The New York herald., 1874-12-03
STRIKE or CARPET VIEWERS.
Higgins & Co.'s Factory Closed for sho
Present-Fineen Hundred Operatives
Idle-The Strike in Other Mills.

Higgins & Co.'s Factory Closed for sho
Presont-Fineon Hundred Operatives
Idle-The Strike in Other Mills.
Labortng people just at the present moment
seem to think thas labor is so much more valuable
than money that they are all determined to STRIKE
lor higher wages. No sooner do the 'longshore.
men have their little tantrum over aAd partially
agree TO 60 to work than the carpet makers take
their turn st the old contest OF labor against
capital. A HERALD reporter called last night
upon Mr.. E. 8. Higgins, Of the nrm of E. 8 Hg-
gins d Co., carpet manufacturers, Forty-thlrd
street and Eleventh avenue, whose hands 70 the
number OF 500 struck on the lst Of December
because the nrm mad reduced their wages from
ten to nftcen per cent. The following Is MIR. Hig-
gins statement:-" We employ about 1900 peo-
ple one-hau or thereapouts OF which are boys
ana girls. Our payroll runs from $56,oco
to 100000 per month, and that Is
an average pay to each weaver (the weavers are
grls) OF from 81 rs to 81 rs per day, according to
dexterity. The boys are generally very green
when they enter our employ, and at nrst do not
earn much, but we have always made It rule to
advance them as fast as they were worth 1t. The
mechanics earn from So rs TO So 80 per day and
never before, even when gold was at its highest
from the wages Of those VINO worked for MS Our
reason for so doing now is that the market Is
slossed a. WIN goods ~ IN on our line; We have large
than is absolutely necessary; but considering the
iact that 80 many people are out OF work we dio
ducine their wages: We were, iurtner-
fact that our neighbors set the example. J. j.
DoDson, OF Phladelphia; Beattle Son, OF Little
reduced their a"~ wages and their opeTsSes struck
We could DO no less than TO follow their example,
The moment we found tnat the strike was 10 be
the people We employed that when they had
agreed TO come to work on our terms the factory
on hand and can anord TO wait, though believe
many Of our operatives have money laid up and
csssity alone compelled as to take this step, ana
while we are not materially injured at present by
the strike we wish TO help those who have labored
for us, and when tney come back on our terms We
win resume worK.n
In relation TO how the operatives felt
were perfectly willing TO resume work at once;
but the section nands-that is, the men VINO have
''This" said the gentleman, sis ,ne source OF all
the trouble. few leaders lead the mass OF the
by are sTS see M sn
believes the strike Will not last long, Hts working
people are friendly to the arm, and he says that
strike was orderly, and not a threat mane.
rhe HERALD reporter then made trip to tina
nuRoer or the workmen- They seemed to think
that their wages should not have been cut down.
against aga the rm noWeSer entered into their rs
marks, nor did they express any intention TO IN
terere with others should the firm elect to employ
strangers. some or the girls who work in the fac
tory were also visited, and. with few exceptions,
they rather denounced the strike move
ment, and though they did not admit the face
1t was evident by their tone ana movement thss
some influence was at work to prevent their re-
termination to resume WORK at the firms s rates a.
~ they would be allowed to do so, expressing
the belief that when times were better the old
rate OF wages would be paid. Several hoped that
by Sa turday the dfncuity would be adjusted ana
that they would be allowed to enter upon their
duties once more For their own sakes and that
OF their families, the owners OF the factory trusr
that In few days they win see the folly OF their
movement and return TO then old places and re-