The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-06-25
THE NORTHERN STRIKERS.
RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE LABOR
MOVEMENT.

MOVEMENT.
The Action of the Employers and Work
men-A Word on Strikes-The Other
View OF the Question.
The arrangement of labor caused by the
elght-hour agitation In New York and at other
points continues to excite general remark; but
1t is alleged by the New York papers that the
disposition now Is to accept the action of the
employers on Tuesday night as the turning oi
the tide. That action was by the employers
OF all branches resolving that they would
reject the eighthour system, accept ten hours
only as b days work, and hold out to the
bitter end. In some trades, though, it is
known the eightrhour rule has been conceded
to, and in others the demand for Increased
wages granted. The following history of the
character and progress Of the strikes contains
many interesting facts, some indeed that are
really surprising as to the amount Of noneyed
support afforded by combinations of other
workmen abroad as we'll as at home. The
rejection cannot but be suggested thereby
that the same amounts of capital applied by
the workmen in starting cooperative estab-
lshments of their own, In which they would
take to themselves all the profits OF their
labor, would be much more economic thing
than this unproductive consumption while
labor Is suspended. The Herald relates as
follows:
Seven weeks ago the journeymen painters
of New York demanded of their employers
xho of 10 oiCht hQur gvatPm. without
any decrease In the existing rate OF pay 1or
da ,'s work. The employers resisted the de-
mand, and the men struck. Their example
was speedily followed by the carpenters,
bricklayers. plssterers. masons and others IN
the building business, and the strike graduauy
spread, until 1t embraced nearly every trade
and calling In the city. The German cabinet
makers formed an eight hour league, and, as
they had command Of large amount OF
money, they managed to draw vast NUMBER
OF men into the movement, although tnelr
organization lacked energy aud ability 10 head
general rising. The strikers met with vary
ing fortune The carpenters, masons, painters,
bricklayers and plasterers succeeded, and re-
turned to work under the elght-honr system.
The pianoforte. makers and coachmakers.ga gave
way before the f1rmneas of their employers,
and abandoned the strike. large numoer
OF trades remained In the movement, D9t tne
prospect for general concession oil tnelr oe.
twn weeks 400. when the iron and metal work
ers took the neld. Mainly through the ehorts OF
one man, who commenced by getting small
groups Of workmen together and taking over
movement grew with wonderful rapidlty.
Agents were sent out among the iron
men all over the State of New YORK
and all along the line of the Erie rail-,
way Into other States, organizing strikes, ana
the effect OF the energy OF the leaders soon
Tn do
made Itself apPssEesntn m1a sae numbers @
over ten thousand enrolled members. It mas
been ioined by branch OF the English Society
of Steam Engineers, q branch Of the lnterna-
tional Machinlsts' and Blacksmlths society,
and other foreign organizations. me Anal
gamsted Society OF Engineers OF England nave
paid half million of dollars TO the creuit OF
the League for the use and benefit Oh the
strikers: the International Machinists ana
BlecksmithB have subscribed one hunareo
thousand dollars for the same purpose, ana
other European societies have followed Win
smaller donations. To-day this lfonwofkers
League has capital OF three-quarters OF o.
million dollars and weekly income from sub
scriptions OF their own men who are WORKING
nm the elpht-hour principle, and from other
societles, reaching seven thousand doilars:
The leaders declare that the strke 10 now SELL
supporting-:iiar is to say, that tney nave
funds enough to take care OF all tne men WHO mo
movement Is spreading In all directions, o new
impulse has been given to the strike In every
trade. and the trouble already experienced
seriously in some quarters is likely 10 e&teno
t0 the railroads and into every manulacturlpg
district.
Such was the history up to the action OF
the New York employers on Tuesday even
ing. That action is now extensively canvass
ed at the different meetings OF the working
men, and forms the prevailing topic OF con-
versatiou in business circles ther. disturbed
by the strike. The employers thought blow
had been given, which, for the present at
least. will ldefeat the eightrhour movement
ThsArikers, on the other hand, seem not en-
tIreiy disappointed, but aver that, together
with the relief afforded by the ElghtHour
League and that contributed by the workmen
who have obtained their demands and are
now at work, they will be enabled to hold
out ss long as the employers. The latter who
sign the resolutions in New York are some
three hundred In number, including leading
manufacturers, who are said, with others who
agree with them, 10 employ In ordinary times
some forty.fve thousand operatives. and one
of their resolutions Is as follows: 4
Resolued, That we will not hereafter retain
In onr employment any workman guilty OF
any act looking to the arbitrary establishment
of relations between the employer and en-
Moved: and In conclusion, we earnestly call
ilpon our mechanics individually to exercise
their own good sense IN the present emer-
gency, and to avoid evil counsels That we
win hereafter pay our workmen by the hour. and
employ such as are willing 10 work ten hours
per day, and we will close our establishments
Ii necessary, and keep them closed until we
can employ workmen on this basis. The
UTrades Unions," societies aud leagues, So
called. have, by their unreasonable and arol-
trary demands, done much 10 disturb the rela-
lions between employer and employed, oy
forming combinations to secure the same rate
of compensation for inferior as for superior
workmen, by debating to employers the con-
dItlons under which they will be permitted 10
conduct their business, In some cases impos-
Ing heavy fines on such employers as Infringe
the regulations laid down by their workmen,
and we consider such tyranny Incompatible
with the best interests Of both.
WORD ON STRIKES
There is much to be said, however, at this
day. and in the light Of It's Intelligence, on
this whole subject Of labor. The annexed
temperate and comprehensive article from the
New York Post is, therefore, worthy TO be
read: