The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-10
THE CIGAR TRADE.
CHICAGO woRKMEN DENoUNcE THE TENEMENT
HOUSE SYSTEM AS PKAcTIsED IN NEW YORK.

CHICAGO woRKMEN DENouNcE THE TENEMENT
HOUSE SYSTEM AS PRACTIsED IN NEW YORK.
CHICAGO, ILL.,. Dec. 9. 1873.
meeting Of cigarmakers and manufacturers was
held yesterday afternoon at Romers Hall. Mr.. Jo-
seph Nook was elected chairman and Mr. Schock Sec
Rotary. The Chairman stated that the meeting had
been called for the purpose Of taking such action
in regard to the tenement house system
of manufacturing cigars. in vogue in New
York city. as would prevent the manufac-
turing interest of the West from being run
into the ground by this unjust and fraudulent COM
petition. Mr. Hirth of Detroit said that not only
were the manufacturers of the West suffering from
this outrageous competition. but the manufacturers
and cigarmakers Of New York were affected by the
same cause. At meeting Of manufacturers and cigar
makers held in New York October %. 1873 in regard
to this matter resolutions unanimously adopted
which he quoted which would protest against
the tenement house cigar factories illegal,
fraudulent to the government and rulnous
to manufacturers. This meeting was called to in
dorse those resolutions. By this corrupt tenement
house system the government WAS defrauded OF more
than $500 900 Of revenue annually and the manufac-
turers themselves lost control OF. the business.
In this matter the interests OF the manu-
lecturers and the cigarmakers were identical.
both suffering to the same extent from fraudulent
connection The system existed nowhere except IN
New York. and, strange to say, government officials
would tolerate 1t ut other point. The men en-
manufacturers. because they not only saved money
for wrapping &C., but also made on the rent. This
city WAS now stocked with tenement house cigars.
which being sold at such low rates that manu-
facturers here could not possibly compete with them
Not only business point OF view was the sys.
tenn hurtful aud wrong. but also from moral and
humane standpoint.
An ARGUMENT FAvoRING SKILLED LABOR.
Mr.. Samuel Godwater also made very strong
argument against the system. He said there were
L. 0OO cigar makers in New York tenement houses,
all OF them being in the employ OF six men.
II the system were abolished theae men would be
compelled to 60 to shops, where they could pro-
duce but about half the amount The stripping,
boxing &C., would no longer be done by women and
children, and skilled labor would have to be used II
the Chicago manufacturers stood idly, by without
lifting hand and allowed this thing to be carried
any further they should not complain il they were
completely ruined by the New York Shylocks. They
must take steps ut once to break up the tenement
house stem and to it that 1t is carried fur
ther
The following resolution was then adopted
Resolved That cigarmakers of Chicago unanimously
ndorsc the resolutions passed by cos Of New York
all power the sgnatures of all
certain petitions for the abolition Of
the Objectionable tenement house system carried at
present in New York city and It's ncghborhood.
Mr. Remke and others also denounced the system
and urged immediate, energetic action. after which
an adjournment was had.