The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-07-04
New YORK, Jule 81, 1868

INV a0AN-
New YORK, Jule 81, 1868.
To the Editor Of the MoEKISeMAs's Advocate,
At last, we New Workers have got real
live, genuine sensation that daring body Of
men, the bricklaye rs, have struck for eight
hours a day, and forthwith all New York is
in blaze oil excitement. The bosses meet
by day and the men by night, whilst all the
daily papers are discussing the matter pro
and con, leaning, ne lar as possible, to The
side of capital, although there is certainly a.
marked difference in the manner il which
they handle the subject now to what they
have hitherto done. Both parties are, Just
now, in rather an awkward position. The
elections are close at hand every vote will
be wanted and they have had some taste
of what workingmen can do, in former cleo
ions how they have learnt the way to poll
tiedlly XIII any party who goes against labor,
hence, the press lodges the question TINS
is especially the case with the New York
Times, e paper as hostile to labor in this
city, as is the Times in yours). Therefore, il
suggests that the bricklayers should lay
bricks by the thousand, then they could
work six, eight, or ten hours day, just as
they pleased, and capitalists WOULD no: com
plain. This is quite mild way for the
Times 10 discuss a matter Of such import
All &C rs this, for since the proprietor CON
PEELED every one OF his printers 70 sign a
document that they would not belong to any
trades union, before he would allow them 10
work in the office. He has been most bitter
against labor, bus just now be wishes to see
Grant in the presidential char, 50 be lets the
master brickiayers slide. 10 this act of the
press we get an inside view Of the power OF
workingmen, and can see how easily they
might if they wished, take the whole poser
of the government into their own hands
Give US 40 honest administration and make
labor instead Of capital the basis OF ali legs
lation, thus completely changing the whole
structure Of society. Some sucn process a.
this has become Necessary, or m q fsw years
we shall become a second Mexico. for our
pauperisrn il increasing at m enormous rate,
so much SO that the press is compelled to
discuss it. The Nation, in an abe article,
does 80 this week.
The grand scheme BY which the master
masons hope to defeat the bricklay ers, Is by
organizing union, to be composed OF al. the
bosses engaged in the building trade, and rs
many more as they can get to JOIN them, 50
that the very men that have always de-
n0unced unions are about TO eat tnslr own
words and bind themselves together in
union. Of this no one wll complain, for ali
ek,~ 1ako eli ar n A hmv ifS
grievances discussed, and then it has no fear
OF the result. The first act Of the bosses was
20 publis!. card to the public, wherein they
set forth their grievances, real or supposed,
which concluded with tie following resoiu-
tioBs: aa IA INA
Resolved, That We stop all work until the
men in our employ return 60 their work at 50
per day for ten hours. xaige8 ts slr F-
Resolved, That we employ counsel to test the
rules adopted aud nov enforced by said Unions,
in regard TO the restrictions placed upon trade
to employ apprentices, and also TO test the rule
by which an employer is deprived Of the liberty
OF laboring on his building. BY which means his
family is dependent on him for support, quite as
much in some instances, as the family Of the
journeyman is dependent on his labor for sup
port H
Resolved, That each firm here represented
contribute the sum Of $40 toward carrying out
the foregoing resolutions and defFaying the ne
cessary expenses connected with our present
purpose aud be 1t further
Resolved, That each member hereby pledges
himself to pay his appor sionment of The further
expenses (f anyl in carrying out the foregoing
resolutions.
10 order that your readers may n.-e fully
understand this contest, for thtce Is no
IL ~ Gal 4. - ia anl fha
this II the contest that win be the turning
poiat in the attainment Of eight hours a-1ay
1, therefore, send you synopsis Of the meet
ings, speeches and resolutions Of both bosses
and men. commencing with the bosses
From these reports the readers OF the AD-
yocATE will DO able to see the line Of tactics
adopted BY both parties. The reply Of tho
to the bosses 10 not made pub
lie yet, the committee being still n work on
e. As soon - it is, viii forward Il. A
whole review Of the way the strike 1as gons |
30 far, may not be out of place here.
Frat, the brIcklay ers asked no advance 10 !
S. day early IN June, then the bosses !
thought lne whole matter vas settled Tor she
season /; then comes ne demand for eight
hours and $3.50 per dA TO which the bosses !
demur add say. ~ hat gusrausee have ws !
thai you viii not nne tiaIely demand, when
yo1 have got eight hocrs, your 500 dayd
again r. TO this lhs asen reply b., carrying
. resolutiep fx,ng the wages ~ ~ 30 per |
day till the 6rst Of My 1869, which outi
lanks thein on that poiat. Inc bossss nfxt |
~, I'VE cannot grant the demand, - we
shall lose On all our coDraeis.~ - whlcn |
the men reply, eve will take them III Off
Pour hands and allow you 30 per cent prohsi