The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-04-02
Cigarmakers' Attention /!

NEW YoRK, March ~, 1870.
To our FeloW-craftsmen Of the United States
and Canadas
GENTLEMEN; We deem it our duty to lay
before you the cause Of our troubles aud pres
emf state Of affairs concerning the cigar trade.
90 Friday, December 9lst, 1889, Mr.. Stach.
sOerg, a manufacturer Of our city, offered 10
biz employees reduction Of their wages,
wherein Re was followedahy THREE other bosses
on the Monday following Our unions deter
mined not to allow any reduction whatever,
though their Central Executive Committee of
the four unions, refused to accede to any terms
10 the matter, and called on the " M anufac-
i1rers Association" where the above named
we're members, TO assist our unions in defeat
ing them.
The Just named association called a meeting
Of their members, invited the Presidents of
cur unions to attend the same, and after q
Iengihy debate, concluded not to allow any OF
'0elr members to reduce the price Of labor on
'oese grounds First, that the earnings of the
asaFmakers at present, we're hardly sufficient
support themselves aud families and sec
ond' that the present embarrassment OF the
'''de could not be remedied by a reduction Of
''se', but resulting from the low standard Of
gold, and, mostly, from the insu6fciency Of
ua'lts on cigars. could Be remedied only BY a
petition OF the whole trade to Congress for q
higher duty, TO protect said branch Of in
iusty
This agreement was fulfilled by the unions
90 LED 70 several combined mass meetings,
'nd 10 memorial and petition to Congress,
knOn to all Of you.
II may be stated here, that thereupon the
REDUCTION was withdrawn, except BY two manu-
iAc'uIers, those two costing our funds the net
'nn Of IS, 800.
nov, fellow-craftsmen, after fulfilling Qua
I"'' Of the argument faithfully and vigorously
- nat We could hope for a compliance will
"uf wishes at Washington, how do those par,
o's OF the other side keep their promise.
Inc foremost Of our bosses in promises, 1;
~e nr't TO break them, and one after the othe3
"sy follow in bis wake, so that we shall have
ulen or more Of them reducing wages by II
io2O per cent.
Ata combined meeting of Unions 10, 81, 9G
80 v, on March 18th, it was resolved by A
O'eF"helming majority, not to give way q
'neo' and 50 the battle was opened. We tax4C
our members at work, one dollar week; bAt
H''ing many (at this moment $500 out 90
''''Se' and great number otherwise out 81
employment, you NAV imagine that our conf
''nee Is, to large extent, placed on our sistl r
Dn'Ons throughout the States and Canada.
Although our difficulty has lasted sinIe
''uuaFy' We have RETAINED from giving it pub
"V''y' on account Of the Cincinnati Union b.
uS engaged in great struggle. As long hs
's OAd no more than severity or eighty men 10
Import, VIC have relied on ur means exc,u
%'eiy In order to give to Cincinnati its fAlI
'''~ % support. Now that our struggle bai
great proportions, we are compelledtC
Oal Tor your assistance.
1. "e should fail in our es nation of y|u
-'sO OrOtheriy feeling, if we would rem Joe
~ mat our cause is your cause. Il is IN,
V.a'e Oh all Work!Dgmen which calls for stsic
rence TO the g'eat principle of solidarity
:, rum Tune to time we shall keep you advise,
0 s'Ages OF our struggle, and we livei il
!, opeS mat you will help carry through our Sat
promptly, theoretically, and victoriOus
nAsDY JACOBS, Chairman,l
W. NoAoWEc, Secretary. NA O0'"'
r. ,O' the Central Executive Committee Of Nh,
J GuIoOs Is, 81, 90, aud Of: Kelley Mosesi1D
Eyer, o. Wv