The New York herald., 1870-12-03
CRISPINg CHEAP LABOR.
Trouble Brewing Among Members
Of the Understandings.
Interview with Worthy knight Of the
Order Of st. crispin- Chinese Labor
consdersd-A General Dismissal.
Of shoe-Builders Expected
The Workingmsn's Union
90 to the Rescue.

the Knights OF st. Crspen, c0Ublers OF the ancient
gulld who bear coat 0i-arms sans bar sinister.
with a last rampant, and the crest an awl on q
scroll Of shoeleather. with the legend
"KEEP PEGGING AWAY"
Rumors had been circulated throughout the city
that all was not going well with the craft,
and certain manufacturer was accused
OF taking steps hazardous to che wel-being
OF this ancient and Industrious order OF
knights. The mission OF the reporter was
to learn whether there was foundation for this
rumor or not He met shoemaker, a me nber or
the order and the following colloquy ensued:--
REpoRTER-Are you aware OF any d1lculty at
present existing between a MIR. Burt manufac-
turer, and any OF the shoemakers OF the citys
SHoEMAKER-I am not. / know Hothing about
the team men. only know what the bench men
are doing.
REPoRrER--Tlien You have heard nothing Of any
"sTRIKE' AMONG THE woRKMENS
SHoEMAKER-No, SIR l do not believe there IL to
be any strike do believe there Is any occasion
for any, However, sir, If you would SEQ
MIR. Ryan, the Sir Knight Of the Order Of
ST. CrlspiD, he could undoubtedly give you
information OF any such o strike should there be
one in contemplation. AS the head OF our organiza-
tlon he rs posted upon ANYTHING Of the kind which
would be likely to come or.
1t may be as well 10 state here for the beneht of
the uDinitiated that 'team" men are those who
work for manufacturers, and are never engaged
upon more than one portion OF the work. The labor
is divided, one 'laats,n another '.sews," another
"hees." another 'trIms.n another "burnsnes'
ana another finishes" THIS would be
THE DIVISION or LABOR
among six workDen, and they would be called a
"six-hand team" There are In different factories
i've hand teams, sx-hand teams and egnt-hand
~
who performs all tho work from lasting to finishing
The 4 men work In factories aud the bench
men do Gust ON work.
A visit was paid to Mr.. Ryan, q broad. Drained
ana br0ad-shouldered workman. OF more than ordi-
nary Intelligence, who having heard the purport OF
MANNER ,na 70 aHe tSe foowug
believe the rumor OF coneml lated strike IL a
cana'd. am well aware that work IN the factories
has been falling OF OF late. This h the
DlI.lEsT SEASON KNOWN FOR YEARS
in this cat and hear the same complaints from
One large manufacturing firm in Utica, N. Y, has,
however, at present employed nineteen teams"
@ % any v part @ sdSf me v" coa1s "Hi ~
Is too often anticipated by meier do
wells which never come. We have no fault
TO 1nd with the manufacturers whose names are
used in the ruinors Ono OF them Is, perhaps, the
largest nrst class shoe manufacturer in the
men to grant an advance in rates Of wages,
aud the teams he has employed are almost
nothing Of the source Of the complaint made against
him. and Ii II had foundation in truth should be
Of in our business fancy this, ike other stories in
times past, IS bugbear. Twelve months since.
WHEN THE CaINAMEN CAME HERE,
the same stories were circulated. These Cinnamon
went to Massachusetts and found work there but
we never found real cause to fear them. Shoe man
not require "genius" in the workman. Even the
most ordinary quality Of common sense will enable
The brother Of tue shoe manufacturer olluded to
above is mems boot manufacturer, and no also
good reputation among the worKmep.
ualy bughears IN circulation. The wages In
and, therefore, afford but little food for
exciting stories The custom worklnen or bench
1865 when they held out till the Goth OF June follow
ing The fact Is they never trouble their employers
LITTLE GRIEVANCES,
but only when difficulty arises Involving prin-
clple the Justice Of which all acknowledge
IN the custom department or the trade in this city
we have first, second and third class stores and
workmen, ana man may work for thirty years
where Judgment in selection and delicacy in finish
are required. In teams, where rapidity takes the
place OF finish, they Will
PASS FIFTY PAIRS OF SHOES
% wnile the Dencnman IS making 0nr pals Conse-
quently reduction OF one cent per pair where
cents TO the custom workman. Small reductions in
prices OF all work may affect those employed in
factories without causing material injury to the
benchman.
THE ORDER OF ST. CRIsPJN
The snoemnkers' organization IN this city is not a
new one, but the adoption of the ST. Crisp!n,s
rules ard ritual Is OF recent date. They were
adopted only two years ago last June, to
enable us TO exert wider influence. The
Manhattan district contains fourteen lodges
and with the State organization OF f0rty-eI9nt
lodges Is sefsupporng. The aggregate strength
In the Manhattan district, allowing u large margin
Tor non-paying and non cooperating members lis
three thousand men. What Is better than strength S
added Mr.. Ryan. sWe are solid.''
CHINESE CHEAP LABOR
From one OF the shoemakers, u broadly philo-
sOphical man, the following was heard:-"The
Cinnamon have not interfered with us by their
work In Massachusetts. They cannot effect or per-
form our class OF work. They rival the Yankees in
CHEAPNESS AND CELEBRITY,
and they also rival the prison workshops under.
selling the last by forty per cent This last IS .
benefit TO us all and Will learn some contractors
lesson before within the next Jew years.