Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-04-09
THE POTTERS' STRIKE AT TREN-
TON

ION.
There is probably no class of skilled
mechanics who are so miserably COM
pensated as journeymen potters of
Trenton. To say nothing of the in
jury to health inevitably sustained by
working at this trade, the men are SUBJ
jected to the most Illuminating insults
at the hands of the employers, who are
firmly banded together for mutual ag
grandizement compelled to labor
from 10 to IL hours per day, and for
all this are allowed but the misery
compensation of about $13 per week.
1t is n well-known fact that. since the
breaking ont the late civil war, the.
wages of employees, in every branch of
industry, have been increased COM
mensurate with the necessities of the
time, while those of journeymen pot
tiers have remained very nearly the
same az they were before the war. But
the reason these men are now out of
employment, is not because they ask
ed for an increase of wages, nor be-
cause they we're dissatisfied with the
wages they were receiving, but simply
because they would not agree to work
for greatly reduced wages-wages
which could only starve their families,
and degrade themselves. By accept
ing the terms proffered by their en-
ployers, they claim they would have
cast reproach upon honest labor, and
published their own shame and dis
grace. The wages they were receiv-
ing were hardly adequate to support
their families as comfort and common
decency required, but being willing to
accommodate themselves to circumstan-
ces, they labored on and received the
wages paid them without a murmur.
The reduction of wages abovs allud
ed to was brought about by the Bosses
Association, the members of which, not
content with the former cheap rates OF
labor, have recently issued new card
and greatly reduced the scale of prices
which, upon being submitted to the
men. were of course refused. The con-
sequence was the bosses discharged
their help with the exception of their
apprentices, and now stoutly refuse to
take them until they shall signify their
willingness to abide by the action of the
Bosses Union. The number of men
now idle is 1000, representing twelve
factories. The total number of the fac
tories in Trenton is fourteen, two of
which are Union shops, the proprie-
tors of the remaining twelve being
members of the Bosses Association.
The men are willing to settle the dis
pute by going to work for So per day,
but the closet listed bosses can't see
it," and have announced their deter
mination to hold out until the "wilful
spirits of the men are subdued, " to use
an expression original with one of the
members of the above organization.
The lock out has been in progress about
five weeks.
The ourneymen, finding their I'M
aided efforts to compel the bosses to
respect their rights, likely to avail moth
ing, recently held mass meeting
when it was decided to secure, if posi-
BILE, the assistance of other trades
unions throughout the country. Ac-
cordingly committee was appointed
to visit the principal citizens of this
section of the country, for the purpose
of soliciting moneyed aid. A portion
of this committee is now in Pennsyl-
vania still another portion is in this
city. Last evening the members of the
committee had an interview with Mr.,
Jessup. President of the WorkingmeIi' s
Union, to whom they stated their
grievances, with the request that the
matter be laid before the different
trades unions OF this city at an early
day.
In their address, recently issued, the
men call upon other Protective Asso-
ciations, to join with them in an homo
rable effort to systematise the prices OF
labor. This they claim is greatly need.
ed, not only as sure means OF giving
support to their families, but. also, as a
safeguard against impositions and in
noyations upon their rights. All they
want, all they desire, is that they shall
be protected in their rights, and shall
be paid fair and just price for their
labor. From events which have trans
pired in Trenton among the pottery
employers, the employees are satisfied
that their rights will not be respected
until some measures are taken to syste-
4 matise the prices of or.-Newark
Courier
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The boiler shed Of the Miami eleya-
tor Mt Cincinnati fell into the Ohio river
yesterday, owing to the foundation hay