The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-24
THE LABOR CRUSADE.
The Present Situation of the Move.
ment i'm New York.
The Orispins Succeed Gasmen Fail
The Horseshoers Yet Uncertain THE
Carpenters and Painters on the
Defensive-An Opinion
from Workingman.

0C1OuclVo al Oplu1Vu
from Workingman.
renewal OF the time -honored struggle between
labor and capital has been so generally predicted
that grave apprehenslOns havesbeen entertained o.
long and protracted series OF strikes during the
Summer. Capitalists have really dreaded the
coming Of the vexatfous contention, and 1t IL not
improbable that much work has been declined by
contractors from fear that, through the strikes,
they should lose money In the operations. There
has, however, come a great lull In trade and COM
MERGE since the opening OF Spring. The
capitalist, well as the workingman, Is
effected thereby, but the power Of money makes
the former slightly superior to the latter In the
contest. II the Summer Is to be an exceedingly
duh one for business the employer can very well
afford, in majority Of cases, to let his men 60,
supplying such places as he can from the country
and realizing great saving In wages. Men who
are out or employment find 1t next to impossible
to get work. This statement, coming as 1t does
from one who Is greatly interested in the labor
question and prime mover in the cause OF work.
ingmen, should be remembered by oil who eontem-
plate strikes during the Summer, which is now
at hand The men have not been enthusiastic
enough this Spring and the golden opportunity has
passed. "They must try and be content until the
Exceptions might be taken in few branches of
industry. 1t is more than probable that II the
drivers Of ice wagons could create monopoly OF
their business they might render their services in
dispensable. On the other hand it is probable that
every coal yard could execute all orders during the
Summer with half the force requisite In Winter.
These important facts the workingmen OF the city
fail to remember. They strike without any union
with their fellow workmen, or without any ade-
quate preparation, and they are then
SURPRISED AT FAILURE.
No better example need be cited than the strike
OF the gasmen some time since. There is no ques-
ton in the mind OF any that, had the men matured
their plans, secured the cooperation OF the men In
the employ of even two other companies, their sue
cess would have been assured. AS they were the
pioneers In the Spring campaign against capital
1t behOOved them, In their duty to their cause and
their prospects for the Summer, to have DELHI
Grated well before they began the strife. Due,
probably, to their defeat Is the embarrassed sJua.
ton in which many OF the branches OF labor find
themselves at present
THE OPINION OF WORKMAN.
A prominent leader in the movement yesterday
said to HERALD reporter 1.-THE labor movement
Will fail this SUMMER now feel sure OF it. The
men are not ready, and even If they were the time
Is ill-chosen There is every indication that the
season will be an exceedingly dull one, and my ad-
vice 10 all who not actually threatened with q
reduction OF wages . renewal OF long hours is
to remain OF their places There too many
men III search OF employment. 1t looks omlnous
We Years a worHinrman Here IN New YORK. o when
see all the trades overstocked certainly consider
it very poor time Tor me to go out in search Of o
new place. This, however, Is practically what all
the men do who now lay down their tools to 60 into
a strike. There Is no apparent danger but that
the Crispins who struck some time since as well as
those who quit work later will finally succeed; but
the railroad companies appear to have been about
as well prepared Tor the strike as the men were
who engaged in It. hope the men may succeed;
but at present II appears rather doubtful Taken
side agitation made by the workingmen for q few
months the better for our prospects next year."
THE HoRsEsHoERs STILL DETERMrNED.
The men now u strike for an advance OF
wages are tire horseshocrs and the Crispins. The
former have not been as successful as 1t was ex-
pected they would be. They are still very hopeful
however, and there are some evidences or final
success. The custom shops, with one or two ex-
ceptions, have surrendered to the demands or the
horseshoers and now pay 81 per day. This is not,
however the ultimatllln OF success. The powerful
railroad companies who have been for some time
threatened with strikes on the part OF conductors
and drivers. It would appear, have de-
termined to ante against this first evidence
Of INSTRUMENTATION, and thereby to destroy the
threatened power or their employees. The Second,
Third, Fourth, Sixth. Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and
Tenth Avenue and the Broadway Railroad compa-
MES have apparently united against the strikers.
They refuse to compromise. They will not make
any other than the old terms. They have secured
and doing Che best they can to tide over
the storm and stress period. The superintendent
OF the r0ads-many OF whom have been visited
claim that they able to keep their horses in
good condition, and that more than the usual
although they admat that they did question their
ability 10 supply the places OF the strikers during
the first .i few days: the men, on the other hand
street and seventh avenue. They declare that oil
the men except afty who struck have either
cured new places or returned to their old ones nc
the advanced wages. They declare that the
society men taken into the depots by the various
MANNING THE HORSES
IN frightful manner They appear very confident
that the companies Will finally have to surrender.
There are I'VE men at work for every one who 10
idle and a tax Is levied upon those employed to
support the men yet on strike. Those who avail
themselves OF the protection OF the society are
required to make aflidavIt that they will
not go TO- work for less than 81 per day. All
from the general fund. As they are striking
for $M per week 1t would appear TO the uninitiated
that the men who receive 500 for doing nothing
have the decided advantage OF those VINO perform
ten hours OF work per day and receive only $2f.
The tax OF each employed member must equal
nearly 81 per week, that both receive about the
same wages. The only difference Is the ten hours
work each day. The. success Of the strike Is
nevertheless that they will stand out until next
Spring rather than go to work at the old terms.
SUCCESS OF THE CRISPINS
The Crispins have undoubtedly achieved the
only real victory OF the campaign The shoe
makers employed on mems boots struck for an ad-
vance In wages nearly rhree weeks ago For
time success seemed doubtful, and fears were
openly uttered that the move would prove ab0r-
tive. Their council and committees went to work
In q systematic manner The employers who
seemed disposed 70 treat with the men we're APP
preached in a respectful manner. and mas.
ter and man cOnversed upon the broad
footing OF republican equality. The repre-
sentatiyes OF the men stated their case
the question In this manner several OF the larger
establishments in the city were soon induced to
come to terms. This broke down the opposition to
the STRIKE and at present there only six shops
In the entire city In which the advanced schedule
has been accepted. In these shops there ia not
employed single society man. The Council meets
daily at 10 Spring street and directs the movement.
The members OF the committee assert that they
have more places to ill than they have men to take
them. They do not care whether the SIX shops
still prescribed ever accede to the demands Of the
society or not.
The workmen employed on ladies' shoes sent Q