The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-14
Successful Eight-HOur Lab
Strikes.
Labor

The great question Of labor, which is quietly
biding the time to take its place among the
great movements of the century, is presenting
just now several instances of the success which
attends the combinations of the toilers People
are likely to fall TO sneering when they see, as
in Connecticut, of late, that q Labor Reform
candidate for Governor barely received o score
or two of votes, and that its candidate for
President is quietly snuffed out before he has
time to make stump speech. But the move
ment is not to be so easily disposed of for all
time. 1t stands at present with its feet in the
earth and its head in the Clouds plodding on
as ever below and its brain full of vague
Utopia above AS to broad, clearly-defned
ideas, possible Of application, it has none at
present which could take up and rivet the
attention of the whole people to their serious
consideration. A great many lay this want of
coherent, comprehensive plan at the door of
its demagogue leaders, but its real cause will
be found in the condition of the great body of
labor itself. Like the Union forces in
of labor is badly drilled mob,
impressive only in numbers and Just
as little capable Of taking or keeping
position against such wary, organized foe as
capital, for they have not thoroughly learned
the use of their offensive arms, the ssstrike"
and the ballot. In such a condition it is not
wonderful that frothy creatures with few
catchwords such as equality, capital tyranny,
revolution, and so forth, should by their loud
mouthedness be taken for their leaders, The
work of discipline, however, goes on, and we
are called upon from time to time to chronicle
the results of their shirmishes with the enemy,
recording varying success. II can be seen at
once that the process of organization, although
limited to certain crafts, whose members are
concentrated in numbers convenient for the
purpose, is rapidly spreading; and, with the
present rate OF progress, it can be easily COM
puted that many years will not elapse before
the present company" drill of the artisans
has expanded into the brigade, division and
army tactics on the most extended scale. In
other words, the successful strike Of to-day Of
q certain branch Of labor will mean in the end
hotly contested, peaceful ballot-box battles fol
the control Of cities, counties and States, and
lastly, for the whole Union itself.
The New York painters strike of last week
for eight hours of labor and no reduction Of
wages was successful the carpenters strike,
inaugurated yesterday on the same terms, will
record its full success In day or two. The
bricklayers, it is understood, will strike next
week, with the same object and with similar
prospects. It will be observed that these three
trades are at the base of the building interest,
and their regulation Of the times for 'strik-
ing" evinces bold and carefully prepared
plan. They were aware that at the present
season capital in this branch is screwed up
with contracts and an attack would leave it no
resource but surrender. The eight-hour legis-
lation OF Congress proved Intellectual in con-
trolling private firms, and now labor steps in
with its injunction and an understanding is
instantly arrived at. 1t cannot be denied
that the Eight-Honr law, although obtaining
legally only on government works, has
had considerable effect in paving the
way for the present spread of the system to
private enterprises, There is certain fear
among the weak-minded that, as labor learns
its strength, it will become so overbearing as
to become q tyranny upon capital; but M