
s. TO the Editors off Che Dispatch.

b. Gentlemen We are not of those who
call on the sympathes of the community for pro-
lection Rather would suffer wrong, but the
necessity of the demand us to reply to an ar
tice in Mondays Dispatch headed the ''Stone Cut
ters-' the purport of which is to make the commu-
nifty believe that that class of citizens are oppressed
by the undertakers in Granite Stone Cutting. Thls
however, is not so there has been no report put
in circulation half SO bad the thing really is
After making you acquainted with the matter, you
will probably say SO too. The undertaken in Gran
lite work is prescribed and his rights trarnpled up
on.
lst. He has moi right to have but one day work
2nd. He is allowed the privilege of one or more
| price workmen, to 60 jobbing at two dollars and
| 25 cents per day
| to paw. which are higher than any paid either
| in New York. Philadelphia, or Baltimore.
4th. He must have four journeymen to one ap-
prentice, and not more than three at any time
| 5th. He has not the privilege to take person
who is over eighteen years of age, as an appren-
| tice.
9th. He is not allowed to have coored man,
| free or slave, to work at the trade.
| Such then, are the requirements OF that August
| Body, before whose sceptre we must bow, we
! have work done by them. Now we would ask, has
| the reports in circulation referred to by the Com
mittee of Journeymen Granite Stone Cutters, come
up to the rules here laid down for their employers
to work by, If they work at all 1t Is evident, II we
have to submit to this ode of conducting our bush
ness, the price of work must inevitably be raised.
1t ia selfeviden truth if the employer has to pay
high prices for work and workmen, he must
charge in proportion to the prices he pays; and SO
far from putting money in the employers pock
from the labors of the meritorious workman, 1t is
taking it out of the pocket of the capitalist who
wishes to improve, and no sane man con be made
to believe otherwise. Again the committee tell US,
if workmen to be employed by the day, all
should be SO employed. TO this we reply, that
even if you had the right to dictate to in this
matter you grant US no such privilege. 1t is also
seriously insisted, that the employment OF hands
by the day, is unfair and unjust. How can this be
SO? We cannot employ men by the day, without
their consent, nor at a less p ice than they are
willing to work for. Is there any thing unJuStln
employing man by the day ard at price he is sa-
tiefied TO work fort Ought man to be deprived OF
dolrg the best he knows how, in an honest and up
right manner? II SO, we have yet to learn what
freedom means Strange to say, the day workmen
are willing to continue they have been, but from
spirit OF Jealousy got up by piece workmen who
cannot make as good wages as those employed by
the day, they say (like the dog in the manger)
you must work as we d. or you cannot work at
ALL The equity of this association may be seen in
the 3lst article of their list of prices which says
when the employer and journeyman cannot agree
| on price tor work, they may appeal to the asso-
citation to fix price, from whose decision there is
no higher court of appeal Thus you see it is a
onesided question, and the undertaken has to sub
| NIT to the oppression, or refuse to employ any of
the persons thus bande1 together. We, therefore,
submit the facts toyou, believing the discriminating
eye of the community will at unce see who are the
oppressed
je Cir THE GRANITE UNDERWRITERS.