The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-22

UnIoosed Throughout the Land
Striker Families Supported Employees
Becoming Employers of their Own Labor.

Becoming Employers OF their Own Labor.
The strike Of the cigarmakers Is one OF
the most remarkable demonstrations that labor
has over made. 1t has been the means OF dis
playing unexpected resources OF intelligence.
adaptability resolution self-control. and en-
durance. For eight or nine years past employ
ers have been gradually lowering the rates OF
wages paid by them to men and women en-
gagged in cigar making. Before those reduc-
tions were begun. from 80 to $l5 per thousand
was paid for making cigars. according to size.
quality and finish. Little by little the prices
were cut down. until, at the beginning OF the
strike. nearly ten weeks ago. the operatives
were paid only from 1880 to 81 per thousand.
Experts cannot make an average Of more than
200 cigars n week.
But the low rate OF wages was not the cigar
makers greatest grievance. Tho employers
actually made their hands pay them rent for
the factories in which they carried on their
business. This they did by the Introduction Of
the tenement house system OF work. Families
were grouped together In small. ill-vcntatod
apartments. for which they had TO pay from
thirty to lfty per cent. more rent than similar
rooms could have been rented for elsewhere.
aud this extortion they were compelled to sub
nit to because their landlords were heir employ
ors. Four families were expected TO find place
In each story. Each family had two small rooms
In which to cook. sleep. wash. and earn their
livelihood. In the lghtest OF the two the man
worked. The atmosphere was heavy with the
rank smell OF damp tobacco. mingled with odors
bred OF househ old AvOcations. Children breath
ing nicotine from the hour of their birth. II they
did not die early, grew up pale and sickly. and
with little prospect OF maturity. Tho wrotched
wnges paid. and tho consequent necessity for
employment Of all the toiling power of the
family. PEELED the parents to set the chill
fuDHfrO.
aud handling 1t in tho various ways the work
requires, as soon ~ they were old enough for
the task. ana the unhappy little ones were
doomed TO lives of Ignorance and unreQuted
toll almost from the cradle. In every house
was stationed an Overseer, whose province II
was to superintend the labor of the families
under his command. He might intrude any
where. at any moment: for the rooms were not
private apartments they were only branches Of
II factory. From him there WAS no privacy. and
against him there was no appeal, One firm.
Straiton Storm, il said to have had no less
tnan 1914 families packed into eleven vast
tenement house factories, and their profits in
rentals alone amounted to an enormous sum.
The cgarmakcrs, fortunately were organized
well by Il system OF delegates from every shop
or factory. constituting central committee.
This orLnniznton was perfected in 1872, when
the cigarmakcrs took part in the eight-hour
movement and was maintained from that time
forward. 1t was not. however. formed with a
view to affecting wages. and its members were
slow to take what they felt must be- a de-
cisivo action If entered upon at ail-one which
would tax TO the utmost their resources in n
seemingly almost hopeless struggle with the
combined wealth Of their masters
On the 10th of August last the l04 hands in
d. l3arys factory, at Rvington and Attorney
streets. struck against Il reduction Of 80 cents
yer thousand. A.trr nine weeks the employers
withdrew their order for the reduction and
their people resumed work. week after the
strike at De Blrys the employees OF Stachel-
berg x Co.. 80 ia number. rehellcd against an
offensive tobacco seectOr aud general bad treat
ment. After n few weeks strike Tor the removal
OF their grievances and an increase Of 81 per
thousand IN their pay. they made Il compromse
10y which they resumed work ut an advance OF
% cents per thousand. and the seector WAS dis
charged. These were the first clouds Of the
coming storm. one 10y one small factories were
declared on strike by their employees: but
II was not until eight weeks ngo. when nearly
| ten thousand cigarmaAers were already out.
that general strike was declared and fully or
ganized by the Central Committee
There are IN all about ~. 0uu clgarmakers in
| NeW York. Of whom nearly 1000 live and work
| ia tenement factories. More than half Of the
whole number Joined In the strike Those who
! did not were the hendwOrkers ia small factories
VINO are generally botter paid u an the mould
workers. When the strike was declared. an APP
! peal for hclp WIS sent cut TO trades unions all
| over the country. and generous responses have
| thus far been made 10 that appeal. The Central
Committee do not wish To make public yet what
! they have received. but IL has certainly amount
! ed 10 many thousands Of dollars. Eight weeks
ugo they started their three relief stores in Ss'-
und strral, where all tie ncHessarirs Of III, nrr
! lOritoned out tO strikers families in proportion
| 10 their numbers and needs. Tho magnitude
90 the transactions in these stores may be in
ierrsd from the figures given Of the supplies