The New York herald., 1873-11-03
THE LABOR PANIC.
A Gloomy Lookout for the Be-
ginning of Winter.
Laboring People Claim Work as
a Right.

We are told In the good book that men do not
i've by bread alone; but universal experience
teaches the absolute necessity Of some food 10 sus
ile. This question OF food In the basis Of the
earnest controversy now In progress between
employers and workingmcn which threatens most
serious troable before long In this crowded city.
Almost every day some large factory or other
source cf cfemployment 10 hundreds suspend opera
tions snd crowds % operatives thrown idle upon
the streets on saturday large mandatory OF
h"opskirts ana eorsets In West rwenty-sixth
street near seventh avenue. which had worked
900 men aud women. closed It's doors, as also did
large slls factory near by.
meeting Of delegates from all the Brickiayers'
Associations of TINS city, on saturday night, was at
tended by 2so mcn The spirit was most determin-
80 not 10 submit 10 the reduction OF wages resolved
upon by the builders, and very earnest speeches
we're, made which elected thunders Of applause. No
meetings we're held last night nrRALp reporters
circulating among the vorkingmen found bitter
leenng towards those whom they hold 20 be re-
sponsine for their lack Of work and wages. There
were stern suggestions tnat perhaps the monetary
stringency could he relaxed by
srnfs0ls0 uP paw CAPITALISTS
ana iudlcions use of erowears In opening some
Of the city u VAS estimated by those conyersant
with the iacts that there to-day 40,0o0 people
c0mpusoflly idle, who would be glad 20 work and
earn their iood ciothing Goals and shelter II those
Who have the means would afford them the oppor-
tanity. They claim az natural right work, and
JUST wages therefor How they are % i've through
the winter, deprived Of both, In q question whose
solution puzzles and worries the thinking men OF
the ADorlug class. ana must soon force itself upon
the serious consideration OF our governing men
aud property owners.
To-day win probably see all the society men alb
sent rom the building l0bs A. there are thou
sands OF outsiders asking Tor work IL win be no
hard matter Tor the bosses 20 on up their gangs and
continue the lev works now m progress. This,
howeser. Will not m the least help Go feed the
thousands who are idle and sgh IN vain over their
prospect for the long, gloomy winter, while they
nercey curse the heartless spectators whose mis-.
deeds nave precipitated upon the Innocent indus
trlous masses this pressure Of want
No hint could be heard OF violence toward those
who, by taking the reduced wages, endeavor 70
support their suffering families. To strike when
there Is only WORK for one man In ten could have
but little eject could 10 no good, and would surely
fail 10 coerce the employers Therefore the men
out ol work must think OF some more potent re m
edy Tor their trouble. Would ~ not be worth the
while OF our city authorities and the large
property holders TO assist the working
classes In solving this most serious problem o
supporting larger population by supplying them
with useful work, rather than at last feeding them
upon charity New York wants honest labor, not
pauperism. These idle men and women must have
work, or they VIII soon clamor for support at the
public Institutions.