The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-04-14
THE LABOR QUESTION.



The Kxsest and Iunnence of the Trade
Orgnn1xastons-How Strikes nre Sustained
Resources : Hew Expended = Cause oil the
Late Strike-wages, Hours oil LABOR ana
Dusy seaseu or Working HIen-The Trades
- Strtks-Hsw Working Men Live-Cost OF
IAvsss-t' Complaints of High Rents. DC.
Trade unions are comparatively speaking, OF but 70
cest origin In this country II Is true, however, that
orwnnsAtons for the protection Of the members com
posing them have been established at an early penoa
sAs ex,.,euce Of the nation; but the influence which
NAV or the which that influence
diRssea ilsolf, was limited In comparison 70
,As organisations or the present day. In $780,
vhsu the country became jeopardized BY tho
.r,s.u os the Are eaters Of tho Southern States,
there were very few trades unions in existence Al
even 40 late period that organized strikes were OF
seldom occurrence and only when absolute necessity,
.y.,nx from various causes compelled the artisans
ork uxmcn 10 ask for increased wages and not until
.nsr their appeal vas refused did the resort TO
s,uke a. the only OF obtaining their demands.
Mea thus banded together for the time being disbanded
a soon their ends were accomplished or their designs
frustrated The continuance OF the late civil war, with
tu attendant evils OF . nuctuatng money market, a
steady depreciation of the paper money OF the nation
srosbi,ant rents and high prices demanded for all the
nscessarles OF life, may DO considered as the
primary cause which led 10 the permanent
establishment Of the present system Of trade
and tabor unions throughout the United States Previous
70 this opy few Of tho more prominent mechanical
craft had regularly established and organized oceties
To-day there is scarcely occupation throughout the
whole extent Of tho land members whose are
less organized for tho protection OF what
they pleased to tho interest OF the trade Fe
male societies. based upon similar foundations to those
formed by ourneymcn mechanics are In course OF sue
M ia ma Is
question OF wages VIII Oh these bodies undertake
70 regulate. bat all matters Affecting tho con-
dition and employment OF their members
laborers. Thus, the hours or labor have within
the last two years afforded ample scope for agitation
"a every popuous city OF the Union. In many instances
the trade unions undertake. TO regulate the action OF the
employers in regard to apprentices Thus the mouldes
given number OF men. This rule IL Tgidy enforced by
the unions, and any infraction OF this law by the
poyer causes trouble among the employees The hatters
also insist only upon certain number of boys 10 given
number OF ourneymen being employed by tho master
mechanic. 20 thoroughly Is this trade organized that
the employers compelled TO submit TO whatever bill
OF prices the journeymen through thor organization.
decide upon submitting. And 80 on with many other
trade regulations all OF which are in the majority OF in
stances, affected by the action of the unions.
ARR TRAnk UNIONS roIInclL MACHINES?
II has often been asserted, and tho idea has become
current that the trade unions have been used TO
psh the political ends of schemlng politicians. On
close Investigation IL is ascerlained that whe the
not been found wanting individuals connected with
these societies who have made capital from their alliance
the labor movement when tho trade unions OF this city
were bttor and moro compactiy organized than they
arc at prsent the influence OF these societies much
sousht after by certain class OF politicians. II Is
pretty well understood that one OF this class,
an honorable NJ G., with keen, farseeing look
out for future prospects, spent his thousands
in aid OF the members Of those bodies
months before the political states made out.
expenditure afterwards proved a powerful lever in
securing triumphant election. To accomplish this
end tho most energetic and active campsigners
Another
che political influence exercised by the unions that in
which few men either too lazy work. or actua,ed by
dishonest intentions, endeavor to obtain money
nscngth Of their connection with the irado unions
fhs has been done before now, but not TO any vety
serious extent, and was never countenancod by the
TRADE uniona
COMPOSE TUE uSIovs-xAyAaEMfsr
Although by far the greatest portion Of the mechanics
outside The pale Of the trades unions s the general
scale OF prices received by tae journeymen has its
oe n %ss. OF xs the s"Ss s MANY ss
quota Of common sense could reasonably sustain pre-
optse strS for Increased rates upon their fellows at
ilitimed periods and for unreasonable demands Defeat
usually follows and the after being out Of work for
wees return aud dsheartened TO work the
In TIE carly part OF last year. and In which the men en-
gagsa y ship building were all implicated the commit
te0 who had the management OF tho strike, about six
In number were paid At the rate Of 81 per day for their
valuable services What the management consisted Of
Snd e ho s o s dS
espoused aud In which they Interested gave their
osss energies 70 the Management, of The strike iors
Per diem.
THE KxTEyr TRADE ORGANIZATIONS.
Trades unions Of late becoming exceedingly
pcated Formerly mechanic belonging to trade
society paid his initiation fec entering and small
monthly stipend for its support. and that was ALL Now
different There Is first the trades union proper;
then the State union, a body composed OF delegates
from the several unions within the State, and then the
national union, which is composed Of delegates from
oil the In the nation. This only applies these
belonging 70 calling or trade Then again the
vorkinsmens assemblies plant Of very rccen, growth,
large cstics Il Is formed OF representatives from
numbsrof trades unions. The state trades assembly Is
made up Of delegates from the local assemblies In the
cities OF that particular state and the whole topped
on with what IL known ms the labor congress The sup
port OF these Institutions with all the expenses Of the
running Of the machinery the transportation and keep
OF delegates during the annual sessions conventions,
and the payment OF the salared officers borne by tho
local trades unions and the treasures OF these bodies Is
supplied by direct taxation upon the workingmcn.
STRIKES AIRS SUSTAINED
The ramihcations OF these trades unions extend
throughout every State in the union. Many OF them
In the possession OF ample Treasures and II an
emergency arises, zach particular trade forming .
portion Of the great whole will contribute its share
towards the attainment Of any object or the prevention
boasea was by this system Of State and national
unions that the iron workers enabled to
OF hist year; and Il was owing 10 The Goa a.
nectlons existing between the mechanics engaged
clt,es and towns. by means Of their trades unions
that the journeymcn were able 70 disregard the
threats OF their employers when order break up
the workingmens combination, they threatened to send
their work for the time bong, Boston, Portland or
any other OF the seabcard cities But men in those
places apprized OF the action OF tho employers by
means Of their trades unions and while employers In
this city we're calculating upon having their work per-
formed In such and such ports the journeymen those
places were actually holding meetings and pcdsing
their men not 70 work on any ship or vessel which
from New York and upon which the mechanics there
had struck. Thus In very short space OF time OF
the important interests the country brought
20 dead lock- and the shpbuilding and repairing OF
this city received blow from which Il has not yet
recovered.
KxrESr- INFLUENCE AND REsorRcFs
Some idea may be formed Of the influence which these
bodies exert the journey and how willingly the
mon contribute TO their support, from the following
Iron Moulders' union there At the beginning Of
the ysar 1le4s persons working at moulding, all OF
whom influenced by the Moulders' National Union.
The amount Of money paid in for the support Of that
body for the ending December 1885, was Sl2 SSl o.
gansscd numbered thirty i've This money, The