The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-30
1.-THE COOPERs' STRIKE.

NOn.SOctety Men mt work, ana Business Tn.
interrup,ed-The Dispute as It Originated,
and What Came OF At-M-rchnnts Refusing
10 comply with Trades Union Demands.
The excitement created In mercantile circles by
the strike OF the coOpers has partially subsidized and
although there appears to be determination on the
part OF the self-sacrificing strikers to maintain a
spirit OF aggression and independence, the mer-
chants who employed them. having obtained COM
petent help Tor all the purposes OF their business
seem to regard the affair asa
PERIODICAL EBULLITION
OF slubbornness which they did intend to sub
nit. In many Of the packing houses where the
services of CO0pers were required what are known
rs society men, following the mandates Issued by
their organization, bundled up their implements
and lett, with The view OF impeding and to some
extent paray zlng the business OF the several es
tab lshmenls lii which they were engaged, ana the
vacancies thus created have been filed by other
workmen not connected with any trade associa-
ton. The STRIKE as previously mentioned, orgi
mated in the house OF Messrs. Wilcox Co.,
Washington street. Convinced from careful OBJ.
servation and some loss that many of the CHOPPERS
employed did not perform their days work,
or rather fsiled to execute 1t with proper care,
1t was deemed advisable to furnish each man with
number, which should be marked upon the fierce
at which he worked, the object being to as.
certain who the delinquens were, since. on several
OCCASIONS the cooperage had been found detective
The numbering, OF course, would have made no
difference so far as the wages were concerned as
each man was paid So per day. Such course being
entirely opposed to the rules OF the organization
strike was commenced: AS business could not be
non-society men, were summoned. The response
was prompt, and several houses in Washington
street having filed up their lists are working as
smoothly as II nothing had occurred. Indeed,
| so lar as they are concerned, the action
| OF the striking co0pers Is regarded with
COMPARATIVE INDIFFERENCE,
| while many have expressed their determination not
| to give employment TO society men under any Cir
| cunstances. A representative or the HERALD
visited several Of the establishments YESTERDAY and
was Informed that large number OF coopers here
! unwlngness to JOIN trade union, had been
| compelled to adopt another means OF livelihood,
filed all the vacancies left open by the strikers.
No further trouble l. anticipated. When this strike
was commenced 1t seems that efforts were made to
induce men from working In some Of the establish
ments, but without effect, and at present all the
packing houses are supplied with efficient workmen,
| In regard TO the statement made Dy Mr.. Greenau,
executive officer OF the Manhattan district that
| WILCOX & Co. wanted TO reduce the mems work to
| piecework, an emphatic denial Is given by tie
ifirm. Mr.. Rogers, the superintendent Of the con-
and OF the partners states that the OBJECT
| IN furnishing the men with numbers was simply 10
| discover those who were incompetent to perform
| their work, since, IN several Instances, they had
! suffered loss in consequence OF the uerces break
| CARELESS AND INEFFICIENT WORKMANSHIP.
| Each man was PAID So day, and some he said,
were nOt WOrln 81. lHe lie WeuJ Oh 10 say
should not be compelled to employ people
| who were worthless. Losses had been sustained
bv breakage, and 1t was absolutely neces-
sary to discover those VINO were unable to
| perform the work. "As 10 being an ambitious man,
| as Greenan says am" remarked Mr. Rogers, land
wishing TO trampe on the worKlngman In order to
raise myself, that's all very fine. desire TO pro-
tect the inieiesIs Of Inc firm, and competent work.
| men ought not to pe ashamed TO show their work.
| The fact is, there were some men here who didn't
know their business; but, as they belonged to the
| society, they were, OF course protected Dy the
| others. Everything is quite smooth now, ana many
| OF the firms wouldn't have a society man at any
price. It's hardly fair that we should be dictated
to by the men we employ considering that We asked
! nothing but what was reasonable" Soar as
THE ACTION OF TIE COOPERS
is concerned 1t appears that they determined to
hold against the action OF The firms that recently
employed them. They consider themselves aggrieved
| In being subjected To tally system which cannot be
| recognized by the organizations; and although all
efforts at intimidation are totally disclaimed the
| coopers seem resolved 10 take a stand. Not the
very best feeling Is entertained for the nonsocety
| men who have stepped into their shoes; but they
think that the merchants must finally come To terms.
II is stated that many or the cooper unions through.
out the states have been communicated with In ref
erence TO the question at ISSUE and that some de.
| cided action Will shortly be taken upon It.