New-York tribune., 1873-03-04
THE CONTEST REVIEWED.

The principal tTades-uniOn organizations arc
quietly but effectively making preparations for
strike which they hope to render general by coercion
or persuasion early in the Spring. Already several
OF the protective bodies have held meetings' al
which it has been openly ayowed that strike
has been contemplated for a loug tine, and
been fully determined upon. In order TO make sue
cessfu fresh candidates have been asked to add Their
names to the rolls OF membership without paying tie
usual initiation fee. This movement has been most
noticeable in Crispn organization, and t Is under
stood that its strength has been mat ray increased
thereby. Remembering the blow inflicted upon manu-
featuring Industries building interests and trade
ally by Eight-hour strike of last year, the em-
ploying classes may well look upon the present move
with alarm. Before going into the details OF the
threatened strike glance at the progress
and results OF the strike OF ls7? may not only
prove OF general interest, but Will aid those who
vitality concerned in its failure to comprehend
what was accomplished last year and what may possibly
the result Of the labor movement this Sorng Un-
like the last strike, which aimed TO secure eSci
OF labor with corresponding reduction Of the
rate Of wages. the present movement appears to he
intended to compel the payment OF higher rate oi
wages while in few cases other concessions to the
employed classes are demanded. In this matter the
International organization appears 10 have borne au
active agency sowing the seed Of dscOrd between the
two classes, and to be ready 10 take stiii morn
active part in compelling it insists. proper regard
for the rights OF labor
WHAT THE EIGHT HOUR STRIKE CoSr.
Last year ne Eightl0ur strike eXten1cd % nearly
every branch OF labor Every knows how 1t crippled
the industry the COUNTY, bat few and only ta0se in
mediately affected, know how much positive suffering
enaIled, not only upon tue strikers themselves aLd
those directly dependent upon the bnt upon the ca
alists by whom they employed, not few OF whom
were rretreyaby ruined by the rupture. An elaborate
series computations show that when tue labor dis'
menr brought end skilled
artisans IN the various trades had taken part IN tie
strike which began IN May and lasted sA os more weeks
Allowing the sake OF securing that only one
half remained wholly idle for period Of month and
that the average rate OF compensation was s. day-a
low average skilled workmen being taken into account
the statiscian finds that the wor&nen themselves l0st
SoOo0 a day In one week this rate OF loss
would equal s56O,OOo, and in one month $4,000.
In computing the employers loss the dminntOn Of pro-
supply the marked aud consequent s;oppage OK
trade be considered well hc loss of percent
age Of profit on capital invested. Assuming as basis
OF calculation that the loss OF profit capital invested
in manufactures which 20 per cent thought 10 bea
fair average although in many branches OF trade the
return Is much greaer the aggregate loss the oap
taists side was in four weeks alone 10 sl52oo.
This is the balance sheet:
Loss to workingmen in wages, one month. .sIis0Oo
Loss 10 employers III profits, same pcrlOd.... l54tSo
Total loss 10 BOTH same month ......... 81 5ylOO0
The loss during the strike which lasted abont two
months was in round numbers about sioOo.Ooo Malt-
plying by Il the dgures given for the month s2S9lO
the statstcian hnds that IL the strike had continued
year the actual loss would have amounted TO siciOo,
more than one-half OF which S7.00o0, repre-
senting loss OF wages.
ELEMENTS OF BITTER STRUGGLE.
With the exception OF the building interest, the eab
netmakers and workmen in the furniture trade gen
orally were most seriously affected by the Eight
strike Of last nom the stubborn resistance
offered by the employers who banded themselves into
compact organization On June H. nearly six weeks
after the strike began the lsi firms individuals
posing the organization reported that out OF the fun
complement OF men 6,5SsD employed when all were at
work. s624became reduced toydesperate straits
for food and were glad abandon their demands and
turn to work the Tenhour pan leaving only LAS out
on strike Even Of these held only short
longer. and only too glad TO succumb. Tue
may be said to apply OF the trades then
on strikes" After wearying and unequal struggle
the men returned their work in spirit because
banied and disappointed.' while both capitalists
and aborers suffered such serious losses that neither
class has yes fully recovered from them, and tbe
retarded trade and industry Of the country
will feel the effects for year TO come.
The bitterness with which the struggle waged is
still remembered. The time OF the strike chosen,
one OF the conspicuous speakers OF the trades
unions publicly declared, because the month OF May
the busest OF the season." and hence they were
more likely TO succeed at such time workmen ana
operatives In every branch Of trade firmly banded
together and under oath TO stand Arm public meetnes
held day ana night IN ell quarters OF tho city, ana
those who wished work and provide for their faes
the Ten-hour system, at the rsk OF onending
their assoeates were coereed and often drVen on with