St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1881-09-17
NEW ORLEANS GOSSIP.

NEW ORLEANS GOSSIP.
THE COTTON LABOR sTRIkE IN THE
CRESCENT C1TY-GREAT EXCITEMENT
THE CAUSE OF THE sTRIKE-THE
WORkMEN-THE LABOR ORGANIZA-
TIOSS-FINE DISCIPLINED BODIES OF
MEN-TRICHIN4E DISCOVERED IN ST.
LOUIS HOGs-JOHN BURNSIDE IS HEARD
FROM.
Especial Correspondence St. Landry Democrat.J
The all absorbing topic of converse
tlon in New Orleans at this writing is
concentrated on the strike and the
devote the greater portions Of this
weeks letter to q discussion of the
critical situation.
The strike OF the cotton men which
was inaugurated about a fortnight ago
and mention of which was made in last
week DEMOCRAT, is far from approach
ing its end, but ON the contrary the
indications are that it will yet be pro-
ionged for sometime to come or at least
until either one side or the other gives
mp the fight. The parties to the strike
are as we said in our last letter, the
cotton people, including the factors
down to the drivers of the floats which
carry the cotton bales to the presses.
The factors organized into a formida
BILE body, constitute one side, whilst
constitute the other side. The present
strike was not altogether unexpected
for as far back as last March the en-
ployes of the factors have expressed
themselves in the most emphatic Ian
guage in favor Of an increase of wages
which they contended they were justly
entitled to considering the enormous
profits, and which were continually
increasing, the factors reaped. They
said that il the earnings of the factors
j IN the cotton business increased, it was
but fair and right that they should he
given corresponding increase of wages.
They asked but fair play, and asked
it in the kindest spirit. Their different
associations met and after the most
careful deliberation upon the subject,
adopted a tariff of wages which they
considered equitable and just, and sub
, employers, the factors. The factors
. arrived at a conclusion adverse to their
employees and replied that the adoption
of the tariff submitted was impractical
ble and infeasible. The cotton yard
men and other associations had however
resolved not to handle the f1eecy staple
unless under their tariff, and the result
was a general suspension of work in
: the numerous cotton presses. The fac
tors found themselves deserted by their
employees, the streets no longer resound
ed with the din of heavy cotton floats,
the stiffness OF a July day permeated
every thoroughfare, and the people
of the Crescent City realized the fact
:. that a great public calamity was upon
them-that gigantic labor strike had
been inaugurated in the metropolis OF
the South. When it is considered that
for the proper handling OF cotton re,
>quires previous experience and skill
and that the strikers are all experienced
and skilled hands, a proper estimate
can be placed upon the value of their
services particularly at this time of the
year when the cotton traffic though yet
in its incipiency is nevertheless large
and extensive. We see on the one
hand body Of five thousand men-all
valuable and respectable citizens, clam
oring for what they consider is just and
fair-an increase in the price of their
labor. On the other hand we have
about five hundred factors-commis-
sion merchants, men backed by enor
mous capital, an unexhaustible fund,
who reply that the clamor of the work
men is unreasonable and that it is vain
for them to even hope for an increase
in the compensation for their arduous
work: Thus matters stand, and the
question now is what party can stand
the brunt of the strike the longest.
Can the cotton workmen live without
work9 Can they remain idle as long as
the cotton factors7 Can they exhaust
!. the factors inexhanstible funds9 Tn
tdoubtedly they cannot and it would be
piece of folly for them to even enter
tain the faintest idea in that direction
What are they to do? Surely they can
mot expect to accomplish anything by
turmoil or by bloodshed. The recent
shooting of the colored man, Hawkins,
who was a member of the Teamsters'
and Leaders Association can not be
sclassed as an incident Of the strike. 1t
grew out OF an affair altogether discon-
snected with the strike. Hawkins had
created disturbance Of the peace and
an attempt was made to arrest him
when he resisted the officers who there
upon shot him. The only alternative |
left to the strikers is ia make the best
of it" accept reasona BILE remuneration
1OE lietf idUOl anu 20 W WOIk. ~ IuT- |
ther continuance of the strike will only
result in disaster to themselves and in |
csufferings to those dependent upon
them for support. 1t is folly to suppose
that capital can be whipped into sub
mission. 1t is worse than folly to at
tempt to do so. We believe that the |
strikers are entitled to an increase of |
wages and that they ought to win this
Efght.