The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-18
LESSONS OF THE STRIKE.

LESSONS OF THE STRIKE.
LECTURE ON THE RECENT LABOR TROUBLES BY
MR.. GRAEME SECRETARY OF THE WORKING
MEMS UNION OF NEW YORK.
A very interesting lecture was delivered before tho
members OF tho Liberal Club last night in the rooms
of tho College OF Physicians and Surgeons, Of
Fourth avenue and Twenty third street. Tho speaker
Mr.. e. Herbert Graeme Secretary Of tho Working
mems Union Of the city Of New York. Is widely known
throughout the country having always boon denti
Ned with tho interests of laboring men, The subject
OF the lecture ~as 'cssons Of tho Strikes" very
expressing theme In view of the recent laoor troubles
Alter tho lecture the subject debated by members
Of tho audience, which was quite large.
Mr.. Graemc modestly prcfaccd his remarks by say
Ing that although ne secretary OF the union he
did not profess 10 speak other tuan hrs own author
ity and intended merely to give his own individual
opinions. IL was strange, he said, that while ply
and artist were unqucstioncd authorities in
matters OF medicine art, tho opinions Of tho work.
ingman on tho subject most interesting TO himself
generally valued highly the thoughts Of
men whom kind fortune had elevated far above tho
certainly DO worth Ms much AS tho laster's There
were several reasons that induced the workngmen
consider trade unions beneficial and TO enter them
when practicable. Aone man could not hope so easily
to get employment; n days OF prosperity advances
could DO obtained by combined action Not tho least
reason, however was the combination Of tho employ
ers to keep wages lower Strikes caused by tho
men either demanding an advance or resisting rcduc:
tion. Their terms being refused, the trouble would
begin. strike for advance was mover attended with
such stern dissemination as strike against reduction
because the latter was begun 10 prevent prvation.
People should not cry out too much against
strikcs They should remember that IL was
cave rs hat hLsr.y Of which We 20 proudly boast
Tho lecturer did not believe that trade unions would
bring the millennium, yct they could teach the work
ipymcn 70 tako advantage OF opportunities that
might be offered 10 them According TO some teach
il folly for any vorkingman TO nurse the de-
for hts declining years He ssoud DO conton. With
the supreme privilege OF working and accept with
thanks whatever his employer chose to givo him
WHAT rHE LATE REDUCTION INFANT.
In the late strike the ten per cent reduction meant
reduction Of the mems subsistence already eked out
TO tho uttermost IL meant barefooted children and
starving wives and that than actual starvation
tho desire 10 have necessities that could not be pur
chasod. II tho mcrchnnt princes or the railroad mag
mates had right combine TO control the -four trade
or the coal Interest," had not labor right to combine
when interests at stakeS Could not the work.
lies against suffering and wanty Where laws
80 framed as make tho combination
lawful body and the ether band Of consprators there
something wrong In such lcgislation Tho
speaker did not attempt TO defend mob violence, but
tho other hand. hc deprccaSed the action OF the
roats, tending to coercc tho men TO accept thor
terms, and by tmcd military interference causing
collisions which proved fatal 10 many snd Rro.sssea
30 many observation-disclosures Williams, OF Indiana,
who refused 70 receive his orders rom the railroad
diaries wore kept from destroying propcrty b. the
ooh the npste sellshness OF munkind I" continucd
tho speaker. THAT rs che demon ought 10 exorcse
Let TO raise aiion and needy fellow men
and crush out the attempts made 10 cslab!ish
white serfdonl whsch surpasses COLI, calculating
cruelty the wiidost romurccs Of Southern slavery.
Look at the coal laborers. Their wages $130
mouth, but out OF this they can save only 81 IS to
support themselves With The rest goes tor tools,
drills powder aud OIL all OF which have TO be supplied
al their expense In 1873 tho coal OF the Delaware
nnnlA In lusA Apuyn
At tdewaier Tor 81 25 ton: today 1t brings
81 SO TO 50 q ton and In the meantime the miners
saying Il. better to stsrvo and loaf than to sarve
and work. Give these mon your sympathy and let
US see what DO done for thcni.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
"Remunerative employment of course, Is desirable.
Shorten the hours OF labor. Do away with piecework
Where there is sudden OF work, instead OF let
men and give employment TO grcatcr number. Do
away thus with the erc cause Of strikes-ihe uncm-
rates. 1t would greatly benefit tho country
II there were homestead law enacted for
transporsn. the wn,cn
lands, the government TO DO reimbursed IN yearly
payments should like just once TO see few
stanch workingmcn In our legislative halls as mem
bcrs, TO see II they could not better our condition.
We send representatives OF tho Church, the Bench,
the loyal Bar, and great many OF the other bar, OF
the railroad rings and the prize rng to Albany In
interest every year, but somebody cise's principal
becomes too heavy for us, and We sre always nom
same mistake and over again. II Is timc We
saw how 10 benefit ourselves, and organized
politically, thoroughly and completely, not ut
the call Of either OF the parties which wish 10 dcludc
aud Tor u striking machine vt tho fall cleo
lions but independently ny ourselves II Is time for
every workngman to be on hts guard. View the laws
passed throughout the country and you will Ind many
OF them aim directly at your interest. Here you
dubbed communists. although thcrc is rot trade
ganizaton In tho CITY that would admit communist
among them knowingly. They cry az us Molly Ma
CURE thus gaming popular support Tor their en-
croachmcnts and trying 70 render us as power
less as the serrs OF Europe They have
ground you .wncra opportunity offered aud
driven you to strikes us last resort.
They arc now seeking to dsIranchise you.
Look to IL. strike against that. II is only
to-day; II will be moro to morrow. rhc only change
for you Is through The ballot Use II for your inter
css aud one clse's, and all may yet be WELL With
own representatives VIC may yet see CON-
restored to us, the trade our own pros
perity SHINING over our land and she citizen OF this
republic the envy OF the world. Frown down the
efforts TO keep avo tho spirit of nationality and d.
vision among us Teach capital II is unable to DO
without you. Ono word TO the capitalists and havo
done. Leave no money TO your executors; strive TO
become Peabody or cooper, not Vanderbilt or an
Aston"