The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-11

The Boss Carpenters Resolve TO Return to The
Ten-II0ur System. .
Excitement Among the Wcrkmen and Determi
nation to Strike if Necessary.

among the various trades OF the city seems to ind
cate that another gigantic strike is impending,
such as that OF last year, which for several months
paralyzed The industry OF this and neighboring
Cities The strike OF last year, as may be remem-
bered, was inaugurated by t.e carpenters for the
purpose OF securing eight hours as the maximum OF
days work. The movement rapidly extended,
and in few weeks the entire trades representing
the building interests OF the city had suspended
work, along with many other branches ofindustry.
The strurple was q hard one. The employ
ers held out until the last moment and re-
fused to accede to the demands made by the
men: but business was pressing, orders were
pouring in, and after some weeks spent in ideness
the carpenters joners and bricElayers returned to
work at their own terms, the masters at the same
time stating that they yielded under protest and
did not consider the compact binding.
The other trades were not SO fortunate in their
fight for the reduction Of the hours OF labor. A
vast amount of money was expended, leagues
were formed embracing all the wood workers, put
it did not avail the employers were too strong for
the men, and the latter forced by the pressure
OF circumstances and the necessities OF their
families to resume work under tie old regime.
While the strike lasted the misery suf-
fered by the families OF the poorer
strikers was intense. Many OF the trades
started in the crusade with well-hlled treas.
treasures were empty the trades were dlsheart-
ened and the termination OF the contest was
looked upon as blessing by those who at the out
Set were most eager and enthusiastic in favor Of
the movement
Even among the trades which were successful
the new system did not work well. There were
many non-unOn workmen who were forced into
the movement against their wish and their sup
port OF it at the best was but hal-hearted. How
ever Just the demands of their fellow craftsmen
might be in the abstract they were not disposed 10
ABANDON THEIR BUSINESS
when it was briskest and engage in fight in
which they were certain to lose time and money
with but FAINT prospect OF victory. however,
they had no alternative but to do as the majority
did. The trades unions, While aDstalnlng rom
the excuses which have disgraced sister societies
IN England, had no intention of allowing their
plans to be spoiled by those who were not union
men, and, by threats in some and moral
suasion in others, they succeeded IN inducing the
wavering and irresolute to make common
with them. When the strike had successfully ter
minated, the discipline which mad been so strictly
dropped. and the black sheep OF the organiZa-
tons, when surveillance OF them was lost,
did all manner of things which they ought not
to have DONE worked the ten hours q day. and in
some cases even longer than this. So lax did they
become that the carpenters, when all was over,
watch the delinquents. but without much success,
and the abuses still continued. During the past
year. have been very dull and trade has, IN great
measure, been at a stand STILL With the opening
oi ue appng pL h , are is' S anu unr
and FAN will be unusually brisk.
of tbe strife thar the nromises of the masters
were not made in GOOD faiih and they have been
watched with great suspicion, as 1t was believed
hack nnon their agreement. This supposi.
ton was correct; For some days past
AMONG the masters IN compeI the
mon RI retnrn IN the old hours Of labor and on last
Thrs w "vnninr ~ the 0uartcriv NICOTINE ~ the
Emniovers, Association held mt Cooner Institute
action was taken IN the matter The meeting was
n score, one and was presided over by MIR William
Rackstone President OF the Associafion during
the dlscusslon a resolution TO the following effect
was ofiered d.
-, r,. ~ u,,.,, my, ,o n,oaro ,rso,vos .,
se a e ndn"nce in our mower TO hdnce the Working
oe, IN nnr ennloy 10 return 70 the re- hours system
.anoI -, ,no No., nroninan, hni,,,ors nr ,,o
,, ,oasooina tha OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES which the M ssaae
Guy o,eseeins Tue t WHICH Tue p'ss'se
oi this resolution wou,u entail ~ a anu ,,
.,o, ,,,. ors,,a stran;, ,,noe'd =, hr, an n yo+o
tnaa mus, ehsue su"hgy opp"s s uu, o No.e
peine 'ahen ~ no.eu ~, ..io @ AZ ti,
w nS he wa" adonted for the anno,ntmpnt of com
,ta ~ cooter with the iipiea urder Of carmen
49, onT io,naro and n,yact n scttiement of The
w., anu 'o'neiS III" '"@o' 'N'' " o
mater Wh, .rrsriroa =, this mee,,no wos not made
,' t ~, ppatrria, and W cnnrse ~ creotn in
INV WIZ. a;,ont, the worl,n rha
s.~tn ~, ,ha Ennnvrrs Association was known
VI NY nih 80 rnrs'n%,on 49, ,.t
s ~ uo ,H rnnu,re hard d"Ht TO nrevept tne nn
omor, 1f Tho old limo rho strire M ios, ycar
,S awnv most ~ rho snews Of war rom tna
LOON away ,o o v. p,n n % " WI nm -, ..e
,n;onayr,oG " tsny "ovnc pan,Iiv recorereT ,r,n,
tho ,amnorarv eImharrassment when the susncn
s, "u Of worr Tor three months cntaiied ON San
S,oi W w." ~, ,unrti ,,r,,n vath"raS In 49,
Jay eaS we ot ,nrin,,,ar pa hanntu ,.h;nh H
10 arao arnns ia,i raar ,rbo chamcas of anotber
G Gn, ,nro o~nrv9 d,scussnd nnd vbiia ~ ,vos
n,o truorS 20 win no nort,cnIar anyietv Tie
so,orn,; ION yyo q n Nv sna and ali that
was 49,, P ed viii vIo ,i ".o All nr
ana no reJrrn to rue ron hnur system wouid tor n
.,,,r.nnt na ,honrh, oT ~ '' ~ " -
A. the p'aeting nS "
nv viz TIr sssTppS,r,ox., socrrrv
hcd n, sundav tbr snhinct came mn Tor discussion
carried ont Tor princine. il would be in,possibe
Tor tho mon now work mo nj the eIvht -Iour system
-, .u e =, tS ou nnn Tse ni,ncts or The eight
honr snstnn, were NV nrottv Wen tnown II was
intended to heneGf the many and moi the few
inc adontion of the system had already secured
fha ennntoynnont nj n ,nuch larger numher of mon
than formerty Ihe retnrn Tn the ten hour system