New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-28
THE CRISPINS TO STRIKE.
THE JOURNEYMEN sHOEMAKERs TO FOLLOW TIE
LEAD OF THE GAsMEN-EaPLOYRRs WILL NOT
INCREASE THEIR wAGEs-sUCCEss UNLIKELY.

THE JOURNEYMEN sH0EMAKERs TO FOLLOW TIE
LEAD OF THE GAsMEN-EaPLOYRRs WILL NOT
INCREASE THEIR wAGEs-sUCCEss UNLIKELY.
For several days past employers Of journey
men cordwaineIs have been anticipating trouble with
their men, and formal demand for an increase Of
wages has at length been made with the threat In
OF refusal OF general strike by the benehmen" be-
longing 10 the Crispin order. Some OF the have
already left work and claim that the whole organza
ton Will strike to-day unless their demands granted
Nevertheless NEWCOMERS need be under no apprehen
sion that they viii be obliged TO go unshod, return
TO the ancient sandal primitive moecasin. The
lodge OF striking Crispins has only about 800 members
who do not by any means control the manufacture OF
boots and shoes iu the city, 1t comprises only the
"benchmen," those who work by the pair, each OF
whom makes the whole boot or shoe unassisted. out
numbering these, there are the " teammen" among
whom subdivision of labor is practiced, each Of them
making some single part OF boot or shoe. The team
men" are nearly all members OF society
affiliated with the benchmen, but have no inten
ton Of striking The ground Of complaint Of the dis
affected Crspns is that they do not get high
the "eammen", aud they demand such an increase as
will equaze the pay Of the two classes OF workmen. The
employers however, unite in the statement that the
difference is wholly the fault OF the "benchmen," any
one of whom they say could make from SIS TO $50 per
week by steady labor The reason of the higher re-
cepts OF the "teaIumen is that working in gangs. as
they do they are not masters Of their time, but
under the oversight Of boss" The limits OF the
possible trouble will be easily understood when II is
stated that there coo 700 eammen in the city 10
do if necessary the work OF the 800 Cpns beside the
considerable number Of non Society lOurneymen called
by the Crispins "scabs."
TRIBUNE reporter visited on Saturday number Of
the prominent employers OF benchmen,' and obtained
their views beside taking the statements OF some of the
Crispns On Thursday and Friday committee repres
enting the Society Of Benehmen," or Journeymen
Cordwainers, they call themselves, visited number
of firms the aud shoe business, and presented
detailed schedule OF rates. the nonacceptanee OF which,
early day by strike The universal answer from the
employers that they cOnd not afford 70 pay the in
crease which would result In raising the selling price OF
mems boots and shoes 81 or 81 25 pair. In two or
three places the "benchmen" had not waited Tor the
action their representative committee but had struck
in anticipation This the at John Ready's at
No, 2ss broadway eight of whose men lett him about 9e
middle Of week, after having been refused an adj
so cents per pair One or the strikers maze an
assault on non-soeety ourneym some OF me en- n
assertion which eInbroil them with the CrisPins.
would not hesitate to punish those who, in their estima
on had injured them. All OF the employers say thar
strike could not happen at better time for Them The
business duller than IL has been for years. ana
Of the dealers have been employing more men than
they had any need for Overproduetion ana SLACK de-
The exact reason for this excessive dizziness OF trade
IL Is not TO comprehend. The IemaIkable ani9gut
OF snow in Winter made great demand Tor Rubber
goods and thus hurt the business OF the shoe lndnuac
turers but the coming OF April has not been marked
with tie usual revival OF activity One dealer was seen
involved by contracts that he wOud DC forced
10 keen advance and another, one OF
the largest employers Of "benchmeu" N New-fork'
expressed himself not unwilling TO give the increase
II he could get the additional price from his patrons
These cases marked exceptions The tone OF the
rest was very uncOmpromis!ng
AT Brown Martins, at Malden-lane and Broadway
some 40 teaen are employed and also ye six bench
men outside, Here there was no tY0nbe and non9 eL'
pected william c. NaughtQn at No. 26 Exchanee-pace,
employs benchmen, The Committee from the Crispins
visited him, and he told them that he could not afford
the increase demanded. W. Ferguson Co., at No 81
Eassau-st had refused the demand Of the Committee.
They had fear OF the consequences OF strike az they
could easily supply the places OF any seceders mum
Der OF other dealers visited but their statements
agreed with the FOREGOING
The Crispins views widely at variance. The
benchmen" say that they obliged 10 work dozen
hours aIay, and yet make less than the team
NEIL" They claim that they only desire 10 eqiiaze
wages fair basis. II their demands not granted
they would strike to-day On Saturday evening meet
OF the benchmen held in the Tenth WARD Hotel
at Broome and FOrsyhss TO hear the report OF their
Committee, which had made the demand the dealers
A former Secretary OF the CrispIns Is manuiac
turer at the head OF cooperative boot and sh0emakpg
society at Blocker aud Greenests He has been told
that II he makes custom work for the shops the whole
power OF the society will be in force against him.
The order held meeting yesperday afternoon IN the
Teeth Ward Hotel, at BroOme ana FOrsythsts. Several
members enrolled, and addresses delivered
IN favor OF forming strong organization, 10 make
demand for increased wages and in case OF refusal, to
ger4ka