The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-10
The LABOR QUESTION.
Discomfort Among the Laboring
Glasses.
The Cigar-Makers' Strike-Attempted Move OF
the Painters, Plumbers and Brown
Stone Rubbers-The Long
shoremen on Strike.

The friends OF our manufacturing interests must
ever regret the existence or causes winch disturb
the balance OF power between capital and labor,
Il those twin sisters or modern progress, whose I'M
renting struggles for supremacy must always
! tend TO the discontinue or both. IL ID parttcu-
larry unfortunate that in America, where indus
trial ana manufacturing interests are but In their
infancy, labor should demand or capital deny any
thing which, well understood, could prove to be
] OF mutual benefit to both. 1t should be the study
/ OF employers to give the best possible prices
i for labor consistent with reasonable remu-
| neration for capital and risks involved in
4 their respective lines OF business; and 1t
oughs to be equally incumbent upon the
| employed to make no eXtravagant demands for
exorbitant wages that would cripple and en-
DaIrass capital. Some kinds OF business, such as
brickaying, stonecutting, painting. plumbing and
the like, need not depend upon the rates paid to
similar trades in foreign market to fix their
prices here, for these must hinge upon the occa-
siona or permanent conditions OF
LOCAL SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
others again. ike the texIIle fabrics or iron
manufactures, that have TO fight their way into
market overt against European cheap labor
must often modify their scales OF wages in such
manner as may best enable the American capt.
talist TO successfully grapple with an exceedingly
sharp foreign competition, which mandates our
markets with low.priced goods
In conversation with several prominent manu-
lecturers, these gentlemen advanced the theory
that at the bottom OF our whole labor question
lies that OF the tariff They say some Americans
make the great mistake OF thinking that our ports
should be thrown open 10 the world and custom
houses abolished. Nothing could be more pleasing
to the opponents OF American progress than this
idea, half so fatal 10 struggling Industries
For us to produce the raw material, send 1t to
Europe and receive back In return all the manu-
factured necessaries or life, would be TO bind
selves hand ana foot az the bidding OF Americas
bitterest commercial rival-England. Kill
American manufactures and Britain has what
she most desires; foment them, and her free trade
press is furious. Journals at either side OF the
ocean and on both sides or the question have
Landed their respective theories to the SKIES pre-
tending to trace them to general principles that
are thought 20 be applicable in all countries and
under every circumstance. Nothing can be more
erroneous than this crazy hypothesis, say our
American tradesmen The truth IS that the tariff
question, which directly Affects tue manufacturing
interests ana operatives wages at the same time,
is one that admits OF different interpretations in
distinct countries ana epochs. England, that has
a superabundance or cheap labor excellent
machinery and manufacturing facilities, naturally
is the strenuous friend OF free trade, because
advantages enable her to compete successfully
with all her rivals. America, on the contrary,
where raw material can be had In abundance, but
labor because OF her immense outlets for ~ Is at
. comparative premium. ought always to favor
A PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
Ii England wants to sell her wares IN our mar
kets she should pay for the privilege. and thus
help 90 deiray the expenses OF government And
we should place upon all foreign goods Just such
an amount OF duty might put them on Q par
with similar classes OF merchandise produced
in
traders. this gives unusual advantages TO
Americans engaged In the manufacture OF
certain articles, and tine many are taxed for che
oenent or q few Who are LUCKY enough TO be en-.
gagged In producing such and such commodities.
This theory would be correctly founded II only
certain men were allowed to engage In given
kind OF trade; out as IL Is open TO every citizen
who wishes TO try his hand It is no argument to
CRY monopoly because few may not wish TO
avail themselves OF the facilities which all may
command. The questions OF
TARIFF AND LABOR
are so intimately connected that the can
hardly be touched Without mentioning the other.
the DISTURBING elements az work IN our midst.
whereby those harmonious relations which should
reign between the employer and employed are
disturbed should be watched with care and
promptly checked. This. Tor our saSes, too,
because dlssenaons, IKE labor strikes, are often
attributable TO foreign influences. which lnsid-
iousy aud silently attempt 10 undermine our
commercial aud industrial as wen as political
relations at the same time. At hrst glance (con-
tinue our tradesmenl TINS may seem somewhat
lar. etched theory: but men wh0 nave closely
watcred the march OF events, and noted the per-
TINS city and elsewhere throughout the Union,
VIII agree that there i much truth IN it. Let rs
pursue the subject no further az present.
The tardy tight OF winter aud opening OF an
immense spring trade In almost everY branch OF
industry have again given occupation ~ the On
emp.oyed thousands among artisans, mechanics,
laJOrers and others VINO curing the last TOUR or
nve long, weary months OF inactivity had been
ireauentiv put to hard snIIts Tor their daily
bread. whether or not II be prudent that work
ingmen under such unt0ward circumstances
should press their employers 70 tue wall upon Q
question OF salary-one tnat, after all can only be
adjusted by time ana through the lnevllaole la"s
Of supply and demand-neeu not now De con-
sldered. Surce IL TO cay that the cuban cigar
makers brown stone ru0bers, 'longsnore-
tions have already shown signs OF DIS
content aud are not only Disclosed with the
actual thriving state OF trade, but nave resolved.
in imitation oil their resolute fellow lab0rers IN
Pennsylvania, 70 90 INTO strike upon the import
ant questions Of wages and hours Of labor
Tue CUBAN CIGARMAKERs.
A Visit among the CUBAN clgarmakers showed
that they are nearly ala about 450 on strike.
Among the employers spoken TO we're Messrs.
Marrero, NO 1875 Maiden lane; L0sano Co., No.
os Maiden lane and sanchez llaJa y Co.. No. 100
Maiden lane. These gentlemen, VINO are the
largest Cuban and spanish m manufacturers IN this
city, agree In attriDuting their present dilicuties
TO the unusually nign price Cu0an lear It's
scarceness and The Unwonted bad quality or last
years crop. Iney concur IN stating mat the al
vance in prices OF cuban tobacco Is rom Iorty TO
nifty per cent To TINS must be added
an additional dollar per hundred United states
Internal revenue duty. 10 Is claimed By the
manufacturers tnat these items make difference
OF SO per thousand 10 excess ofiormer cost prices
In the following way :-S4 chtrgeaOle 10 the
posses themselves, 81 to consumers aud 81 TO the
workmcn. Inese people did not accept the ar
ranCement, sayinI tnat II any losses we're 70 DC
suffered the consumers and manufacturers should
divide NJ now they pleased, but nothing would be
allowed 10 come on The wOrElnEmen's former
prices. the lockout commenced last Monday,
and no arrangements arc yet thought OF on either
side. some 81 the manufacturers tninG that they
I Will eventually nave 70 accede 20