The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-05-07

TIVE STRIKE cF THH STOVE FOUNDRY FRO
pRe@r0R0s
PHILADELPHIA, April %, 1870.

PHILADELPH1A, April 22, 1870.
AT the beginning Of the present year The
firms Of Cox, Whiteman q Cox, Noble 4
Co. Thompson & Co, and Lebrandt B
Mcdowell, reduced the wages Of their
molders to the amount that was paid previOas
to 1861.
During the last nine years the wages Of
me mOlden in this city were never 3D.
vanced over 80 per cent above what was
paid in 1861, while all the necessenes Of
life had advanced nearly 100 per cent The
stove founders Of this city have bad Their
work made since 1861, for less than was
paid in any other city in the country, and
were therefore able to undersell all comPen
tors. No reduction of wages has taken
place in any other city where stoves 'rs
manufactured il must, therefore, BE- eVt
dent to every unprejudiced mind, chat aI
reduction was unjusti6able and uncalled Tor
by the state of trade. The cost. Of living .
at least 40 per cent. above what i ws u
1851, house rent is 100 per cent hghs,
and yet moulders were compelled TO WORK
for the same wages rs paid at that time No
reason was assigned for the reduction, Ok.
cept that they had the power and would
use il.
Taking into consideration all these facts
the Stove and Hollow-ware Molders OF thn
city met in mass convention, and after
thorough discussion Of the causes leading Y
such sweeping reduction, concluded = va
ON account Of want of combination 90 tnsF
part to resist such unjust exactlOns; tnv
therefore determined that It became tbem'
as men who have to battle with the %sf1
realities Of life, to combine for their mu'u'l
aid and protection, and for this purPOse
connected themselves, en- mdsse, win ~
Stove and Hollow-ware MOlders US'O'
No. l.
On Saturday, April 10th, the mclaen
working for Noble 4 Co. were notlneo
their foreman that no member Of tne a's
Union could work for Noble L Co. a.,
all who did should consider themselves OH
charged and about 40 men were 'Ou'
thrown out Of employment. On the 49,
day the molders working for Cox, VIM
man & Cox were notified by written 49,
posted in the foundry to the same enc ~
and 20 more men were discharges; -
the 9th inst, sufficient pressure naa III
brought to bear on Leibrandt u mcI" .
to cause them to discharge all who OeOuF
to the Union, and 54 were thus dlccOals
Thus ohopt 1o5 Molders have been Gs
charged, because, in the exercise q Ds
vileges granted to them BY OWNS .;...
sanctioned BY nature, and Practlced -
the earliest history Of man, they have lO TS.T
q combination for their mutual DenslI.
know from experience that Slngi ,Ee
they are at the mercy Of those w " 80. =
practice Of their grasPing PrOPen9tles y" =
by q reduction Of wages, take rom ~ ~
borer, who is already fed, cO'eeL5 WI
lodged too poorly, portion Of Ola ~ 4. ~
raiment, and deprive bis family q - ,Aat
cessaries of life, end they also knOi 40
united and acting as one man tOeTe 49,
power Of wrong they may not openly ~
Il Il claimed that our object in orgAna.S
was to take the control Of then - 90. "a
out Of their hands, giving them ne vi Tsa
the management Of their own sGAls Tn the
we emphaticalIy deny. We only clA nT Il,
r;Obt q have 4 voice in the fixing y a.m
wages We shall receive, and immTna ,;ebI.
prescription because we exercise ~
In this case we have neither 49, 10
manded anything; We are