New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-06-24

energetic persuasion than any which the
Orleans Prince can bring to bear.
4 MORAL DRAWY FROM THE STRIKE.
The great strike still pending in this city
has been, in its various aspects, the most re-
markable we have ever had in America. The
length of time over which 1t has extended
the numbers of men and the variety OF trades
engaged in it, and it's disastrous effects ON the
welfare of the workingmen and the trades
have been unparalleled. Not one trade Out
scores have engaged in it. Not the men Oh
one handicraft, sustained by all the Others
have been on strike for more money! but
simultaneously all the trades have been
cOnvulsed, and altogether three-fourths OF
all the iourneymen in the city have been on
strike for more time. With some GTadgrlnd
employers it has been thought strike for
sentiment, but the mass of worldngmen look
upon it as a demand based on principle. There
are some of their own class who agree with
the Gradgrinds but they are few, and the SEN
timent, if it be sentiment, is well nigE uni
yersal in the crafts. OF the three-fourths who
have struck more than one half have gained
their point, but over eleven thousand are sun
unsuccessful and without present clear pros
meets of success. We can trace direct
loss in wages and work Of more than
three and a half millions the lndlrect
and greater loss can only be generally
imagined but it has already been felt IN the
loss of trade and in the advance of various
materials of daily consumption, and must DE
felt for many months to come, however the
! fight may end. At present the struggle is
! fierce and determined; the obstinacy displayed
on either side increases as the strike con-
tiuues; the workingmen have displayed
not only unexpected tenacity, but have
| developed unlooked-for resources, and do
not appear to suffer for lack of money, or the
wages they have sacrificed in the demand for
more leisure. 1t is rumOred that foreign
Unions are contributing to the support of the
strikers, but this is, at least, dubious story.
How much longer they can afford to hold out
must be a matter of mere conjecture, for the
| condition of the finances Of the League is
wisely kept secret, but at present the strike
| does not promise an early termination, either
by concession, compromise or surrender.
We commend the table which we present
this morning to the careful scrutiny and study
of all concerned. 1t is derived mainly from
information collected by the employers, for
the workingmen have been unable or unwil-
| ling to furnish any statistics OF their numbers.
| The article may, therefore, be thought to re-
! fleet the employers views, but it is only just
to say that many of the estimates and facts
are confirmed by the workngmen on strike.
| 1t is not in any sense partial, hOwever-at
! least we mean it not to be; and 1T Is
presented for the guidance and instruction of
all, and for the morals it points. There is
only one which we care to present; others
will suggest themselves to rejecting working
men and interested employers; the one para
mount and most worthy of consideration just
now touches upon the sole preventive and
remedy for strikes which this demonstration
has illustrated.
The simultaneous strikes of the various
trades have been made unhesitatingly, except
in one instance. After the first partial success
of the painters the other trades followed IS
if by precOncerted action, and certainly without
opposition among the strikers themselves, ex-
cept among tas lQafGh y But in the latter
trade, Numbering oVe5 three thousand work
ingmen, there was a serious opposition com
ing from large number Of jOuTneymen who
had been admitted into an Industrial Part
"nership" with their employers, Messrs
Brewster g. Co. For them to strike was i'm &
double sense like striking against themselves
1t deprived them of their share of tho
profits of the business, while the strike
lasted and it lost to them the direct profits OF
the two hours of shortened time. When a
man is working for himself, the number OF
hours he labors is of no consequence so long
as they are prOftaby employed. So, when
men cooperate, and are at once their OWL
wOrkmer and employers, they do not dispute
over the length of the hours of labor. In
"dustrial Partnerships" like that of Messrs
Brewster e. Co. and their men, are a very inn
perfect but still cOmmendable form of CO.
operations and if such combinations have the
good effect Of preventing OF even delaying
strikes is it not worth the serious considera-
ton of all as to what perfect system like that
of the Troy founders or the New-York printers
in Beekman-st. would producef But this com
bnation of the Messrs. Brewster g. Co. did
more than delay the strike of the cOacl-paint-
ers. It did not finally prevent it, the inau-
cuce Of the Union was for time superior TO
that Of the Company; but in the end this
little band of oOoperators was instrumental in
bringing The strike to an end by a compromise
land II ia the only strike which has been