The daily press. (Cincinnati [Ohio) 1859-1859, 1859-04-08
A Reply to the Cabinet Manufacturers


"STRIKE OF THE JoURNEYMEN CABINET -MAKaRs -
Under this heading article has been published
in the papers, signed by the proprietors of ten
furniture factories of Cincinhati to which the $50
called" Cabnet-makeTs' Protective Union" feel
bound to reply, inasmuch as the position taken by
The facts II spea a That can T no 6
denied, and which will be more than sufficient to ST.
reports unfounded. It is immaterial whether the
reduction of the wages of the workmcn was the effect
Of combination on the part of the employers since
the fact that such reduction take place is but
well established. The journeymen are well aware
of some disposed employers who really feel for
their workmen, but who were compelled in competing
cause with them. We therefore want to have il un-
derstood that We are not occupying hostile position
toward the employers; in fact, harmony between the
parties is indispensable
we should form an organization, and should act in
concert with similar organizations in other cities.
njnrously; on the contrary, we are almost persua-
ded that well-meaning employers would be glad at
cutting down the wages Of their workmen to the
lowest notch, in order to enable them to compete
better wages here than paid in other parts of the
country we can refute by unquest tionable testimony
West the average wages are higher although the the
Is RH h he M cabinet
the other trades, where the destituon is also very
the case, The tailors for instance can cali on their
wives wives and children to aid them in earning living;
expenses consequent upon the preseu high prices of
all the necessaries of life have such additional
The fact that higher wages were not demanded for
al kiuds Of work, may serve the public an indica
Whether the wages rose and fell in exact proportion
to the prices of the marketable articles OF trade
leave to the employers to judge. We would state in
| this connection, however, that certain pieces COM
mand the same price now that they always did while,
at the same time, the wages paid for manufacturing
! them have declined. The question of obtaining
make us act with due caution for the employers
probably recollect what happened in 1858, when
and when they acceded to demands made at our
meeting. Conidng in their promises, we returned
work shops talked to the men individually, and man.
aged things that only very small number of the
latter realized an nconsderable advance on the old
No well-disposed citizen will blame the workmen
when, proitng by past experience, they strive
70 provide against the recurrence of such things.
We protest. however, against having our resolutions,
| q manner Is though we wanted to interfere in the
there was Union OF JouTReymen cabinet.mSfers
in existence who entertained such notions, as is evil
to have once belonged 10 this Union, and for this
to do that which they themselves in times gone by,
thought so excellent The workmen Of to-day, how
no such demands to make T9 prevent any misun-
tan nov TSSSS Sn submit to ths PUB
which. were alluded to by the employers.
prices, in connection with the other similar organi
the standing committee. Its term of office expires
with that Of the other officers of the society.
If the employers had seen proper to add few words
comprised in the second resclution then the real OBJ
Ject In providing such committee would have been
The duty of the shop committee was prescribed as
l. To equalize the nriccs as far as practicable The
compensation of such Of the workmen are able to
xi woTkmeH who receive insdeSuste nay are to
get higher wages, so as to enable hand of average
capacity to earn wages commensurate to the existing
circumstances.
s. In order to have the prices uniform as possible
throughout the city, the different shop committees to
consult together and to establish price list, which
they are to hand to the employers to consider and
Thss, was done, and as is known to the public the
price list was signed by several employers who are
known and esteemed as business men.
4. This committee was to be Acknowledged the
standing G G9ommt9 nm to 1fspSse 6etTSSn the
arise arise relating to work or changes n work done
Join the Union, on his acknowledging the cOnstitu.
ton and assuming the duty to promote the interests
Here. we have to remark, that the English rendi
therefore resolved, at the last general meeting tC
conform the English transgton as near as possible
section, as published by the employers, conflicts with
the S second notnr part tnefe9i thn m -,
shops refuse to comply with the Just demands of the
thereof Without deisy II Is tho duty Of sneS com
mittee, in such case at once to issue call for
ments for strike.
These "just demands are of different nature
altogether than the employers seem to think; bu
since they do not seem to be of this, rathe
since they to be unwilling ia know this we viii
not now stop to explain the matter infinitely. Thes
lust demands are, in short, comprised in the pric
lists signed by the employers, and any encrOacE
, ment on them would be met by the committee, as 1
would be in duty bound
Sec 10. Whenever member II in arrears with hi
monthly dncs, for more than two months, his nam
Is irrevOcaby stricken from the list and he is not {,
' be suffered 70 remain in the work shop,
Here we have TO state that, agreeably to resOlu
tion passed at a meeting of the Union, the latte
sentence was stricken out. We appeal, however, t
Q who proves to be unmindfu of his own interests a
void of the least particle Of honorable sentiments
We even put IL to the employers whether they cal
hold a man in any esteem who thus proves hmsel
his worst enemy, We even believe that they no
but despise the few individuals who have returned Il
4 their work, notwithstanding their help may prov
very acceptable TO them at this particular moment
I We subscribe to the sentiments dOcumented by Mi
-, who denOminated those of his workmcn wlo
from some other, returned to his shop to b
4
As regards Sec 10, '"The leading and chief law en-
bodied in the constitution not be altered uudc
any circumstances" have To say that this sec 10
has been manned to suit, for II reads follows: 9Th
bylaws, however, can he revised and altered If neces
STATED by the circumstances provided two. Thu ds
!, the members consent" by supprcssing tho latte
part of the section, the authors of that bo
. remembered article, published on the 9Th Of April
probably meant TO say We only publish such passa
4 ges will rebound in our favor For further refer
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