New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-23
their craft at 50 per day from March 10 10 NV. TO-
and 81 "a for the residue Of the year,

and 81 ~ for the residue Of the year,
"Rfsolred, That We consider in the present cam.
paiRn for advance in wages, We feel wausused
~ ing 10 it Ia depreciation of the vslne OF
on.y by the prolonged CONTINUANCE Of high mrke's
and stt sdy increese Of materials land and comnodi
tee TO which remuneration IL by no mssos keep
irg pace We therefore feel iDpel ed by Necessity re-
ctfuy IN soci, the employers Of the city to aoee
otr proposition of e. per day and as we believe IN the
WORDS OF Milton, Peace hsh her victories not les re-
Dowped than war, we therefore thte'eo them, not
with strikes which are injurious in their consequences
TO both employer and employed, and hitherto almost
only resOred 10 in dOwn-trodden countries, 10 "nic1
we hope indeed 10 confne them; Te propoH 10 df0p'
he sirnps principles of niAdrdnIng labor from
those rho riH not comply as ne can tad rors a. me
odr0nced rates but ledre employers perecty free
10 ernpiOs rkOersr they choose can get. But ve
troto TO hold weekly meetings and give another
Information and advice Of where work can be h4d al
TIE rates and also fer the purpose OF keeping in check
ihose innovations which are fast forming in our bust
pess We are well aware that all workmen are not
capable 10 receive the highest wages. but We might
reasonably that the majority OF every shop are
efficient workmen therefore trust that all respect
able employers will accede TO and pay, az Their re-
spec've pay nights occur the advance rates, and not
a. has been too often the css meet their men with an
evasve ans yer vhch;ve c,nnot but hold Jas tsn.a-
mount to q denial"
The ideas embodied in the above resolution
might have been much more clearly aud accurately
edge Of social economy. The passage which we
have p aced in italics is admirable. The economic
doctrines recognized by this resolve are as fol ow'
/. Every man bias right to demand and insist
on what he considers fair price for his labor.
3 Two or more workmen in any trade or calling
have right to uni'e in this demand, and in de-
It animation and pledge not to work for less rate.
3. In case such rates are scceded to by ma
jority Of the employers in that trade, they are
morally obligatory on the whole body Of employers.
4. But those who uphold such rate have no right
to ipiure or threaten those who dissent tberefrom
and employ or are hired at lower rate, but must
leave them free 10 do as they shall see fit.
These are principles which will stand the test OF
discussion and criticism, for they are grounded in
truth and justice. And yet there are some ad-
ditional considerations which we believe worthy
the attention of journeymen mechanics generally,
but which these resolves do not seem to recognize.
Let US state them:
We often hear complaints by working men in our
city OF the low rates of wages which prevail here
in most calngs in view Of the cost of rents, food,
&C. These complaints are well founded; yet the
journeymen seem ignorant Of the fact that they
alone are the cause of this and that the remedy is
in their own handle II the great body of journey
men mechanics we're not allured by what are called
the pleasures Of great ctes-ther thester' parades,
shows, games, &c-wages wosd be as high here
as elsewhere. But the great mass of the young
journey men throughout the country banker for city
excitements and ty epjoyments and rush in when
ever there seems chance of their fading employ
Dent Being single men, they are able to live here
on their wages while work is to be had when it
fails, they can easily transfer themselves to the
country; but their married brethren, who have
families to support and city rents TO pay,
and who cannot lsavo tho City at cost OF
five dollars whenever work fails, are bound
to suffer So long as this preference of the City to
the Country so generally prevails among journey
II en- mechanics, their wages will be relatively lower
here than elsewhere, and ten thousand comb ma
tiOns resolves, strikes, whatever device may be
resorted to, will not avail to stem the current
And if the journeymen carpenters OF our City wish
TO maintain the rates Of wages they have just iud
Gated, they must iDpel constant stream of emf.
grafton from their midst to Illinois, Kansas, Ne
brsska Minnesota, and other sections where their
labor is in eager demand at good wages and where
living is much cheaper than in the Gro Tded cities.
In the absence of such emigration, wages will be
depressed here by the constant influx Of journey
men from the country aud from Europe, and no
rgor Of combination among our resident journey
men can prevent it.