, 1873-03-27

616kAEa AMI AHB14ltA14UNt :.
There are Indications Of a gonoral Btriko among
tho wor]ingmen of New York during tho spring
soason, nnd 1t ia predicted that their Influence
will bo extended In such manner "a to produce
simultaneous strikes In tho othor large cities Of
tho country. Tho President Of tho Working
mons Union Inns mado tho statement TINT Joe, 000
men will DO on d strike ut tho na1no timo In Now
York and Brooklyn, md TINT arrangements 1layo
boom mado for tho artisans mud mechanics of Bos-
ton, Ohicago and St. Louis to follow tho example.
| It il announced that tho various trades will
| net in concert. Tho purpose of this general
atrike III to reduce tho day's labor from ton to
eight hours, md tho p1an is materially the sumo
! Us that Of last ycar's strike. Tho Eight-Hour
| Tongue of Now York ir,cludos tho carpenters,
piano-makors, cabinot-makors, and tho majority
Of tho moat numerous trades-organizationH
Tho carpenters Of Brooklyn havo already given
thoir employers notice that they will domand
| $3.50, tho pay for ton hours' work, for day Of
| eight hours. Tho gas companies had already
| conceded to their employees the privilege Of
working eight hours inBtoad Of ton, but ro-
duood tho wagos in proportion; aud now tito
employees propose to striko for the old pay for
tho new and shorter days work. It is probable
that tho strilto among all tho tradoa will DO to
secure ton hours pay ut tile present rates for
eight hours' work.
Thoro aro just two ways in which tho rates Of
compensation for labor Gull be doter1ninod,-by
strikes or by arbitration. Tho formor method
has been the most common in this country,
but tho oxpcrioaco Of last yoar mud former
yoars has proved it to be costly to tho
capitalists and detrimental to tho inter-
ests of tho 1aborers. Strikes necossitate
a serious loss OF timo and wagos which can
nevcr DO rogainod. Capital has the advantage
| In this method, for 1t can better afford to lose
time than tile laborors. At all events, 1t is not
pressed for money with which to buy bread and
meat for hungry families, and tho proportion Of
the loss ia consequently borne with less personal
suffering. Moreover, strikes arc apt to lead to
acts Of violence, destruction Of property, tho
dissipation incident to illaness, aud very gon-
oral Generalization among tho classes for whose
benefit they arc organized. As 4 ruio, tho re-
sultant OWLS OF o strike largely over-balanco
tho adyancemonto of tic laboring interests, eyenif
successful, and these OWLS and hardships 'are
frequently endured without III any way botter-
ing tho condition OF the strikers. Such ali OK
poricnco should suggest trial Of arbitration az
means for determining what slall bo a fair and
equitable compensation for days labor. There
ia no bottor opportunity for trying tho export
ment than tho present time offers. The leaders
Of tho oight-hour movement now declare that
they arc in q position to hold out as long as the
capitalists. II this is true, it ony forobodos an
irropressiblo conflict, which will result
in serious injury to both partiea Tho
laborors, it is fair to presume, occupy
ono extromo position, and the capital
iatB tho other So long as each class holds out
obstinately for claims that are purely arbitrary
on both sides, tho outlook is nothing but wasto
and absolute loss, to be shared by The two par~
tics. Here is certainly tho opportunity for arbi-
tration, in which tho capitalists and the working
men shall choose an equal number Of representa-
tyea theHo to select third moro, to make up
board OF examination. This board should
thon hayo tho demands of the laborors
and tho cIaims Of tho capitalists before
them in full, from which to roach m
Intelligent conclusion and establish faiz
basis Of compromise. Meanwhile, tile work
would 60 OIL uninterrupted, and there would be
mono Of tho waBto and suffering insoparablo from
large strikcs.
Tho laborors demand TINT they Hhall rocoivo
for eight houra' work tho sanlo pay which they
now get for ton hours. Hero ia d loss OF two
hours day which represents certain fixed loss
OF production during season. If tho labor
ers shall rcceiyo the Same pay aa now. this
loss would fall entirely upon tho capi.
talistB. Tho Immediate question which
would como before q Board of Arbi.
tration would bo whether tho capitalists cur
afford, or ought to DO called upon, to stand the
whole Of this loss. II 10, tlon tho rates they
aro now paying for labor arc too small. II not
then 1t is likely that tho loss should bo divided
In any caso tho only way by which tho question
could bo aottled Justly ia In au examination oi
. tho buBneBs and profits. Tho laboring classes
, haye undoubtedly tho right to refuse to work
: moro than eight hours In daY If the,
on general principles, to dcmand thu
r they shall rccoivo the eame pay fol
/ eight hours' work which thcy got for ten houra
9 work. Tho only way in which such right car
0 DO established is by proving that their proaon
:, compensation falls short Of what 1t ought to bt
to that e1tont. The quickest and fairest moan
i for arriving at this is by Intelligent aud impair
: tial arbitration mado OH q full showing of eaol
0 branch of tho trades. Arbitration has docidot
+ advantage over atrkos In that it may bo resunot
u Whenever thore arc changoa in business statu
t that aeom to require clangoB In thoprioo oflabor
r This gouoral principle Of arbitration woult
Il DO an incroaHe of wagos with an incsoase