The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-07
THE CRUSADE on TIE cRyrIss.

Who Will Stick Oat to tho "Last s',-Prices
In New York and Eisewhers-Lnrse Stock
ON Hnnd-Wistcr Coming and Both Parties
Conndent. M f ,f
AHERALD reporter succeeded IN passing the lines,
and had short and pleasant interview with some OF
the besieged shoe capitalists. The leader OF the
bosses Ii Mr.. John NJ. Burt, gentleman blessed
with 'smile that is chHd-like and bland" and q
world OF keen calculation behind II. He claims to
have lost $25, 900 In the shoe business some time
ago, though not IN 1t at present, and Ia, on compe
tent authority pronounced to be the veritable head
centren OF "a
SECRET ORDER or BOOT BOSSES,
which turns out TO be q wheel within the wheel OF
the New York Boot and Shoe Board. This organiza.
tion has It's headquarters at No. 4 Warren street,
ana in Its constitution declares It's objects TO be
9 the wssrs s q tho b
yews engaged therein and for general coopera
Among Its various committees IL one OF Ave on
slabor.n who
have charge all questions matters labor ars
pg between the members OF the association and their
This committee, It was explained TO the reporter
SHOE JoBDERs BEING ADMIssIBLE
to members ZIP, II was thought best that "manufac-
Iurers', alone should belong to IT, and from this
Crlspirs, II put on o mask and adopted grips
and passwords IN imitation OF ITS brawny
ONE SECRET SOCIETY HAS CREATED ANOTHER.
The bosses lningle an aesthetic hungering after
Intellectual communion with the stern necessities Of
their case, and sympathlsng world Is called on to
PITY THE BOSSES MAGNIFICENT MISERY
when u reads rom their report Of the .ncessant
wonder thar in tone OF lofty hoping after better
things TO follow, they write Us follows:-
such persistent confinement without tn. opportunity o.
the trade Others away from the sight q boots and shoes
feelings OF our nature.
the reporter could now no longer restrain his de-
sire TO see one Of the aesthetic bo rd" He selected
the principll b0ss" in the venerable person OF Mr.
Edwin q. Burt OF ~ Park row. A number OF aerce-
looking Crispns stood gesticulat,ng upon the side
ing silent and doleIul as if they had
LITTLE ONES AT HOME
to be fed through the bitter days OF winter
Mr.. Burt has a frank, kindly face, and seemed
deeply interested IN the question. He evidenced
quite laterna feeling for mis- hands and said that
previous TO the formation OF the Cspns he had
any difficulty with his men. He PAID the best prices
and undertook none but 1rst class work. On being
pressed to the OF the proposed reduction OF
the causes were many. He first instanced the fact
THE CRIsPINs WE'RE CONTENT TO WORK
at wages varying from eighteen to twenty dollars
week while the society wages In the CITY were
books and they exhibited an average OF twenty five
| dollars. The trade in Newark, Rochester and
syracuse and other places, obtaining their
their business away from them. This, combined
with the dulness Of the late season. caused loss 10
| the manufacturers, and they had resolved TO
APPEAL TO THE MEN
to help their EMPLOYERS out Of their difficulties by
| conSentinY TO reduction OF wages; otherwise
\ he WOULD BIZ OBLIGED TO CLOSE
/ for the winter Last year. In the slack season. he
offered them the alternative OF reducing the hands
or working on short time. The men creditaDiy chose
| the latter In answer to question as to whether
any compromise had been agreed on he said his
! hands had met him about half an hour previous,
| but only offered trifing reduction, while, on nc
count OF the high quality OF his work, they were
charging IN excess Of society rates. This was only
on one branch OF work.
In reply to query whether he would back down
II the Crispins showed strong 'front.' he sald:-
.No. have plenty Of stock on hand, and, although
wish to employ the hands during the duh time ut
terms which would serve both, do not take posi-.
tion to recede from IL afterwards
IT, as II looks az presen., the Crspins are obstl.
nate and still defy the Nemesis of the "heathen
Chinee It win then be question which will stick
to the last.