New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-12

IN the avoidance of all controversy or caving there
after Now we shall pay the new Scale, reserviog our
right TO determine any time hereafter whether we
can or cannot afford persevere in 80 doing But had
the Journeymen fit to ask conference with the
Employers, and had the Scale been thus readjusted
with the assent Of both parties should have felt
bound opay it until modification had in like manner
been agreed to by Employers and JoEneymen, through
their duly authorized representatives. And we fear
the Scale is not likely to be paid even pro te so
generally as it would have been had the JOurneymen
requested the Concurrence of the Employers in the
modification, they did when the Scale was fast re-
vsed three or fouryears ago
The Journal Of Commerce announces that il will not
pay the new Scale, and adds
The Printers Union under various notifications has
been in operation number of wears have than
once had occasion to know Twice they have induced the
greater part of 10 abandon good places under the
expectation oi beering their condition under combination
auspices but If any such have found their expcctl
tons realized don't know who they are Steadfd,tly
and upon principle have always resisted this foreign
interference with our business and always shall The per
feet right Of men in any establishment To demand whatever
wage, they may see ht we never for moment doubted
nor Their right to leave their employer after reasonable
notice. in their demands not complied with
Equally clear is the right of the employer to determine
what be will pay and the two parties cannot agree they
have mutually right to separate But when and
pccaiy combination ofmen, not connected with any par
tcuar establishment undertake 10 what compensation
the OF it shall pay to his workmen and what rules
shall be established in his office it piece OF mper
thence a garing As can well be conceived Of
Here are two propositions so dexterously blended
that The Journal contryes to state the and decide
the ether That the Journeymen in any trade or calling
have not the sole right determine what wages shall
be paid for labor therein, quite true-the Employers
having coordinate and equal right-and so far The
Journal is clearly right But under cover Of this truth
The Journal attempts to support the gross and mis-
chevous faacy that each employer has moral right to
cut under and down wages far as he shall believe
it possible to do So Thss the principle which Tie
Journal has always stood and which has rendered it
maodorous in the nostrs of workDgmen for the last
twenty years. When the Journeymen asked $l2 per
week it refused them that rate and would pay only $40
1t has since been compelled to advance but has kept
almost uniformly n the Of the current rate of
wages as now does Drawing little nothing of its
support directly from the LabOrng Glass. it has been
able defy and oppose that Class and has thereby put
some money in its purse; but We do not believe money
SO obtained can prove blessing to its possessors.
The one chief obstacle to concert and good under.
standing between the Journeymen and Employers in
our trade during the twenty-five years that have
been connected with Printing in City has been The
Journal Of Commerce. Had that paper fit to concur
in union of Employers only, or of Employers and
Journeymen together, in fixing, maintaining, and from
time to time modifying Scale of Prices for Newspaper
Printing in City. believe there would have been
no dissent demur from any other influential quarter
But it has chosen to stand out and insist its right to
pay such prices only its owners should from time to
time Indicate and these almost uniformly some ten to
twenty per cent below those paid by the great body of
its contemporaries of them able than and few
so able The Journa! TO pay full wages BY taking
this course, it has done very much to keep the trade
perpetuay in state of anarchy and stir up hatred
and strife between Employers and JOurneymen. We
have at all times been willing to unite as we now are
in any fair and equal mode of adjusting wages in the
Printing business and we not only fully admit, but
resoutey insist on the equal right of Employers with
Joumeymen in settling the Scale of Prices are
ready now to upon that right but The Journal and
such other concerns as insist the right of each EN-
poyer fix price for the labor he hires without ref
erence to the price paid by Others stand directly in the
way Of any efficient and cOncilatOry action the part
of Employers thus perpetuatng the discord and
fusion which they yet seem to deplore When shall we
have an end of it