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

From the year 1928 TO ls45, about Eve or six
strikes occurred among the stonecutters Of New
York In the summer Of the former year, the jour
neymen 10 the number of eighty ninety, which
comprised all employed in this city, turned out and
decided to take no less than thirteen shillngs day.
This was one shilling than the employers were
willing to give for summer wages and it resulted in
. strike OF four weeks duration At the end Of that
period the bosses" succumbed; and such was the
demand for stonecutters that before the fall the
wages were increased to fifteen shillings day. The
men, determined not to return to work until their
terms acceded to, had recourse to singular ex
pedient TO maintain themselves during the strike.
On the ground at present occupied by the Astor
House Mr. Astor kept large factory for the dressing
Of skins and fur. 1t 30 happened that at this par
icular time he was in want of workmen, and
was OF course willing to engage any person
who could perform his work. Now, this was very
fortunate for the stone cutters, who preferred work
ing for him at the low price of one dollar day
TO returning to their legitimate occupation at
less than the rates fixed by their society They ac
cordingy rendered their services to Mr. Astor, Who
gave employment to all who were in need of it.
This was great change for the journeymen-from
cutting stone 70 dressing leather but they were
occupation for the brief period of four weeks was not
wholly devoid Of interest. 1t certainly had all the
charm of novelty to recommend it. Mr.. Aston paid
those who wanted their money every evening and
refused TO discharge them even at the request of their
former employers, who were not a little annoyed at
the singular turn which the difficulty between them
selves and the journeymen had taken. Every morn
ing the strikers met at an appointed place, and
marched to work in regular military order, with
bucktails in their hats.
Although they succeeded in this strike, the differ
ences in relation to the value Of their labor
vived during the two following years, in which the
journeymen struck two or three times. In all Of
these strikes they obtained their demands; but
in the fall Of 1926 they were not so successful.
The employers triumphed on this occasion,
and the journeymen for once were compelled
TO submit to absolute necessity. In the latter
part Of 1885, they revived the contest by presenting
the employers with list tariff of prices for piece
work, at the same time notifying them that in the
summer Of 1886 they should demand two dollars
day The prices received by those who worked by
the day considered satisfactory and the greater
part Of the stonecutters were Employed but those
working at piece work were comparatively unpro-
tected and the bosses had undertaken to reduce the
rates of wages hitherto paid them. This was resist
ed by the other members of the trade who demanded
that those employed on piece work should be paid
much as those working by the day in proportion to
their labor The employers would not accede to the
scale OF prices proposed and strike the result
This strike continued four weeks and was termina
ted at last by the employers yielding to the demand
Of the men, and regulating their payments for piece
work by the graduated scale Of prices which insured
to the good workmen two dollars a day. There
was one thing peculiar about this strike, and that
the unsesh generosity Of its motive. The stone
cutters, in this instance, did not seek for higher
wages; their sole object was to redress the wrongs
of their fellow craftsmen, and to make common
cause with them.
In the fall of 1886 there was another strike-not
70 procure an advance in their wages, for the
amount demanded was no object, but to establish
the principle that the men had the right to fix
the value of their own labor. Among the stone
cutters the scale of prices was settled each season
by committees representing the workmen and the I
employers but in 1886 the latter broke through the
time honored CUSTOM and refused to nominate re-
freseD'ofives. Thererpon the men threatened to /
stlke and their threats being UNDECIDED they turned
out. This strike lasted six weeks, and proved very
disastrous to the Bosses for it retarded the work in
the ensuing spring, and left great portion Of it I'M
finished at the terrible revulsion Of 1884, The men
gained an addition of four cents day to their wgaes
for ten weeks, and lost six weeks work; but the
principle for which they contended was triumphant
La the spring OF ls45 another strike occurred-the
men demanding eighteen shillings day, and the
employers Offering two dollars. After standing out
month, they obtained the desired increase. In
justice to both the journeymen stonecutters and
their employers cannot close this article without
mentioning the good feeling which existed between
them, after the most determined and protract-
ed strikes The moment the difference in relation
TO wages was settled no reference was made 70 ther
past disputes, both parties acting in the spirit ofthe
good old proverb, they " let by-gones be bygones.
THE HATTERs.
The first strike which took place among the hatters
during the last quarter of century and which is Of
sufficient importance to enttle it TO particular notice,
commenced about the middle of December, 1884.
This movement was general among all the journey
men hatters throughout the city and lasted for a
considerable time. II was occa,oned by the refusal
of the employers to keep such members of the
trade as had joined the Trades Union in their en-
pioyment. They first began by Directing to the list
of prices; but this difficulty settled by conces-
zion the part Of the workmen, who reduced their
wages to the amount demanded They next required
that such Of their employees as had become men,
bers Of the Union should resign threatening in the
case Of their refusal, 10 discharge them The jour
neymen had their case presented TO the Union by
their delegates and such was the general feel
ing of sympathy elected among the members of ttcir
trade their behalf, that large subscribed
20 support them in their stand. The society after
due consideration OF the matter adopted series of
resolutions declaring the position taken by the EN-.
poyers TO be an attempt at prescription, ami direct
infringement Of personal rights. The resolutions
also expressed the determination Of the Union to sus
tain the hatters and in the event Of the EMPLOYERS
pcreting in their endeavers to destroy the Associa
ton OF Hat Makers, TO resort 70 snch measures a.
would enable it "efiectuay to reach their interest
This movement the part of the Trades Union
served AZ an exsmpe TO the various societies in this
city and its vicinity, and IN Newark 3ll9 was
raised in less than week to sustain the matters on
strike. One firm wrote TO the Union, acknowledging
the right Of the journeymen to regulate the price OF
their labor, and to adopt such means az they might
consider requisite TO secure the permanence OF its
value. The men employed In their establishment
allowed the regular wages; and in two or three
weeks after several other shops followed their exam
pie, admitted the right Of the men to join the
lIpiau lhase shans that 3till hold called