The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-06-20
CORRESPONDENTS.
FRuM NEW YuRK.


FRuM NEW YuRK.
! NEW YoRK, June Is, 1858,
n me Edscr q the wouRnsHAs's AsvsoAss.
am able 70 write what all your readers
viii, | think, BE- grstifed to hear-that the
mechanics of New York are more fully en-
ployed than they have been for the last
twelve months, and as natural conse-
quence, Ill the labor organizations are more
active thaa they have been for long time.
The question Of wages seems to be the only
thing that any Of them discuss in their
unions. The more important question Of
eight hours day seems to DO entirely IT,
nored, a. much 90 as II IL had never been
talked about, or an act passed by any Legis
lasure. Only one society has it perfect, that
il the Plasterers. The Painters, 90 far as
they can, are working on the eight hour sys-
tenn, but it Il nothing like general in its ap
plieation, although they have struggled hard
and are entitled TO great praise; but they
have such heavy load Of incapsbles t. con-
tend with, who are unable to do any good
for themselves, and seem determined that
no one else shall do 1t for them. thus they
are now prowling all ever the city, trying by
every means In their power to End some way
by which they can evado the clear duty be-
fore them and work their ten hours. Thus
10 every good movement for the benefit Of
mankind crushed out by the slaves OF capt.
tai. Nothing 10 so clear to my mind that a
united effort on the part of all worklngmen,
would give % eight hours in less than
month yet no one even asks for it.
The Bakers have In their struggle been
more successful than think they themselves
anticipated, most OF the bosses having
agreed to their demands. The only thing
there seems to be any dispute about, is board
ina with the boss. This the union objects
to, and I think with very good reason, for as
they say, it would soon destroy the very
principle that they are now contending for.
This boarding acts in this way: A man who
boards with his boss would, as a natural
consequence when be was not working, be
at bis homs or boarding house now that
means Of course the bake-house, and BY such
q system oil laws could be evaded, and the
bosrder could work a. many hours a. be
lkeds whereas the main point is to get him
DOT OF ne bakehouse (whers his health 10
completely ruined,) into some boarding
house. This point many of the bosses op-
pose, and regret to say II, some Of the men
also. They use the usual rod--it IL tyran-
meal, 1t is unjust every man ought to be
allowed to board Wherc be pleases, &e. Now,
assuming that be has, ought rot these men
70 give up their strict point Of Justice, when
By 90 doing they could confer such On i'm
mense benefit on the rest Of their trade.
We are often told that to accomplish Q great
right, We must sometimes do little wrong.
50 these men ought to submit to q little
fAneied, or abetraot wrong il you like. when
by 90 doing it will accomplish 90 much good.
Besides, TO retain the system Of boarding
wish the boss, gives the single man great
advantage over the married, when it ought
10 be vice usrsa, for, as q matter of course.
every one will, as be IL able, employ single
men, and thus evsde the rules Of the Union.
Your readers will therefore perceive that
this question, small as ii seems, 10 the weap-
GA The bosses intend to beat the Union with.
and that 70 why some Of the largest ones are
holding oat on that point It now remains
70 be seen whether the men will submit to
II.
Some time ago, gave your readers an
account OF an action brought by Mr.. Daw-
scs, against the Bricklayers' Union of Nor.
risinia, In West Chester county, fclose to
New York here). The cause Of action was
this: Mr.. Dawson wished his son to learn
the trade Of bricklsyer, and asked one Of
the bosses there to take him, who agreed to
do 80; bot when he went 10 work the union
men refused 10 work with him unless he
complied with their rules, and was regularly
bound an apprentice thsrsupon. The lad
YES ruturned W his boss to his father, civ
lng % the reason fer not keeping him. that
his hAnds refused to work with him.
Tia ofaesRs or the union we're then in-
dicsed for conspiracy, and he Judgment
rent againsk tAen- Tbey then appealed to
o higher court, which has NOT vet heard The
ease, and Mr. dawson, suppose, getting
tired o. Ne laws delsy, has aid bis case be-
fore the grand jury. and they have found
nas bill under he third revised statutes,
which declares sany confsderstion OF two
o. more psrsens 70 obstruct trade and csm-
msr@S 10 b . nisdemsanor, punishable
with Aos and imprisonment These are the
kind % laws that capitabls makes, with the
I'D aBd eoeislspcs Of labor. Bat do work
lngnen derive any better treatment The
css9 w now On bsfors the court, and In my
neztI may b able to give your readers the
dseisiDn.
On reading the law, any one can tell that
itB provisions were not intended to be ap-
piled TO mechanical sb0r, but the word
stTade" being inserted - being in connec-
lion with, and properly belonging to COM
meFee. some crafty lawyer has construed the
meaning of trade to be the laying Of hicks |
and mortar. .-s.
This law, being on the statute books, why |
was "a not applied to Vanderbilt and bis |
psrsys who. Cor nearly three weeks, stopped
Che entire trade and commerce Of the Erie |
Railroad, 10 the great injury Of its numerous
1lpakholders and the business men Of New
YoEkf But no Tbs was . capitalist, and
81 tie penal laws are made for labor. Such |
y tfes eovsrn.nent = established by the
people" Could any dsspotism be Norsef