The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-19

The Mayor was also in attendance and took an active
part in preventing any serious disturbance One or
two attacks were made upon some Of the steyedores
to drive them from their work but the instant inter
ference OF the police saved them from injury. Three
four assaiants taken into custody and one
who was very refractory received severe blow on the
head from policeman club. The movement extended
to the longshore men of Brooklyn, where similar acts
OF violence were perpetrated. Several workmen were
injured, but none seriously. days calm reflection
showed the laboring men the error they had COM
mtted and the injury they had inflicted upon them
selves They now saw that their only renedy !" as
in peaceable means, and they accordingly resolved
to effect, by an appeal to the merchants sense Of
right and justice what they had failed to do by
force. meeting was held, at which series of re-
which the stevedores labored, asking for advance
ofwages dsclaiming all intention OF violent or ile
gal proceedings. and exhortpg them to keep within
the law. Meetings Of the merchants and shipowners
were also held, and committee appointed to meet
committee of conference rom the stevedores. This
committee in their report stated that the stevedores
had expressly dsavowsd their approval of or connec
ton with the rioters snd admitted the right OF every
his own rate OF wiges. The merchants, however
still persisted in their refusal to give the advance;
but, desiring to compromise the matter, they offered
thirteen shillng day which was an addition of one
shilling half what the stevedores hadixed as their
uitimatum. The meeting appointed another COM
mittee to obtain the signatures of such merchants
were willing to agree to the terms proposed The
day after this meeting the majority Of the men on
the strike went to work at the new rate of wages,
exhibiting on their part also a willingness to meet
their employers halfway in the adjustment of their
differences.
The principal complaint which was made by some
Of the laborers, was their being compelled to pay
shilling day to the head stevedores. These men
sort oflabor contractors, who paid poll tax
by the men, as bonus for the employment with
which they are provided. At the meeting referred
IN HOY hiatt Tho hoo odora
i" header" as he is called by the men, should still
continue to receive his daily stipend. In week
after the riotous proceedings which have descrb
ed, all the stevedores who could get employment for
thirteen shllings day were at work, and the good
feeling between them and their employers which
had been unfortunately interrupted by an unjusti
fable outrage, was at length restored.
JOURNEYMEN CABINETMAKERS.
At public meeting Of the members of this trade,
held 10th March, 1885, series of resolutions were
unanimously adopted, in favor of establishing new
book prices and efecting thorough organization
of the trade, the better to fair compensa.
ton for their labor. One of the resolutions ex-
pressed the determination of the meeting to use all
honorable means to obtain the prices contained in
the new book, believing them to be founded in JUS
tice." This is the first intimation we have of
a strike Of the cabinetmakers. A week, however,
elapsed before they came to an open rupture with
their employers. They placed their demands before
them in respectful but determined manner. Be
fore this time, it seems, there was no stipulated
rate, SO that when the workmen presented their
claims for services rendered. frequent disagreements
occurred between them and their employers in rela-
ton to the amount of compensation to which they
were entitled. About twenty-five years before this
regular list OF prices was adoRted but the style of
work had undergone considerable change since then,
aud tnn I'D I1N A1<n ttnp
When the new book Of prices was compiled and
printed, many of the employers objected to it,
on various grounds, and q report was circu
lated to the effect that the ourneymen were endea
voring by this means to raise the prices twenty
five thirty per cent. This was designed, of course
to prejudice the of those the strke but its
fasity was proved in time to prevent any injurious
consequences to the workmen. About two weeks
mated, and the new book was adopted by nearly all
the employers as the standard by which the value of
work should hereafter be settled. The strike was
characterized throughout by the most commendabe
moderation on the part OF the journeymen-none of
those outrages the peace of society dsgraced their
movement, but while they demanded what they con.
sidered fair remuneration for their labor, they also
respected the rights and property Of their employers
To this spirit of forbearance is doubtless, in great
measure, attributable the speedy and successful ter
mination of their strike During the short time they
were on the turn out, they received many proofs Of
substantial friendship from the house carpenters,
ship joiners, and panoforte makers, who assisted
them in procuring work at their respective branches.
This fraternal spirit was thoroughly appreciated by
the cabinetmakers, who expressed their obligations
through the public press for the generous assistance
which had been rendered.
A strike of the cabinetmakers in March OF 1850,
led to advance in the wages OF Of the jour
neymen
THE CORDwAINERS.
In May, 1885, the cordwainers struck for higher
wages, alleging that the high rents and the rise in
provisions rendered the former rate of compensation
inadequate to support their families. During this
strike, which lasted two weeks, the cordwaners
ceived sympathy and support from the members of
the other trades and encouraged to hold out by
the example of the cordwainers in Newark, Pha-
delphia, New Brunswick, Orange, Poughkeepsie,
and other places. 1t was widespread strike, and