The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-06
BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE.


The PrintHs' Strike rogrsss Of tks Difficulty.
Y fs-af BALTIMORE, May s, 1853.
Tho difhoulty among the printers still continues,
and If the Society persists IN enforcing its man.
dates on the employers, must progress further
Messsrs. Hedian and O'Brien, Of tho CatAetie
Mirrsy. received notice this morning that If they
did not take their presswork away from Sher-
woods Office the hands would all strike, and a. the
Messrs. Sherwood have tho only press on which
the Mirror can be worked, at its present size, the
paper must be either curtailed of its dimensions or
suspended.
The Argus still stands out against the dictum of
the Society, and are getting out their paper with
such assistance can be obtained. The Clipper
having withdrawn their assistance from the Argus,
their hands went to work last evening. Atsands
and Miles office they taking no more work
than they can do with their boys Sherwood has
taken in a half dozen more boys, and declares bis
intention to take a number more, and turn some
of them over. when initiated, to other Offices that
now give unwilling assent to the behests of the
Society, and are anxious to strike against it when
they can do % effectually.
These difficulties are to be regretted, and must
result to the ultimate disadvantage of the work
men. They have originated in the impractica-
bity Of some of the employers on the one side, in
their endeavors to resist all advance in wages, and
in that violent action that inevitably results from
the unrestricted power Of the Navy when combined
against the fss1. The posper to do as they please
has been mistaken for the right to do a. they
please, and whilst legislatng to protect themselves
they have rendered the employer mere cipher,
whose only duty 10 to find work for the journeymen
| and money to pay them with whrn it 10 completed
1t 10 therefore the extreme of folly, and contrary
to human nature, to suppose that the employers
combination thus formed against them. Thus the
offices of Messrs Sherwood, John w. Woods,
Sands Mills, and of other employers Who are
practical working printers, will be converted into
schools to initiate boys into the art OF type-setting
the employers themselves acting ~ foremen. This
10 the tendency which things are now taking; and
the Argus has been forced into opposition to the
journeymen sgainst the wishes or intentions OF it's
Proprietors, the same resut may be anticipated
with Messrs Hedian & O'Brien, and all others who
are compelled to have their presswork done at
Messrs. Sherwood's. who have the only establish
ment in the city prepared to do such work
The right OF the journeymen to nix their rate OF
wages cannot be disputed, and by stretch OF
power they might possibly be permitted to limit
the number Of apprentices that they will agree to
work with in an Office; bot when they attempt to
60 beyond this, and assume powers that egitmate-
ly belong to the employer, and literally direct the
management of the Offices In which they work, not
only seinterest but self pride and personal honor
must revolt against submission to such a form Of
| tyranny
1t is this feeling that has influenced the proprie-
tors Of the Sun in their denunciation Of the acts
Of the Society, as all acquainted with the inter
nal arrangements Of that office know that they
are not at all affected by them. 1t is the princi-
| pie only that they oppose, as the encroachments
made are on psrso~oI rights as employers that
they have Nicer exercised, and would probably
never wish to exercise, but which they are not
willing to have wrestcd from them without q
word of consultation or previous notice.
| As the firm and last friend Of the iourneymen,
| would advise that the Society appoint com
mttee of its most intelligent members. and in
vite interview with some four five of the
most liberal of the employers, and that effort
be made to harmonixe those conflicting interests,
and put a atop to the state OF Affairs now exisng
| by mutual compromise and concession. Both
parties have their rights and each should be will
ing to respect and protect the rights Of the other