Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-05-15
Strike Of the Working Men.

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Strike Of the Working Men.
Last week there was a strike amont
the working men in the Rolling Mills o
this place. The strike was not for high
er wages but for pay. Mr.. BoYD o.
the Lawrence Mill made arrangements
with the men so that they resumed their
work. But the old Rolling Mill now
owned by II. CAMPBELL & Co., was no,
SO fortunate. That mill is still idle al
this date, (,he 1Oth). We understand
that an arrangement. was made by the
mills, with the puddlers and boilers,
some time in February. that they should
work year for one fourth cash, with
what "trade" they might need. 1t is
necessary that each puId,er and boiler
should have ono or two hands, these he
employs on his own responsibility. But
it seems that the amount which the mills
had agreed to pay those particular work.
men was not sufficient to pay them and
their necessary help, so that they could
all have comfortable subsistence.-
Hence it was, that the "helpers" made
the strike for more pay. We had al
ways supposed that the firm Of Fl.
CAMPBELL & Co., could pay its hands
at any time, if necessary, but it seems
tha, the establishment is now idle for
want Of funds, or for some other good
cause, not known to the public.
The manufacturer employs labor for
the profit it yields him, in most cases
the labor merely strives for a subsistence
Where men sell their labor to others,
they got but portion Of their own earn.
ings, perhaps one. half. Labor must EN-.
ploy itself before it can prosper. The
working men cannot we'll imagine that
it is their sweat hardened into diamonds,
and coined into gold, that glit,ers in the
sun, upon the persons Of vain pride,
and conceited ignorance. The moral
laws are just as inexorab!e in their oper.
alton, as are the physical laws.
Last February when most Of the work
ing men Of this place were out of EN-.
and many Of them were no,
able 10 find the means Of subsistence,
an effort was made and partially sue.
ceeded to press them into years ser.
vice by promising (?) to pay them in
cash, one.four,h OF their earnings, and
what "trads" they might need. We did
not think the scheme would succeed at
the time it was proposed, but the rcac.
ton has come much sooner than we
then anticipated. 1t is scrip'ural in.
junction Of plain import, that "the la.
borer is worthy Of his hire" Those who
keep back their wages through false
pretences, deceit and fraud, are denoun.
ced by the law the Prophets and the
Apostles. "1he acages Of him that is
hired, shall not abide scith thee all night,
until the morning." Lev. NlX,-XlI.
That is every days labor was paid for
as soon as the day ended. The same
fact is more clearly stated in another
portion Of the law. Deut. XXIV,-XV.
cat his day thou shalt give him his hire;
neither shall the sun 60 down upon it.,
lest he cry against thee, unto the Lord,
and it be sin unto thee" Gods re.
sentiment Of this defrauding Of the hire.
ling is again mentioned in Malichi. III,
". IL will come near to you in judg.
ment, and will be swift witness against
those who oppress the hireling in his wa.
ges," and again the same record says,
"When a poor man does any work, the
vapor proceeding from him, through the
severity Of his work, ascends towards
heaven. "Wo to his employer fhe de
lag to pay."
Jesus directed the rich TO sell wha,
they had and give to the poor, as the
first condition Of Gods favor, but >these
scriptural comm andments. imperative as
they are. some protesting christians arc
unable to understand. Verify thOy will
have their reward.
The Apostle James says, that "the
cries Of them that have reaped are
entered into the ears Of the Lord ct
Hosss." Tho Law.siver. the Prophet
and tho Eva.gelist, oil unite in denoun.