New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-17


At meeting of the workiDgmen OF this City. to
embody and express sympathy with the shoemakefs
now on strike, speaker who yentm ed to suggest
vaguely the expediency Of sbeemak ers being their
own masters, was put down by o CRU Il dictum that
the meeting wanted nothing to DO WI tn 'SoclaliSt
"schemes"
Why not?
The shoemaker or other producer VIII AYERS that
hs ought to receive certain wage or co mpen'aton
because flour is $40 per BARREL OF rent or fuel is
high, or he has houseful Of children, or for any
other reason, save that lin su5stance) employ
ers seltinterest induces iona tide Offe of that
much, talks Socalism-a very bad INIT alton, in-
deed, of the genuine article; but the idea clearly
there. Who's afraid
Why should not working shoenahe7s be their
own employers? Is not the thing essentially dosi-
rabel What 10 the lion in the PATH
We have in this City and ito vicinity several
tSousand-we will say five thousand-men rad
women who make boots and shoes, and very nasu-
rally try to live by that same 10 this same com
munity, there are One Million persons who weer
oad consumothese necessary protectors OF the feet
If we estimate the value the boots and shoes
thus sold and bought, proeaoed and consumed ut
Five Millions of Dollars, we shall not be far
wrong. OF this sum, we may roughly estim.te
shat 50 ,OOO, 900 is paid fox stock, q like sum for
shoe-work, and the balance. is absorbed by rents,
sIerk-hire, transportation, coumiss'ons, and Tho
profits of the employers and sellers.
Well: let US suppose that, instead of striking
against further work until a certain rate of wages
be conceded, the shOemakers. should strike in favor
of making for themselves, and for who shah see fit
to buy their products. Let us suppose that such
of them rs cannot otherwise find acceptable Gus
toners for their wares, Should combine, form art-
cles of association, elect treasurer and BUSINESS
man, &C., open big store, and let the public know
that they are ready to make and sell shoes OF ialr
terms--who would have right to object Who
could reasonably complaint
We viii not here assert that the shoemakeFs are
or are not capable of doing this. They mast be
their own Judges all such points. If they are in-
capable, or don't know how to elect trustworthy
leaders, such enterprise would necessarily fail.
ut this we do say without fear of rational contra
dcon, that, if they cannot so organize and direct
their own labor, than they need masters, and must
pay Inc CuiItnl piiCo ivi thom' Iho Huhuioc
strikes will not essentially and permanently imr
prove their position if they really must have the
present machinery of the shOe-trade ilterposed be-
tween them and their customers
But let us suppose that, instead Of striking to
play, they strike to work-that they keep their
scanty means and SECURE the necessary store and
thOp-money buy stock, and advise the public that
they are prepared henceforth 10 sell bootO and
shoes as reasonably as Others can: what is 10 him
Ger them from finding customers Why should
not working men at least give them preference
over other sellersl Paying 10 profits nor eommis-
sioDs and not half 30 much rs now for store rents
clerkhire, &c, why should not they be able to sup
ply customers at rather less than current rates,
yet receive enhanced pay for their labor Why
| not
| So of the Eastern shOemakers. They struck
| against low wages; who but stakeholder ever
supposed no wages to be their proper antijote :
| The journeymen choose not to work for their en-
ployers for the wages they are offered why not
work for themselves and the shOewearers instead :
Suppose, nov, they were all to set to woik, re-
solved 70 make the 6Is! quality Of boots aud shoe,