The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-09-26
Meeting OF the Mechanics Ass0ci-
alton.
Much ADO ABOUT NOTHING,


Much ADO ABOUT NOTHING
We are not opposed to mechanics. We are
tho advocates OF their rights We have advo-
Gated their Just claims upon all proper occa-
sions. We regard them as an indispensable
block in the social pyramid. The columns of
the Day Book will show that, since the pres
ent editors took charge of the paper, on the
2lst of last May, upwards of sixty articles,
during about one hundred and ten days, have
been written, in which the mechanics, as
class, are more or less lnterested-all involv-
ing the prosperity of the city. Among these,
are articles on Ship Building, Workingmen,
the Mechanic Arts, the Labor Convention,
Congress of Workingmen, the Architect, Our
Houses, Manufactures, the Laborer and Arti-
san, the Atlantic Iron Works, and numerous
Others which we have no space to specify.
These demonstrate the truth of our assertions,
and that the Day Book has manifested a pro-
per interest in the prosperity OF the working
man-and of this city This is indsputable.
1t is the Day Books positio Petis.
But we presume it will not be regarded as
treasonabls to differ with them in some of
their modes of redress. We presume we shall
not be regarded as inimical to the class, if we
disagree with some of the measures they have
adopted by way of retaliation and yindleatlon
of their rights We suppose no hue and cry
will be raised against us as enemies, because
we may give expression to opinions which
may not coincide in all respects with those
entertained by them, either as individuals or
organisms. We give them warning that we
shall not seek their favor by "honey-tnggling|
them and pattng them on the back. IN their
ill-advised contests with employers. And we
N I. e, tl.NNx. A..
give an honest and fearless expression to the
sentiments we entertain, and which we think
will elicit the favorable consideration of the
public, and extort the unbiased appreciation
of their own judgments upon the sober second
thought and cool reflection
We design to speak of the recent meeting
the meeting of the Mechanics Association.
Among the proceedings preamble and reso-
luton were offered, which were passed by the
meeting. 1t is reported that Mr.. TreakIe and
Mr.. Dunbar, gave statements of the difficulty
between the proprietor of the Day Book and
his printers. What the statements were, the
public is left to conjecture. They seem to
have created no little amusement among the
assembled fraternity What is the sum- how
ever Of this whole difficulty between John r.
Hathaway, the proprietor of the Day Book,
and those printers who chose to leave his of
fee few Gays ago : t
We shall endeavor to give to the public a
,,,o;,, and ineligible answer to this inquiry,
ipt;a. -. have not yet had, For, all allI-
s;ans s' :, the inmica press of this city,
h 'ons , ~ - >ifestly characterized by the
sentiment Of Fl hostility 'othe Day Book that they
could not be accepted as -
sides, or the case of the empl> ..totonoo,t of
Al.
facts be ii understood, but as givins ou fo W.
derstanding of the matter. The facts 20 .ar
the matter in dispute, between the propriel !"
and the printers who left his office. The fact
is, there is such a thing as perpetrating
Joke, lust as there is in being guilty Of a pun.
without being fully aware of it And the
theory which we entertain, is based upon thi
superstition And whether the printers wills
accept our theory or not, as accounting forl
the action of their former employer, we really
do believe it to be the true one The Virgin
ian newspaper had been advertised for sale
of the proprietorship of one-half, and it was
sold, as rumor says, to four of its employees,
rapid printers. and steady and deserving men;
for we know them to be such.
The reality Of this sale may have been
doubted by some. We know nothing OF it
except from rumor.
This sale of the Virginian produced GER
tain train of thought in the mind of the pro-
prietor Of the paper having the largest circu-
lation in the city, and combined circulation,
as he states, for we have nothing to do with
the business, double that of the Norfolk
Virginian, and equal to the combined cir
culAtion of all the papers in the city -
which, after all, is not more than the law al
lows. This train of thought suggested the
sale of the Day Book, and so earnest was he
in his original idea and intention of bur-
lesquing the sale of the Virginian, that he
actually submitted his proposition to the con-
slderation of his printers. as bona hde one.
The enormous sum fixed upon one halt OF It,
OF course, precluded its acceptance by the
printers, who failed to comprehend our theo-
ry, Or perceive at once how the proposed re-
auction in the price of type setting and pur-
Chase of one half interest wereto enufe TO
Their benefit And they consequently reius-
ed to sign the proposed agreement and lett the
employment of the roprietor-reiuslng tG
go to work even at the same rates they had
oeen receiving: because, as we understand
The proposition was conditional one-that is
until the proprietor could do better. Ane
we should be pleased to be informed, II al
painters aud other mechanics, and all men
who, like ourselves, have to labor for thei
support, are not employed upon the SAM
sp''dstionaE terms-that is, until either can d.