Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1878-04-19
A nEERISe sign

~ thEkIklNts thNs9
One OF the most cheering indications
Of the return Of good times. and the
speedy coming Of a season OF prosperity
to which We have long been strangers,
was furnished In New York city a little
over . week ago. Over a year ago the
wages Of bricklaysrs were reduced at n
time when building in the metropolis
was slack. and when the masters de-
clared that they could make no profits
out Of their business. The bricklayers
submitted to tho reduction because they
wanted work at any price. and o. bust.
nsss was at that time they realized the
truth OF the masters assertions. Last
week the Union met and decided to de-
mAnd an increase OF wages to Me old
rates. 81 so per day. and all bricklayen
working for less were ordered to strike
for that amount. Accordingly the strike
vas begun the next morning. and before
night nearly i've hundred workingmsn
had preferred their demands to the en-
pioysrs. In nearly every instance the
demand was unhesitatingly complied
with. the only exceptions being q few
small contractors. whose business was
not pressing. and who decided to do the
work themselves rather than pay tho
extra half dollar asked by the mon.
The significance Of this successful
movement in the city Of New York.
which Is always crowded with idle la
borsrs. il very apparent. There are two
kinds Of strikes; N against q reduction
OF wages. the other to secure an advance.
The former never happens except In ex.
trsmely stringent times, when work Is
scarce aud money is hard to obtain.
That is the kind that has characterized
this country for the last few years. and
notably within the last twelve months.
The labor market has been overstocked,
all business has been depressed. and
employers. some from purely selfish
motives. taking advantage Of the labor
ing mans needs. and others for self.
protection. have cut down prices to
starvation rates. and left the poor mar
the choice Of accepting them or seeing
his family suffer for the neesssariss Of
lie. Then came the strikes. not to So
cure advanced wages. but to hold fast to
the prevailing rates. Strikes Of this
kind are always caused by the employ.
ers. and indicate an unusual season OF
business depression and scarcity Of
money. II is very seldom that an EN-.
ployer attsmpts to reduce wages. except
during just such ssasons a. WI have re-
Gently passed through. and a strike To
prevent . reduction Is q sure indication
Of very hard times in the country where
II happens.
The other class Of strikes. which the
brieklaysrs Of New York have now mi.
tiated. for an advance Of wages. is al
ways inausurated by the workiugmsn
themselves. and Is surely indicates the
return Of prosperity, as the strike
against reduction does q season OF de-
preston. The trades unions OF this
country are composed Of reasonable
men. aud they never ask Of employers
to grant concessions which they know
are impossible. When u strike for IN
advance Of wages in any mechanical
branch IL ordered. 1t means that the
business Of that branch has increased
sufficiently to warrant the employer in
dealing more literally with his work
men. And employers generally realize
tho justice Of the demand. and willingly
share their prosperity with the men
whose muscle secures II. This was the
case in New York. The business Of
building has improved, and there are
signs Of future improvement. The de-
mAnd for skilled workmen is increasing.
and the masters recognize the justice Of
the grounds upon which they ask an in
crease Of wages. Tho success Of this
strike is one more proof that business
prosperity is returning to this dropping
nation. That the signs will multiply
snd increase is the earnest prayer Of
every true American citizen.