New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-05

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s.o1s Barron protestant chDreA'a' % Liberty
THE CAUSES OF THE PRINTERS CoMfLAlNls-
PLAIN WORDS FROM PLAIN MAN.
10 The Edttor Of the Tribune
with malice toward none"
SIR: The writer of this, a jOumeyman printer,
ino member of the Typographical Union, because ne
understands the truth Of the democratic principle that
man be independent lac desires to attain the s
est degree Of happiness and to maintain MS integrity III
fits pursuit In placing the following observations before
the public he not acuated by personal motives but
hopes TO reconcile through an appeal to reason the
aenacd feelings of the better members OF the craft ana
Go convince them of the necessity Of respecting the above
principle. which is the corner stone OF our social
structure
About sixty years ago. printer considered most
honorable member Of society. He stood in public
estimation far above every other workman, and
some European Governments bestowed upon
him the knlehtly honor Of wearing napier, ns
Received careful theoretical and practical educa
kiOn. Only few men were mentally able to become
good printers and their training required long le;
But books newspapers &C. had not reached the great
or h e pSC sheSe Th S stood not
bl and slow but steadily increasing call for books
old handp by perfect machinery. In 1873,
Nr KONG put up the first powerpressi and from that
facilities for printing decreased the prices Of books this
again was followed by a constantly Increasing
os Of nm5 eS Of re p%sT onSet gS domd
he eXpedent
work Proofreaders were employed to supply the com
posor's mental deficiencies and job compOstors were
technical failures. But this arrangement proved to be
el insUeent TO meet the growing demand OF the trade
the ranks who not capable of turning out good
bookwor and that part OF IT. which required sE ana
p makersup The performance Of what was left of the
quired little intelligence and less exertons OF physical
erenSth became therefore, the resort OF slOfm in
the piece; whereupon another division followed. The
oro intricate we'll as the finer classes Of work being
Yell into the hands of the few who aspred to attain per
In summing up now, We find the following concatena-
tion OF causes and effects knowledge formerly the pos
q the art Of r Cheaper ape O OF the
put the inventive faculties OF printers III ~, w, cs
suit which the power press Now came the neces
men We're introduced Partly to facilitate their work.
partly in consequence OF the new WORKERS ICON &
which required knowledge and skl was done by lew ana
che masses OF printers were employed only 10 enable
those few to keep step with the rapid Improvement of the
printing press All values fixed by the people accord
scalc OF gold Thus has the knowledge OF the art OF
Sssa TS6 s to TRAD trade cannot expect the
wages Of the few who adopts IN the whole OF IT. TINS
such work have to live How is ev to be remededi
n the gentlemen Of the Union do not intend to with
ktand The truth IT must be cured by removing us causes
~ effect which they must either
a. Improve the Men, do not intend to discuss the
pOteutiay Of such undertaking. Let only look at
The results In case they were possible Improvement
M at
pf mechanical swness TO pay sufficiently Tor his attain
6ther markets for his knowledge,
a. Make Books Deqrer-This would be in direct oppo
g. Decrease ne Employers Profls-As long those
Investing in printing material must have his certain in
kerest or he will invest In other branches OF industry
bhercby defeating the workmen's designs
For these reasons venture 10 the opinion that
ONLY the invention Of type setting machine can cure our
srs Will then able supply their mechanical dehcen
eies by its means The remuneration will no longer be
divided between perfect and imperfect wOrDen both Of
$hom are now necessity and burden to each other
be done We must employ either females who are salts
lied with the present wages, or make the best oft
logic; but according to my understanding. combna
ton has the power to upset by force the laws regulating
al values. The simple fact that In all Europeon eoun
tnes the printing trade in exactly the same abnormal
TO those dcladed men fancy improve their con-
clifton by counting The persons gong into printing Offices
let say Surround your cause by ever 80 many rbe
foca phrases identify 1t with the nOblest sentiments
OF you viii not raise the intrinsic value Of your
Jaw to paper dollar the value Of gold dollar The be-
lief that The Union raised the wages nothing but de-
fusion. Formerly dollar hac 100 cents II has only
30 the value Of the necessities OF life remained the same
the deficiency OF 30 cents each dollar supplied by
complaints lies within yourself What would you say Of
carpenter who could not distinguish pine from oak
wood The carpenters material Is the wood; the planer
and chisei are his tools Your material Is Language;
types are your tools. Yet dare say that scarcely
hal OF ySG are STs.S able to answer the sim
That viii give you least two hours more time 10 earn
more and do away with all incumbraDces imposed upon
know twothrds OF you unable get up head
ing epage, table, etc. This viii entitle you
Righteous foreman withholds from most OF
he knows your shortcomings. assure you fellow work
reason cannot 70 any other conclusion than thai
the attempt to run against stern necessity madness
Individual effort alone improve your condition
Hence take my above principle as your guide. IL will
barry you through all your difficulties H. CH
heto- York, Fec. 4, 1862
THE sEAMEN's STRIKE.
Owing to the obstacles which beset the sea-
en Of this port their efforts to obtain fair wages the
leading men among them recently resolved TO follow
different course from that which they have been pursu
ing. At the meeting held last evening at Pythagora'
Hall situated in Canalst east OF the Bowory, Mr. Henry
D. Leslie presiding, Mr. LOOMS, the first speaker, spoke
Of the present very dull with shipowners
owners tie sailors best friends although there may be
found among them those who want work without pay
being thoroughly organized, having a central Office
where they be directed TO good boarding houses, and
nfterward be recommended to good ships. He
thought that IL sailors were married. they would
be respected. II they continued TO sail In the
snip ana worH Ior the same owners ne
themselves In caring for Their families. The speaker
ged the necessity OF tesT having an &
beware OF the company Of rogues and wanOns. There
must be some other way Of shipping than through the
esed them 20 lend little 10 necessity, aud take little