Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1860-03-07
rha shoemaEoru, aetrIke. ;,

The present crisis IN the shoe business IN
Massachusetts, had been predicted, and ca
peeted for some time, and the only surprise
the outbreak caused many intelligent obser-
ysrs, was that II did not sooner occur. In
order to build up competing towns, too many
men settled down in these places, and be-
came "bosses," and consequently entirely
too many apprentices we're induced to learn
the business, many of them craving up into
incompetent workmen, but must be support
ed ID the business Asa matter Of course,
trads 10 shoes was "run into the ground"
and the prices Of workmen went along with
IT,
In regard to this great strike in the Mas
sschasstts towns, cOtemporafy justly re-
marks that Il Is only question Of time,
however, in our country, relative to the over
action and reaction In any business The
time had at last come, whom revelation in
the Shoe manufacture down east had be-
come inevitable Too much work and too
poor work, in many instances, has been
pressed npon the market A better way
thsn,,he strike, would have been for the
tndnnfacturef 70 have discharged all poor
Norkmen, and snployed the best, giving to
them if necessary, The increased pay requir'
ed, and thus Offering in the market a redu
ced quantity aud improved quality of the
manufacture. The inefficient workmen could
have proSured work with the farmers, or in
the merchant service, both departments of
industry being greatly in need Of proper
recruits. No concert Of this kind, however,
is to be expected of manufacturers, and
some violent breaking up therefore became
unavoidable.
That large majority of the shoemakers
10 Lynn, Natick, Marblehead and other
places in Massachusetts, did not get near
enough to live upon is very certain; while
the smaller nu mbcr could hpe and save
little against rainy day." the greater por.
ton we're over-worktd, while they did not
get enough to keep them aud their families
above want. The advance demanded by
the Lynn jourDeymen in prices is from 10
to 25 per cent 1t is estimated by those who
ought to know, that Of the hundreds of work
men the average wages did not come up to
s. per week This was unquestionably too
low to permit them to live, at tho present
prices of provisions, rents &c.
We are informed from reliable source
that some Of the principal boot and shoe
manufacturers of MassaGh usetts are anxious
to have the strike Of the workmen, which
has become general continued rather than
suppressed. For this purpose macy of them,
we are told, have headed the list of subscri-
have secretly subscribed and paid several
hundred dollars each to support the move
ment Their purpose is probably selfish, as
they may hope to get enough sympathy by
the strike to sell their accumulated stocks
OF boots, shoes, &c., at good prices, better
than they could have hoped for, had it not
been for the strike" But we care nothing
for their notions, so that they assist the
journeymeu to get wages necessary to ena-
BILE them to sustain. nature
We have laith to believe that the Lynn
shoemakers, If they will only respect the
rights of individuals and property, will come
out right. We believe the movement will
inure to the benefit Of the manufacturer as
we'll as the worknen. 1t will have the effect
of regulating the sunply, and enable them
to secure an increased price for their goods,
by having them made better, and not hav,
ing 50 much work on hands OF course,
less will be manufactured, it will be made
better, and every body will be the gamers.
The supply had greatly exceeded the de.
mand placing The sellers completely in the
hands Of the buyers of course the journey.
men would have to suffer along The sup.
ply being stopped, the trade will soon be
regulated 1t will not be long before the
effect Of the Strike will be felt in the west;
our markets will not probably be longer
stocked with half made eastern shoes, at
prices greatly below what good shoes can be
made for here.
We have not time or space to devote fur
ther to the subject; we have said enough,
however, to give our readers pretty good
understanding Of what has BEEN and is pro
posed yet to be done by the shoemakers Of
Massachusetts,, whom the papers of nristo.
cratic and arbitrary leanings have sought
to style mobocrats, simply because few
excited shoemskcrs detained and opened a
few shoe boxes These men are striking for
tho means upon which to live, and their
success will, we feel sure, not only be
great moral triumph, but will be benefit to
the country at large, for reasons we have
given. They should receive the support
and sympathy of the craft here and else.
where, and of good people every where
Should the craft here get up resolutions
of approval and sympathy for their brethren
in Massachusetts, it would doubtless be
gratefully received by them What say the
cordwainers of Dayton2