The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-07-14
LOCKOUT OF THE BOSTON
CAULAERS.
Great Meeting of Worlxingmen
In FanemIl Hall.

A large and enthusiastic meeting Of the
Workingmen Of Boston and vicinity, as
sembled in Faneuil Hail, on Monday evening,
July I'd, to hear a true statement Of the
cause of the Caulkers lockout, to tender aid
and to take such coursoi and action as the
exigency might seem to require from the
friends Of labor. The following i condensed
from the report published in the Voice Of
that city:
The meeting was called to order by Mr.. j.
B. Roys, President of the Workingmen's
Assembly, and organized by the choice Of
the following officers -
President-Cromwel G. Rowell Of East
Boston.
Vice Presidents-J. B. Rows Of Boston, C.
L. Turner Of Boston, j. H. Blasland of Bus-
ton.
Secretaries-A. b. Bulger and Alexander
Troup OF Boston.
The President Of the evening on taking
the chair briefly expressed his thanks for
the honor conferred, and then introduced
Mr.. Charles E. Turner, President Of the
Boston Caulkers' Association.
Mr. Turner wanted it distinctly under
stood that this was no strike Of the Caulk-
ers, but lockout Of the shipowners and
builders. The shipwrights and caulkers OF
New York, on the I'd Of April last, struck for
eight hours a day. The ship Archer was
sent from New York to Boston TO be repair
ed because the owners would not let the
work be done in New York on the eight
hour system, and were determined to defeat
the strike We were pledged to assist our
fellow craftsmen. We had worked for IF
teen years on the eight hour system, and
wanted not only to continue that system,
but to help others to il. The Afeder had =
charter in New York, and when asked to re-
pair her we returned answer that we would
work on her if the owners would let New
York caulkers come and assist at eight hours
a day. This was refused, and we could not
therefore, in justice either to ourselves or
our fellow craftsmen, consent to work on
her. We were therefore locked out by con-
dItions which we could not accept-four dol
lars a day for nine hours work.
We think our cause is just. There is
much said about the coulkers getting $5 a
day. There are not twenty-five men out of
the three hundred and fifteen composing our
association who average over two and half
days in week for the year. We have no
doubt that in our present circumstances we
have the sympathy Of the workingmen Of
Boston. But it is not your sympathy We
want-we are free to say we want your
money. We want you to help US carry out
principle. Wen beg before we will submit
to the dictation Of the shipowners--four dol
lars a day and nine hours
Mr.. Turner said the caulking business,
honestly conducted BY the masters, was not
money making business to them; and yet
every master caulker GO rich. How was it {?
They charged ten per cent. commission !;
and this they charged not only on what they
paid the men, but on boys and on men who
never saw the vessel He hsd been there
and stayed over night, and he knew how
this was. High bills on vessels were not
caused by eight hours work at-Sj o day.
Mr.. Turner said that 80 per cent could be
saved to owners by employing the Boston
ter workmen.
Able and stirring speeches were made By
F. Falls, ex-president Of the Massachusetts,
Grand Eight Hour League; Mr.. c. E. Ro-
gers Of Chelsea, and Mr. Ruins Wagman, q
Boston capitalist. The latter gentleman in
referring to the position occupied by the Ia.
boring classes said
He believed that they had many friends
among the clergy, and slluded TO clergy
man in Englan1 who said one Sabbath that
he could not speak on the usual topics OF
the Lords day, for be had just been reading
the work of John Stuart Mill upon the con-
dition Of the labnring classes, and he felt
that his duty was to speak on that theme.
Mr. Mill represents one Of the most aris.o-
cratic districts Of London but that class
there had made more progress in the inves-
tigation Of the subject Of labor than the same
class here. They saw the danger of neg
Letting to meet the question. Capital and
labor he thought to be not friends, bat
enemies. There was sense in which they
were friends. Practically they were not so.
Capital likes large dividends, and 50 1t seeks
to make you work the greatest possible
number OF hours for the least possible
amount Of wages. This is not friendliness
and corporation, but selfishness and an
tagonism.
Labor IS not thought TO DO respectable.
Buying and selling and speculation are re-
spectacle. Supply and demand does not
govern these things, but supply and money
Money is tyrannical power in this respect
You must send workingmen to the Legi~la-
ture, linen who drop the axe and the adze,
and 90 up to the State House and attend 70
their duties there, and then cheerfully go
back to their labor again. Such linen will
accomplish the work Of reform for you, ana
hasten the day when it shall be avery mars
privilege TO spend portion Of his time in
pursuit Of knowledge, or in companionship