, 1874-02-21

There is partial strike and partial lockout
! in the boot and shoe factories Of this city. Two
Of the nine leading factories in town are already
idle, and the closing Of the rest only waits upon
the finishing Of jobs now on hand. The great
trades~union to which the strikers belong will
probably be able to support them, 30 that they
will not swell tho ranks Of the dependents on
public charity, but the trouble, unless speedily
ended, may seriously interfere with the spring
trade. The nine leading boot and shoe firms
in this city formed themselves, some time ago,
into protective association. This Association
ut down wages from $5 to 81 per case. To this
reduction the men consented, on account OF it's
Justice, the masters say, but mora probably
because they found themselves unable to fight
the whole Association. The change may have
been just enough, but it is not likely that this
Was the reason OF aequiesence. There is now the
same trouble in the other factories. Two weeks
ago the men in one factory struck for $5, and on
Monday Of this week their fellows in another
have nov offered to pay oil the men $3.50 per
case, provided they will agree to render no 1elp
whatever to men who may hereafter strike. In
other words, the masters wish to dictate to the
men what tie latter shall do with thoir own
money. As VOL might d merchant forbid his
Methodist clerka to use any part Of their sala-
RES to promote the growth Of Wesleyauism.
Trades -unionism for these men is re-
lsion. II they choose to use tho money
that honest labor has gained for them
in promoting it, they have an undoubted
right TO do so. The employers plead that the
men have hitherto been successful in their
strikes, because the employees Of one factory
would Btrike and would be supported by the rest
until their point was gained, when the rest would
ct once demand and get the same pay, and that
they wish to put q stop to this eyetcm. Snch
sharp practice may be annoying, but it is moth
ing more than o legitimate e1erton of the right |
union. why should not the men have theirs !? |
The employees claim that their contributions hare
been voluntary and independent OF the order. -!
The employers demand was doubtless made in !
AAoo*1s HVA4A tAo$ ASt tVk4b44t4 ~ III 1uSuIl1LY
il men who bought boots OF them should try to |
bind them not to use the price paid in certain
specified ways i? And Jet how Is this more ab-
5urd than for men who buy labor OF other
men to try to bind the latter thus i? The
condition upon which the increased pay is offered
3 one which it is impossible for the men to &C.
;ept. II it is persisted in and the factory-trade
ZONES to deadlock, the sympathy OF the pub
ic will bo with the strikers.
II any of these firms wish to otfectually guard
themselves, st once and forever, from trouble
sith their men, suppose they try simple plan
y which they cannot 1oae, and may gain. Let
hem calculate their average profits during the
asst few years, and tell their employees that they
ill give them, for the next twelYemonth, half Of
Il profits over rate somewhat higher than this
verago. Thus, it they hare annually cleared
Ter cent, let them promise half Of
verything above 10 per cent. Diatrib-
te this "bonus On labor" in proportion to the
iages earned by each man during the year. In
his way they would hire e7ery employees full
Kill, goodwill, and brains. They would escape
'aste, inef6ciency, much Of the expense Of
uperintendence, and strikes. Every cent saved
be firm would be SO much towards making the
zofts rise over 10 per cent. It would be to
very mans interest to work well himself and to
ave other men do likewise. Any mooted ques-
ons about wages, hours, ETC., could be easily
sttled by arbitration. To cap the climax, the
onus to Labor to repay it for its extra e1ertions,
ould be but small part Of the money gained
? the firm through those e1ertions. Before
,e men got anything, the firm would receive
aking the figures We have used in i]lustration) |
s usual profit and Is per cent more md then
Tou1d get hali Of ths residue. Tbs plan has