The New York herald., 1870-04-05
THE CHINESE COMING.

What the Cigar Manufacturers Of New York
Propose to DO-Cheap Chinese Cigar
Makers Co be Brought from san Francisco.
Every one who Isl the least connected with the
cigar trade IN this city and elsewhere east OF
tue Mississippi kdoes, willingly and unwlling!y.
admit that this particular and extended branch OF
home industry is at present, II not wholly at
standstill yet lnjurionsiy d,sarranged The strife
OF the cigar makers unions as branches OF the Gen.
eral Trades Union OF the country, with their EN-.
ployers the manufacturers, is not the cause OF this;
but taxation has much to do with 1t. and the estab
Nshment Of large cigar factories at Key West with
cheaper labor than can be obtained here, has also
contributed to the present state OF things perhaps
more than IS generally taken into account
CAUSES OF THE PRESENT STRIKE.
Some months ago meeting OF the largest cigar
manufacturers of New York was held at which q
committee OF the Cigar Makers Union were present.
II was then agreed that there was no intention at
that time to reduce wages, but that both thes
ployers ana the employed, each by means OF their
extended organization throughout the country,
would press upon Congress, with the aid OF monster
petlons the necessity OF an immediate increase OF
the duty on imported cigars. This move failed OF
success and several hrms, employing nearly Six hun
dred men. proposed small reduction OF wages.
This was refused by the employees and the strike fol-
the strike and the cessation OF manufacture which
necessarily came, was great increase OF the tmpor-
tatl0n OF Cne3p cigars from havana. On6 Ste8Ln0r
alone brought million and nalI and the PniIa.
dephia market Is said to pe fairly swamped by this
article, depressing prices still more. But neither
did
THE CALIFORNIA CIGAR MANUFACTURERS
at San FRANCISCO lose the opportunity OF prontlng oy
the state OF affairs III the cigar trade OF the East
BY the Pacific Railroad they sent their agents to all
the Territories ana states between the ROCKY Noun
ains and the Mississippi river some OF them even
going as far east as Chicago and underbld in these
markets the Eastern manufacturers. Our manufac
turers saw at the danger OF being cutoff from
that vast trade almost altogether. The reason why
Francisco can rlius underDid the East Is alleged
TO be
CHEAP CHINESE LABOR.
It is stated on good authority that there are now
from 1000 to 5000 Cninamen employed In the Golden
City OF the Pacific at cigar making. They were in
structed by experienced 1Oremen nearly all OF
These Chinese have heretofore worked under con-
tracts which are now gradually expiring. one
| large firm In this city, which had established q
branch in San Francisco some years ago employs
nearly 500 Cinnamon, the contracts with whom vi Ill
terminate soon. These Orientas are sau to be the
best adapted people for cigar making. sone OF sha
the best brands OF Havana cigars which reach this
market are rolled by the nnn0e fingers OF J0nn
Chinaman Hence several OF the largest houses en-
gagged this trade here have 1t In contemplation to
! IMPORT CHINESE TO NEW YORK
| from san francisco, and u Is proposed to make
first trial shortly with about 100 or them number
which II Is believed be easily induced TO cnange
their domicie from the Pacinc to the Atlantic shore
on sufficient security Of adequate compensation,
which would range. perhaps from eight to fourteen
| dollars per thousand. according to quality. Inc
| manufacturers here
| REGRET THE NECESSITY,
but they believe that other remedies are scarcely
open to them. They consider 1t wrong IN principle
That skilled white labor should thus be brought into
| competition with the Chinese and the Malay Yet
they seem to feel constrained TO make the expert
ment, in order to save themselves from financial
ruin, beng ground down, az between the upper ana
| neither mlstone, between sne oppressive even
destructive legislation OF Congress- the hand
and the exsctlons OF trades unions on the Other