New-York tribune., 1870-08-04
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
A DEFENSE OF THE CRIsPINS.
fLes Edffor ar The Tribuns

A DEFENSE OF THE CRISPINS.
TO the Edttor Of The Tribune.
SIR / propose to reply to few of the
statements which have appeared in your paper respect
ing the Crspns 1t is described OF the reprehen
sibe performances OF the Crispn organization that it
prevents employers from hiring Crispin apprentices,
and limits the number Of apprentices TO be taken going
far to compel the exclusion Of orphans whom
employers wished 10 assist from employment in such
trivial tasks strnging shoes. But employers take
In apprentices indscYminatey, filling perhaps half
the benches with orphans from the asyums and boys
from reformaory Institutions, they very teach
them enough that the value OF the work OF lads be-
tween the ages OF II and 81 would be very nearly equal
that OF ourneymen, while the fixed terms upon which
lads be procured apprentices and new ones could
be had the others grew up are perhaps one-third
much the jOurneymen whose places they would oc,
eupy and whom they wOuld deprive OF work IL would
eventually result that only enough ourneymen would be
employed TO oversee the apprentices Ot course there
be fair competition az 10 VINO can work Tor he
wages between boys without fames and men who
have wives and children dependent upon them nor does
n affect this of the argument that in such the
boy is learning trade which will not support him when
he has served ont his time, marries, and has family
Il is advanced as a cause Of complaint that employers
obliged to permit the examination OF their DOCKS Dy
the Crspns The object OF this to ascertain that the
employer does not hire men for less than tue rates agreed
upon II all mankind were strictly honest there would
be no need OF pledges or agreements IN WIng but ds
men are it becomes necessary not only % nave ther
pledges to be watchfu that they keep them AS an
instance, 1t was noticed tat an employer III ADay, ~ ~,
Y, whose worknen had formed "A trade sOoety, gave
ont to two OF the larger ana neIbr VI
work than to the Others and IN the dun season constant
work. while the rest went more less IDLE u happened
that Of these single, and the nther bough
married, had children An investigation or that EN-
pOyers books showed that these two men who without
families could afford TO work cheaply than the
other men, had actually been working at prices under
the contracted rate during the whole season
OF effort must lie made WITHIN tne limits
OF fair and legal means to debar an employer om hrng
belonging to the organization. The employer
naturally desires TO procure the services Ot those OUT
side, with view 10 getting more work for less noIy;
The efforts which Crisplns make TO pcecuue Je nf oI
Outsi 10
before she time when IL years ago, in Lynn and other
Massachusetts the Crispns struck Tor nlger
wages they showed in their petition chat only those no
quick wOrkmen could earn bare living; Whue
others merely ordinary skill having, perhaps large
families to support unable 10 meet their absolute
needs obliged to send their children OUT 10 DeS,
while they themselves were toling at the DencI but
only 10 the strike, not at all 70 the peon dld he GIN
pOyers finally yield
THE TRIBUNE maintained that strikes and trades
unions unwse; that employers will DE compelled 10
give fair wages by fair competitions and that cooper
ton ia the only remedy for the distress of W0rknen
VIII mention single instance OF the value OF hrlhes ana
associations OF wOrkmpn, out OF n number or cases
that could cite When the employers in the shoe man
uaGuring business imported large number OF frencn
with their wives and families AT contract
price labor resulted that the Frenchmen
discovered that they and their families could not live IN
this country upon the prces agreed They represented
increased wages. Their petition refused. Under
those circumstances they joined the Crspns, strike
organized and these deceived foreigners were saved
from stdryatlOH
Far otherwise was the, case those poor who
during the war; while their husbands were engaged in
the service of the United states making shirts and
drawers for six cents garment They went In body
and appealed to their employers 0c an adyanco nut te
only reply II you don't want the work. leave 1t.
plenty ady 10 tale IL at these prices"
J}Tid0PDaPi Conn, July 81, 1870. W. ii.