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


br'sther workmen, who were known by the distnc-
tive and more fattering title Of flair men, The
real object OF the employers in this instance was al
legged to be the organization ola league among the diff
ferent establishments throughout the city, for the
purpose OF breaking up the " Hat Finishers Trade
Association which for some reason or other had
excited their enmity. The whole case came up
before the society, to which the plan Of the en-
ployers had been revealed by one OF their own
| number and q regular trial OF the leader In the
| hostile movement was held at meeting convened
for the purpose Witnesses were summoned, ap-
peared, and testified in due FORM on both Sides On
the side of the journeymen, the employer, whose re-
Violations had been the means of frustrating the plans
of the accused party was examined, while the &C
cused himself presented fair share Of testimony in
his own defence and justification. At the conclusion
Of the investigation he made an able defence in
which he was frequently interrupted by the applause
of his hearers the majority of whom, though opposed
to him in principle, not restrained by personal
feeling from doing justice to his talents. His de-
fence, however, did not save him from sentence and
condemnation. He was adjudged guilty of the
charge of conspiracy against the trade and SEN
fenced to pay fine OF one hundred dollars. This he
refused to do, and his establishment was in conse
quence, declared " foul" He has at present large
number of hands in his employment; but all who
work for him are not recognized as regular by the
trade in general They considered foul and are not
entitled to protection from the society Regular MEM
beers are prohibited by the rules from working with
Them and if they make application to be received as
members they are compelled 70 undergo the inItatory
to fellowship with Their brother tradesmen. This
system of purgation consists in levy on the purse
of the cupr commensurate with the enormity of the
offence which he has committed. Some are received
into the brotherhood on payment of ten dollars while
old and hardened offenders are made to pay fifty
dollars before they can be permitted to pass the
Threshold of the society.
The strikes we have already stated, are mainly
confined to shops, and are therefore very seldom
made public. When the men are dissatisfied with
their prices, they almost invariably appoint COM
mttee to confer with their employers, and make
known their demands to them. This is an admirable
plan, and well calculated to maintain friendly feel
ing between both parties. In nearly every case it
results in q fair understanding and after mutual
representations Of the condition of the employer and
the employed the matter is generally arranged in
satisfactory manner. Instances have frequently
occurred where the former, unable to pay the rates
demanded have, by clearly proving their inability
without serious loss to themselves and injury
to their business, induced their men to withdraw
their claims. In such cases the men are never
unreasonable and when they satisfied that
the profits Of the article will not allow an
turn of better times When there is turn OUT
in any shop, the journeymen are required, by the
laws Of the association, to transmit to the President
written notice containing the names Of all the jour-
neymen on the strike. The case is presented to the
consideration Of the Vigilance Committee, before
whom the men must appear, and give evidence in
the matter If it is clearly proved to this tribunal
that they acted in accordance with law each Jour-
neyman is furnished with certificate by the Trea-
surer which entities him to the OF five dollarsa
week if married, and to three dollars if unmarried.
When halter is on turnout or out of employ
ment he can only apply for work to journeyman,
as the rules of the society prohibit him from making
application to the employer in person. He is also
prohibited from working in foul shop. Only GER
tain number Of apprentices are allowed to each es-
Enlistment, and these are required to serve four
years each at the trade before they entitled to
work as regular tradesmen. The rules are very nu-
merous and particularly explicit in relation to strikes,
or, as they are called, turnouts" The trade in this
city numbers about four hundred members all of
whom belong to the society, with the exception
Of the "fouli men, who, however, constitute small
minority.
THE TAILORS.
The generally low rate of wages paid to all who
ply the needle for living has produced much dis.
content at various times among the talors particu
larry. They are among the most numerous class Of
workmen in New York; and when there is general
strike of the trade, thousands thrown out of
ployment. As there is no regular organization EN-.
bracing all its members, they very seldom succeed in
procuring advance Of wages, for the employers
can with the assistance OF those who willing to
work under the rates demanded hold out sufficiently
long to make them yield. Besides, the talors, as
class, are perhaps poorer thah the members of any
other trade throughout the city, and are therefore,
two weeks at the utmost The knowledge of these
facts serves to aggravate the severity OF the strike,
and not unrequeny to rouse the bitter luminosity of
the alors against the employers. This was proved,
during the strike in March, 1886, and in another,
which occurred about ;wo or three years ago,
when NEST unwarrantable and inexcusable
acts Of violence were committed upon the owners
of shops that had refused to grant the terms
of the tailors. The strike Of March, 1886, was
not attended by loss OF life, nor, in fact was any
movement Of the kind among the tailors productive
Of fatal consequences so far as we could ascer-
tain. Several journeymen, who had, IN oppo-
sition to the express command oil the majority OF
their fellow tradesmen, worked Tor less than the
stipulated prices were assaulted and subjected to
rather harsh treatment, and one OF our present most
efficient police officers got severely punished Tor
Y,se he had performed upon them A large crowd
of taors, it appears had assembled in front OF one
of the most extensive establishments in the lower
part of Broadway and the employers In that vicinity
tearing an attack, sent TO the police office Tor as
sistapce Four energetic policemen were detailed
for the purpose one OF whom ADOPTED ratner an IN
genious method Of enrappng the unconscious taiors
Taking off his coat and tying up in his handker-
chief Ike elbowed his way through the crowd, and,
initiating as closely as possible the bearing and
appearance Of tailor, entered the store with
M bundle nnder his arm The crowd outside,
not perceiyng the trick vented their indignation on
the Supposed recreant in the most unfatterng terms
He was called "a scab an eplthet oil opprobrium
applied to all tradesmen who underworld their asso-
GATES In the midst Of all the abuse lavished upon
him, the officer preserved the most imperturbable
coolness. When he came out Of the store ne had
another bundle under his arm, which the owners had
given him the better to keep up the delsslon: Inc
tailors exasperated they must have been, did not
however, proceed 10 extremities in their punishment
Of the offender but contented themselves by peltng
him with ice. This quickened his pace into pretty
brisk run, when he was followed by two or three OF
his assalsnts, one Of whom gave him severe thump
on the side Of the head which, taxing the good ma
ture Of the officer beyond the power on endurance,
was repaid with another Of equal force. Two or
three other policemen arriving at this juncture the
unfortunate iourneymen arrested, having disco
yered the deception when too late. Some months
after one Of the talors who hsd6een struck by the
officer commenced q suit against him for personal
injuries and actually succeeded in gaining the case,
and obtaining damages to the amount OF SZI III.
Some rioters who were arrested for disorderiy con
duct in other parts of the city, were discharged after
a brief Imprisonment. The strike terminated about