The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-04
THE STRIKES.
TRADES UNIONS VERSUS EMPLOYERS.
Beginning Of the War-0rigin. Cause and Pro-
gress Of the Coopers' Strike-The Reported
Railroad Strike-Interview with Com
modore Vanderbilt-"He Don't
Want Politics nor Unions"

| would seem that the old contests between employ
ers and trades unions which ragged SO hercely In
this city, and which, in every instance, bring with
them serious loss to merchants and employers and
injury to the entire community, as well as to the
| 6iscontented wOrkmen who initiate them, are
| about to be renewed in our midst.
| TWO weeks ago the Coopers' Trade Union 'struck"
and the quarrel between the c0opers and their en-
plOyers continued
WITH UNABATED vIGoR
on both SIDES up to yesterday morning, when
slignt lul took place. Yesterday morning 1t was
announced in one Of the morning papers that
strike OF the operatives OF the Hudson River and
New York Central Railroad Company was to begin
yesterday or tomorrow Monday. It was further
stated that she reason for this strike was the
diminuuon IN working time made by the company
this year. according to the custom OF former years.
and that so
WIDESPREAD AND DEEP-sEATED
was the sense Of injury on the part Of the opera
tives on these roads that meetings were held at
several towns the lines and that two committees
had come to New York on Friday night to wait on
the oficers Of the companies yesterday and press
their demands. II these demands were not &C.
coded to general strike was to be the result ana
precautions were to be taken that the places Of tha
distracted were not to be filed
BY UNsKILLED MEN
from the West or elsewhere.
w TOW Of this state Of things HERALD reporter
-.. -, I've sAaS yesterday IN getting * y.
both these reported strikes from sne reiia...
authority and for the benefit Of the readers OF the
Sunday HERALD Is enabled to give the following
curate history of the origin and progress OF the
quarrels:-
on Broadway, and inquired for Mr.. Bensel, the
Secretary OF the Produce Exchange Committee.
who nave been appointed on the part OF the mer-
THE DrsAFrEcrEp woRKMBN
at all hazards The following conversation, In
which Mr.. BeDsel makes clear statement OF the
cause, origin and progress OF the strike, Will no
doubt be read with the greatest interest m IRON,
the HERALD for the real facts OF the quarrel which
has been going on for some days past between the
COOperS Trade Union and the employers
Mr. BENsEL-Well, Sir, as far as the strike IS con-
cerned may tell you that II is virtually to-day.
The 'Uni0n," which would at frst
MAKE NO TERMS,
has caved in, and to-day we ind that motion has
been passed by the Union, that the members OF the
UnlOn-number think they call lt-be permitted
to apply tor work at the shops which they have left,
ana where nOnuDtOn men are employed.
''rhen the necessity for the meeting which your
committee IS 10 hold at the Astor House will cease,
'Not at all Now that we have begun in earnest
we will 90 on with our work until we have sue
ceeded In effecting our OBJECT"
81 can better answer that question BY telling you
how this strike commenced. myself never employ
myself In 1866, and tne trade union
TURNED ME OUT.
Since that time have never employed member
OF q trade union, and l believe am the only en-
ployer in New York whose workmen are exclusively
business are Obliged, much against their will to en-.
gage members OF the trade union. Among these was
Two Weeks he as mot
o proper amount OF work done In proportion TO the
o. ann he NJ Ss
could do the work which was being done by his
GET RID OF HIS .sLoucHEs'
he adopted q plan which was formerly the regular
practice Of the trade, namely, that Of asking the
by each, or, In other words, demanding from each
man an account Of the work which he Old during
the day. This was unconstitutional, according TO
the rules Of the Union, and his men left HIM in a
body. Finding that his business
WAS BEING PARALYZED
and having large contracts 70 fulnl, ne applied to
other cooper SHOPS for assistance j. was freely
70 n cna S" OF his 6ea9 Them 5eT
fnery where Union men were employed and threat
IN his difficulties the unionsts
WOULD KNOCK Off WORK.
deputatiOn waited on me and asked me
not to do anything to lnlure the poor
wOrkingmen. l said | never did anything
On the contrary, that did everything to serve nlm
when l saw That he was deserving OF II. con-
tnued to assist Mr.. Wilcox until his shop was filled
with nOnunon men, who we're better tradesmen
In every respect than those who had left HIN. Now
every workshop IS full. The uni0nlsts see that they
are beaten, and some Of the men who spend their
STANDING AROUND CORNERS
Will ind some difficulty IN getting BACK to work
again. week ago a general meeting Of the
members OF the Produce Exchange was
e ep Sy unonss we're cSea Il was
mUusly resolved TO send delegation to Albany to
ask the Legislature 10 pass the conspiracy law
which was In force up to last year, but which was
repealed
BY TWEED AND HIS CORRUPT GANG
for political purposes TO gain the votes OF the union
lists. 1t Is the only protecton that employers have
Merchants enter into heavy contracts which they
binding contracts with the merchants, anu bon are
at the mercy OF the working men, who. II con-
splracy law be not IN existence, may at any moment
KNOCK on work and ruin US. AS IL Is we are
COMPLETELY AT THEIR MERCY.
To carry out this object committee Of the mem
have met several times and we decided on asking
committee OF the members OF the Mechanics and
Traders Exchange and OF the members OF the Stock
Exchange, TO confer with US. II was decided on
Friday that we should meet on next Monday at the
AstOr r.ouse, but 1t afterwards discovered that
1t would be more expedient to wait until next
Monday week."
well, the members OF the Mechanics and Traders
Exchange have just elected their Officers Tor the
current year. The officers OF last year had natural
delicacy putting the responsibility OF this matter
the shoulders OF the gentlemen who have Just
come into ONCE so that special committee OF the
members Is to be appointed 10 confer with US
next week. Besides there some hitch In the
case Of the Chamber OF Commerce. one gentleman,
committee OF the Chamber oil Commerce. There
was some
SLIGHT MISUNDERSTANDING
ABOUT the matter and II has been referred TO SUBJ
committee. IL Is the interest Of the Chamber OF
Commerce and OF the Mechanics and Traders Ex-
change that we should succeed IN our work, and
you Will find that their committees Will warmly take
part IN 1t.
FINALLY, these unionists say that they eschew all
violent measures, intimidation, &c. Now, one OF
Mr.. wllcox's new hands. was beaten rather badly
one night q week ago. | could tell you Of cases
where everything was destroyed that could be In
workshop where n0n-unlon men worked IN former
strikes, anything mat could not be destroyed
was taken away For my part will have union |
man inside my place. He goes out by force IL not
willingly"
The reporter subsequently conversed with some |
we'll known members OF the Produce Exchange, |
who
SPOKE VERY BITTERLY
against The dOlnrs Of 10 n ofo