The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-19
sTRKEs AMONG THE YsASES OF NEW YORK.
The Trades Unions from 1885 to the
Great Revulsion of 1887.
Movements Of the Trades in 1850.
THE GREAT FLOUR RIOT.
&c., &C., SO.

| &c., &C., SO.
| The recent teegraphic dispatches from Philadel.
pha, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and other places, and
the advertisements which have been and still con-
tlnue to be published in our paper give indications
OF general uprising Of the industrial classes similar
70 that OF 1885, or the more recent movement Of
1860. The high price OF provisions and the exorbi-
tant rents, are the chief causes which have at all
times produced strikes among the mechanics and
laborers Of New York.
Durng the years 1884, '35, &c. and 81, an exsen-
sive organization was effected among the varirr,s
trades throughout not only this city but Philsdes.
pha, Baltimore Pttsburg, and many other ne,ns.
cities in the United States The object Of this move
ment was the protection Of the mechanic and laborsr
against the actual anticipated aggressions of their
employers, and the maintenance of a good feeling,
among all the departments of industry. A general
congress of all he trades was held in New York at
regular intervals. at which representatives from the
various societies were present to discuss the different
subjects OF importance affecting their interests Il
was, in fact somewhat similar to the Industrial Con-
grsss which was formed in this city during the ex
citiES times Cf 1850, when like movement took
place among the trades A paper was also estab-
lished asthe same time entitled the National Trades
Union = bat 1t was extinguished like many
other enterprises, in the great financial revulsion Of
1887 After many jneffe,tual efforts to keep the
trades united, the Union vas discovered and each
trade was left to- protest itsefand take care of its own
interests Many persons contend that this was rather
beneficial than otherwise, averzing that while
it. existed an unhealthy excitement pervaded the
mechanical and latpring classes, 1t caused great
deal Of animosity and bad feeling between the en-
ployers and the employed; and .6sueh extremes did
the former proceed in their opposition TO it, that the
talors and stone cutters were indicted their ac-
cusations, for coIspiracythe crime in this instance
consisting in theirorganizng societies for the avow
ed purpose Of self protection. In the case OF the
C0rdwainers, Judge Savage rendered 9 decision,
sometime during the year 1885, IN the Supreme
Court Of this State, deciding that such combinations
or societies were illegal and indictable. The talors
were also found guilty s0f the same heinous crime;
but we believe the sense Of public .ustice was 80
outraged, that only slight penalty was imposed.
and the societies were not suppressed. This was q
kind Of conspiracy that The laws had provided
against, but which tho.wisdom Of some,of the mem-
bers of the bench had pronounced to be- highly pc
nal The HERALD defended the right Of the trades
men to establish societies, while it opposed with all
its might the excesses which some members Of the
trades had foolishly committed in the hope to OBJ
tain, by compulsion, what they thought they could
not procure by urging their claims in peaeeabls
manner Among the many strikes which took
place about the year 1885, was that Of over
thousand children, employed in factories
in Paterson. These children, varying in age
from seven to eighteen years. struck for reduction
in the time of labor from thirteen to eleven hours
day; and such was the feeling of sympathy in their
favor that they succeeded in their object The result
of some strikes among the trades has been the estab
lishment of Protective Unions; but, exceptin very
few instances, these have failed-whether from bad
management, or want Of confidence among the MEM
beis, we do not undertake to say. There are some
at present in successful operation throughout the
city, which were started during the late strikng'
times here. Combinations of workmen for the
regulation Of the value Of their labor by standard
rate Of wages, is of very ancient date, as we find
from Wades History Of the Middle and Lower
Classes" From this we learn that the FIRST notice
taken Of them was inl54S, when an act of Parlia-
ment was passed, dirsating particular attention to
them, in the following language: handI-
craftsmen and laborers have made ccnederaciss and
promises and have sworn mutual oaths not only that
they should no. NEEDLE with anothers work, aAa
perform and finish that another hath begun but Ala
to constitute and appoint how much they shall do in
day, and what hours and times hey shall work,
contrary to the laws and statutes OF this realm, and
to the great hurt and mpoverishment Of his Majes-
TVS subjects" No reference was made in this to
combinations to raise the price Of labor but subse
quently acts were passed to restrain such move
ments. In spite of acts Of Parliament, however
combinations atinued in existence, and, in 1924,
the system of restraints on the rights of work.
ngmen was abandoned. In this antiquated lew one
Of our own cour ignorant of its subsequent -epeal.
found authority for declaring the comb. nations
among our wor2ngmen to be Illegal.
Besides the protection Of the tradesmen aod labor
ers from the injustice and oppression of employers,
the Trades Union professedl to have another great
object in view. This was no less than the destruction
of the systsm Of what was then called Athe States
Prison Monopoly" It Was made the duty of the
agent Of each Of the State prisons to proper
means to :rnsh the prisoners confined the respect
I've prisoss with employment the most beneficial to
the public and the bt suited to THAR various capa-
cities; and to use their best endeavors to defray
all the expenses ol the prisons by the labor Of the
prisoners" The asents were also directed to make
contracts for the LABOR of the convicts upon terms
as they deemed ynost beneficial to the State. AS
may be reasonably supposed, tho prisons were soon
under this systDs converted into workshops in which
most of the m7 chanica trades were carried on and
taught to tia prisoners. An immense amount Of
work was done by the convicts, whose labor could
be procured at much cheaper rate than that Of the
honest End worthy mechanic. One of the objections
urged against the system was the manner in
which the discretion in letting She contracts had
been abused. Another reason urged against Il
was that it tended to fraud and favoritism on the
part of the agents. The mechanics of our State bo-
came indignant at the competition thus established
between their work and the labor of convicts. They