Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-06-28
TuR L.rHOR STRIKES.

emplovers. The movement in this CITY,
beginning seven weeks ago with strike OF
the house carpenters, has extended to al
most every occupation, till now there are
probably seventy thousand men or more
idIo In Now Ve~l. tHi~ account.
The law in this Slate, as is well known,
makes eight hours a legal days work,
where no different agreement exists be-
tween the parties as TO time. There are
those who interpret this law as enJointnJ
this as the working time. The Eight Hour
League has adopted such an Interpretation
and its members insist not only that they
individually will labor but eight hours in
a day, but also that the shops and factories
shall regularly be open for work only that
time. This organization has attained great
influence, and, by its weekly tax upon
members, is said to have accumulated
fund of nearly a million of dollars to assist
in the support of those who are attempting
TO carry out its views. 1t allows new trades
and organizations TO JOIN and draw at once
upon its funds, upon pledge of reimbur-
sing the money as soon as they achieve
success. The men in trades that have sue
are now paying into the treasury from one
to two dollars per week, which makes no
small contribution toward sustaining those
who are still on strike. 1t is difficult to
foretell the result of the movement; but
one thing is certain it has thus far attained
a success beyond the expectations of its
friends. On the other hand, however, the
combinations against it are now beginning
to show their strength, and employers as
well as employees will honceforth have an
organized voice.
No one certainly ought TO withhold his
sympathy from laboring men in all reason
able efforts to better their condition. But
part of the principles which some of the
most radical seem endeavoring to establish
cannot long succeed. As we have often as
serted, none Of these men have a right to
use violence or coercion in any form to
carry their points. If they will but see it,
every threat they utter will only put back
their cause, especially through exaggera-
tons of the partisan press. They should
remember that others have the same right
either to work or not to work, and when
they assume to say what fellowlaborcrs
shall do, willing or unwilling, they attempt
a tyranny which shall not be tolerated
where equal rights" and "lair play" are
the claim and The watchwords. 1t ought
not TO be necessary for any single man to
say 10 an employer, ~ will go to work if l
can be protected" He has a right to that
protection, and he must have it. And when
the sober second thought comes to his fell
low laborers, they will say, "He shall have
it, If they do not there is an end of all
hope that their movement Will succeed.
Such practices are too clearly wrong 10
make success possible.
The man who owns shop has his rights
as well rs his workmen. He has spent his
money for building, which he ought to
be able to enter or leave without dctation
from any one. If he can honorably hire
others to go in with him at six o'clock in
the morning and not leave till six at night,
ii is no ones business but their own. And
any attempt to dictate to others what hours
they shall labor and what hours they shall
be idle, is an element of weakness, which,
IL persisted in, must insure failure to the
movement. 1t is tyranny which the
workmen themselves will not endure
Those who are ambitious, if fairly paid and
BILE, will work, whatever others may say
This may he set down as fact fixed in the
nature of things as men are, and especial
Americans.
Another thing. The doctrine of uniform
pay will not long continue. So great
wrong cannot last. Every man knows tina
hxyb 10 iii tant 81
is able to earn twice as much as another
Shall the employer, then be compelled t.
pay the two aliko7 Is 1t fair VIII eithc
employer or the skilled workman long b
satisfied with such a rule? No. Ever,
man is entitled to what he earns no mere
no less. And the rule which pays to eacI
most exactly this sum is the rule whicl
will succeed.
The more promptly, then, those whit
have influence in this movement succeed
in REFRESHING such absurd claims, the soon
err they will help to right abuses which con
fessedly exist, and urgently demand the at
tention OF all who love honorable dealing
and would see fair distribution of the pro
duets of industry. The interests of labo
and capital (so-calledD are one, and it is tn
greatest disservice TO both, and Grim
against the country, to attempt to separat
them. Employers ought not to be unrea
sonable in any conference concerning tn
mutual interests of employers and EN-
ployed. One thing is certain they cannC
pay more than they receive; and if III
work men in New York advance the
claims faster than those in other places, tn
employers must yield TO the competition
1t has long been true, in some lines espec
ally, that labor was so much lighter her
than in Baltimore and Philadelphia tina
manufacturers could transport heavy ms
terial, like tin and metals, thither froI
New York, make them up, and return eve
bulky goods cheaper than they could |
made here. Let this difference be increai
ed still farther, and extended to oth'
goods, and what will become of New Yor
manufacturers The workmen in such
case should make up their minds to EN-
CRATE as well as strike. Or If the STRIKE
extend to other places, then 1t is to be col
sidered whether the enhanced cost of PR
duction, the country through, will not /
increase prices of all articles Of consuml
ton as to counter balance the increase
wages. The problem with the masses is b
no means a simple one. There Is gre
need of light and then of forbearance. "
shall, however, never cease to insist III
capital and labor are really one in interes
~ Y. Mercantile Journal.