New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-09
THE LABOR QUESTION IN MAssACHU.
cETTS ~

valuable, though very dlscouraSlng 10
the labor interests there. This repor
comprises a complete history OF all tn
strikes that occurred in Massachusett
during the past year, with the testimon.
of all the witnesses examined an admir-
able collection of statistics relating to thu
wages, expenses, food, dwellings, socia
condition, savings, habits, and hours O.
labor of men, women and children in sew
eral hundreds of different employments
besides large amount of testimony from
the working people upon all these various
questions. From this report the proofs
are numerous and unmistakable that the
condition of the working classes in Mas
sachusetts is declining one, that the
contrast between the relative positions OF
employer and employed is gradually be
coming more manifest; that the number
of men who emerge from the condition of
workingmen is exceedingly small, and
that the relations between employer and
employed are becoming more and more
hostile and defiant.
The report also shows that the average
earnings of over II, 900 persons employed
in thirty-three cotton spinning establish
ments, including the better paid overseers
and foremen, was eighty cents per day,
or less than five dollars per week; that
even at these rates work is not steady all
the year round; that few are able, and
even if the work is had, to work steadily
ten and eleven hours day; that great
numbers are obliged to stop work from
sheer exhaustion; that young lads walk
thirty miles or more day while tending
the machines; that many become intempe-
rate from overwork; that the change of
hands in large factories is frequently
equal to an entire change every four
months; that very few persons die while
they are operatives, because, finding their
health give way under their tolls and ex-
posures, they leave their employment and
cease to be operatives; all these facts show
a condition of affairs which is anything
but agreeable or satisfactory,
The report also reveals spirit of an
tagonism between the employer and the
employed, which seems to be widening
and deepening, and unless determined
may result in an avalanche destruction
of some of the manufactures of that State,
terrible to contemplate. What can these
grinding monopolists expect but just such
catastrophes when they testify before
committee concerning these men after
this manner?
If they were kept at work fourteen hours
a day it would be better for them. They
tcOuld die as quick one ,eay as another. They
will drink. | don't know of anything in
their employment that makes them So
though it is tatiguing cork.
Some of them have said and boosted
that since labor union broke up "they
could do just as they pleased with the
men," While it may be true that some
of the movements of the trades unions
have been rash and revolutionary, yet in
some instances they have resulted in bet
ter understanding between the employers
and the employed. The effort to put down
the Chinese labor, as was attempted in
the case of Mr.. Sampson, was unsuccess-
ful, and justly SO, because it was an in
with the free exercise of privi-
lege which belonged to him as a citizen.
Mr.. sampsouRbadskhe right to employ
whom he plea si1d at such wages as
the employedscbbs % accept. 1t is the
privilege of every laborer to
fix price upon his commodity labor
and if he can obtain it, well; if not, he
takes the risk, as all others do who deal
N other commodities-that of not dis
posing of it. 1t is the common incident
IF trade or negotiation for one party to fix
MS ultimatum wherever he thinks best,
md run his risk of its being accepted or
rejected. If the demand is greater than
,he supply, the prices will vary accord
ngly. The risk to the laborer of |
liking a price for his labor is pecu-
iarly hazardous to him, because he has
put the one commodity, and he often
;loses his available market; but in that |
aspect he must take his chances. If he
an afford to take the responsibility, it is
or the capitalist and society to consider
whether they ought not to use all proper
means to avoid forcing the dilemma upon
lim.
From the report of General Oliver it ap-
pears that the strike at Fall River in 1870
cost the operatives about 1915, 900, and
he State 81, l25, O0O besides a large sum
or police and constabulary purposes. 1t
vas a losing and expensive business to
aborer, capitalist and State, and perhaps
is repetition will be avoided Already
,he influence OF what are called
he trades unions among the operatives
s being felt. These organizations, it is
aid, are most decided promoters of tenn
oerance. They encourage economy, and
aise the esprit de corps of the workman.
Apart from the question of wages, on
which many different opinions prevail,
he influence of trades unions is almost
described in General divers
eport as beneficial to workmen. This is
he testimony of all-especially by en-
,loyes and disinterested outsiders. These
rades unions have also an educating
II
hem, and are promoters of peaceful meas