The New York herald., 1877-09-08
THE LATE STRIKE.

CAUSES OF THE LATE STRIKE REVIEWED FROM
FORE THE MANHATTAN LIBERAL CLUB.
At the regular meeting Of the Manhattan Liberal
Club held las: evening at Science Hall, in Eighth
street. Mr. William A. Carsey, the secretary of the
Brcklayers' Union delivered lecture "The Strike
from the Standpoint of Labor About iour hundred per-
sons were present Mr.. A. L. Rawson one of the vice.
presidents OF tho club occupied the chair and intro
duced the lecturer Mr. Carsey his address
by remark 10 the effect that 1t only lately that
aboring would dare to speak on labor, though
other classes OF men thought 1t right TO speak the
subjects that occupied their lives He said that his
speech would be found TO consist largely of extracts
IRON the different influential newspapers Of the day
He adopted this plan because he found in them
which he wished 20 present to the meeting, but
hardly would venture to assert on his own au-
thorty. He then read number OF passages
relative to the Of the strike, rchearsing all the
of the railroad employees The men were forced
10 STRIKE he said, though they were organized to
do enectuay. Yet even as 1t was, 1t was not tho
companies that suodued them, but the United States
government. On the contrary they had won partial
victory the companies, for most Of them had
since the strike acceded to the demands OF the men
and restored their wages to the higher rates.
MORE TROUBLE AHEAD.
"But," continued the lecturer. "the railroad
monopoliss satisfied with this termination OF
the struggle They slowly rdding themselves OF
all who took part the strike and 1t is their
determination to again pull down wages TO
starvation rates. On the other hand, the
men are organizing TO renew their opposition
to the enactoDs Of capital" In proof OF this
assertion, he read from the papers number of
views with laboring men, all OF which tended 10 show
that the railroad employees OF the country are prcpar-
Ing for another strike, still larger scale than the
last What was to be done to avert such calamitles
Clearly their Drst causes must be found and rooted
out
THE SOURCES DANGER.
The FIRST grand cause OF the present poverty OF the
working classes exists IN ths excess OF the available
amount 0 labor over the amount OF work to be per-
formed. Tho general government and many OF the
State legislatures, bad been petitionod pass an
T. ght Hour law so that the work might DO divided
among a larger number OF hands, out they had acted
on the plan of u slavehoider, who, having work ior
hundred AT eight hours day had II all done by
seventy live and let the rest 20 idle.
The lecturer next inveigbod against the immense
cxportation OF PROVISIONS from our shores which
constantly going How can such a thing take place.
he asked, wne millions OF trsmps are rowing through
the country, and men, women and children are being
found starving In the streets oi our cities!
COMPETITION THE REAL EVIL.
sut the worst wrong" SAID the lecturer exists In
the compct ton of tho companies For IL rs this that
causes them 10 cut the wages of their employees
They encourage the importation OF cheap labor In
are kept without work. Now, of tho rene
first and best Is that the government should enable a
large number OF men 10 emigrate TO the West, and
tnere OBTAIN iaho ~ Is true tnat tneTe " Pien'y oi
unoccupicd land close BY but II is held on false
title, and II would take too long to get 1t for those
who would work II. The sccond remedy Is for the
government to take the management of the railroads
into It's own hands, sni abolish this perncious CON.
petition. Above all the remedy is IN the hands OF the
workingmen themselves, II they will only use the
balotinstead OF resorng to the bullet, for which they
not prepared"
He concluded with hope that the present election
would show that IN iuturo the work ngmen were
determined to support only those who would support
their interests.
Aner the lecture some discussion the topics pre-.
sented teok place among tae members OF the club.