The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-17
Commencement of the Seventh Week Of
the Labor Revolt.
A REVIEW OF THE STRUGGLE.
Organization Of the Movement Feeling Of the
Employers and Position Of the Police.
Meetings Yesterday Of the Wheelwrights and
Blacksmiths, Metal Workers, German Print
ers, German Butchers, German Tailors
and German Sugar Rehners.

With to-day we enter upon the seventh week OF
the long strke-a strike that judging from the past
and the shadows it casts into the future, may
almost be designated as the interminable one. The
first movement upon the old system was only
TO be compared to a sword thrust. 1t was pointed,
sharp and cutting It severed the cords and ten
dOns that entered into the anatomy Of the old or
panization OF labor under the drill of capital Then
the movement became more general, and the
attack partook of the ponderous in it's nature.
The men VINO entered upon it sngle-handed
found they were compelled to encounter
fearful Odds and they sought on every hand 70 CO.
operative forces. From this grew into existence
the Eight Hour League. an organization OF Ger
MANS which lacked Of all things the force OF di-
rectness. 1t was strong organization, but its
leaders, liberals of the German school, gave rein to
their fancies and wandered OF from the necessities
Of the hour into the pleasant field of metaphysics
They entered into voluminous correspondence
with leaders of the labor movement in faraway CUES
and they neglected the assured avenues OF success
at home. The reports of the various branches OF
the organization were oftener at fault than other
wise in their statement of facts, and series of
afiirmations on their part and contradictions on
the part OF the employing manufacturers followed,
which, had they been admissible, would have de-
iuged the press. The unions, earlier In the field,
had anticipated aid and not embarrassment from
the league, and grew once more fearful and
FESTIVE. Agents and committees were at
once set to work, and it was understood soon
on every hand that unless the strike be-
came universal there was nothing but the
most disastrous failure in store for those already
identified with the movement. So it came to pass
that the leaven of revolt was handed about by
ready hands, and trade after trade took the field.
Hardly household exists in New York or its sub
urbs which Is not now more or less interested in
way another in the termination OF the strike.
The movement has become almost universal 1t
would require nearly column OF space to enume-
rate at length the titles of the workingmens unions
and careful estimate shows that the number
Of men in the field to-day, either actively engaged
in the gap working under the eight hour system
and devoting part OF their earnings to carrying on
the movement, runs up to over fifty thousand. 1t
IL true that some of these men are demagOgueS,
who only stir up strife that they may float upon the
surface and earn precarious livelihood, but many
OF them are very earnest and really devoted.
these men have made. The smoke and dust Of the
conflict obscure their real position and the waver.
defeat at different points Is apt to deceive
In an effort to draw an arbitrary line,
time pool to make it healthful if it settles,
yet more easily to be rlled there can be no doubt,
and the future of the movement is scarcely more
easily read than the secrets that lie beneath the
CLASSY surface OF the water.
The employers, gathering strength from the occa-
sonal and, to tell the truth, scarcely expected
verses OF the men, and not having the same mercu.
rial temperament, elevated or depressed by an
abundance or absence Of food in the cupboard have
Of late presented solid and frOwnlng front,
neither asking for services nor Offering any conces
sion.
The police look upon the laborers as the cause OF
an extra amount OF duty they have been compelled
TO perform, and continually sigh for time when
they may at leisure draw upon their heads with
their locust sticks
The laborers think the police have been too free
with the cigars and etcete7aS furnished by the
parties whose manufactures they have been de-
tailed to watch and that they are, consequently,
preudiced in favor Of those who fare luXuriOusly,
and against those who 1--we on the lean ana scanty
products OF the land.
on every hand, then, the elements tend to dis
Indignation. and to widen the breach between the
employers and employed-the laDorers and the
representatives OF law and order Still, for rising
OF such magnitude, the peace has been unusually
well preserved. Fewer drunken men have at no
time during the year walked the streets Of the city,
The only attack of Importance that has been made
IL charged upon the police, and II they have suffered
and the manufacturers have lost money, the work
ingmen have lost and suffered more.