The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-14
THE STRIKES.
The Situation Still Unchanged and the
Battle Between Labor and Capital
Progressing Slowly.
THE CIGARMAKERs.


Progressing slowly.
THE CIGARMAKERs.
Yesterday afternoon our reporter called at the
mandatory of Messrs. Herbs l. Speiss, in the
Bowery. The street entrance TO the factory was
Still guarded by a brace Of policemen, who SAID
that everything was quiet and no appearance of
any difficulty between the strikers and their fellow.
tradesmen who have gone to work again.
Mr.. Herbs, one OF the firm, conducted Cur repOr-
ter all over the four extensive noors OF the great
house, and showed him a number OF interesting
details Of the labors connected with this vast cigar
machine. On two OF the floors whole lines of
benches, lately occupied by busy operatives, were
found empty and deserted. The other floors were
occupied by about eighty or one hundred work
people OF both sexes and different ages. OF these
about one-rourth were males. Some were pack.
ing. sorting, boxing, counting labelling. twisting
smoking cigars. They were all engaged one
way or another in fixing up the fragrant
narcotic weed for market. Our reporter cast his
eyes around the busy hands about him and
noted many face beaming with intelligence and
good nature especially, of course, among those Of
the gentler sex. There was one young girl in par
ticulsr, who possessed singular beauty and nne.
ness OF expression that might do honor to q
"You see," said Mr.. Kerbs al was once cigar.
maker myself and can sympathfze with my work
one workman, and affairs have so prospered with
me that now our house employs 500 hands con-
ssanty. The panic made no difference with US.
When running our full strength the house uses
$500 worth OF revenue stamps every day. That is
equal to 1000 boxes, or 1oo 900 cigars, turned out
daily"
must extend even TO the Pacific slope r'
MA The Chinese whom the manuiacturers emniov
there can make up stock perhaps cheaper than
we do here. You see we have no Cuban operators
a AFnnV do
all their work By hand. We do it differently; we we
use this kind OF a mould Showing one), in which
being pressed, are ready for the wrapper. The
wrapper is generally Of Connecticut leaf and the
which we import directly from Havana" ''
HOW DO you anticipate this strike win ends'
~ cannot say, but regret Its existence exceed
tngly. Those who have gone Off are all old hands,
people who have been in the house from three to
fifteen years. You see this man (going up and
years"
The reporter tried to get tho mans opinion
earn weekly; but found that, although he had
been over fifteen years in the same factory, he
spoke English SO badly as to be nearly unintelli-
from $2l to 500 was the general run OF his weekly
earnings, and that the strike Ssh Won great tam
Mr. Herbs says that any OF the strikers who re.
turn to work Will be taken back, but that II things
house will advertise for green hands, OF which, it
is thought, plenty can be mad, and teach them the
business.
THE CAPMAKERS.
The Capmakers' Central Union still hold crowded
meetings In Covenant Hall, Orchard street. To-
day, at ten O'Clock, a special meeting will be held
In No. 10 Essex street. Only few are to be present.
as Its object Is that OF completing the formation
OF q wOrkman's cooperative society. The movers
In this important step do not wish to see their
names In print until the company Is ready TO COM
mence work. In the afternoon, at four O'Clock, the
usual mass meeting will be called together MIR.
ODER, the President OF the CapmakerS' Society,
wishes to state that on Thursday their meeting
was as crowded as at any other time.
me strikers say, in reply to the manufacturers
rom twenty-five to thIrty-three per cent above
BIO rates, IL proves that they have been robbing
tne women fOr couple OF years back OF just that
mucn, according to their admission.
Inc trades people who went TO work for Messrs.
koii Meiring-this firm having signed the work.
mems scneduie-have just sent In a contribution
Of $l2 To the treasurer OF the Central Union.
upon our reporter expressing some surprise that
the capmakers should 60 on strike in such dun
times as tnese, an inteliigent operative said:--
'Ihere are no dull times for us. The work must
be done. me operators, hnishers and blockers are
necessary to and support one another n the
manufacturers could do without us they wonid !.
but they cannot At the beginning of this strike
the employers advertised LOT new hanas to
supply our places, but they found that the worry
Cbey have already lost a fortnight OF the snr,ns
season and cannot afford to keep us iockeS nn s
much longer. They have 5000 Dozens of csns
already ordered, hundreds OF dozens Of these bep0
cut and waiting to be given out. The manuiac
turers must have their goods ready by a certain
are compelled to procure them so that the country
dealers may be supplied, and the dealers must oh.
tain them to place the heads OIL their customers
u the very dawn OF spripg.