New-York tribune., 1882-02-17
SOCIALISM IN NEW-YORK.
WORKING AMONG THE TRADE UNIONS.


preparatory step in the execution OF their taked-of
plan 10 become the strongest political power In the
United States The printed and oral reports which come
from Europe concerning the proposed movement OF the
Socalisc party there the intimate and growing rela-
tons between the Socialists Of Europe and those OF
NewYork, and the fact that last summer the persons
connected with the VOls Zeng made desperate efforts
affiliate with the trade unions of this city by taking
charge OF and attempting to adjust their labor troubles
go to show the purpose OF the I'm this city who call
themselves Socialists The intelligent members OF
the trade unions Of NewYOrk who are not Socialists
are apprehensive that the efforts which these men are
making their strength by cOaescng with the
trade unions will prove detrimental to the best inter
of the workngmen in their struggle to secure what
they regard a fair return for their labor
The friendship which the Socialist have freely offered
TO the trade unions during the last year has not in all
instances had the expected results Several labor move
ments which the Socialist started and n@ aged In be-
half OF the trade unions resulted In defeat for the work
ngmen aud in a great measure in loss OF confidence TO
those who had led them to expect more haterng re-
suits In the opinion Of number of representative
members OF the unions OF NewYOrk the indications are
that the sociaistic element in this city will resume
early date the plans by which II expects TO hssi
late the strength of the trade unions WIN us po'icai
WHAT wORKINGlfEN SAY.
Tn order to ascertain fayorably the overtures OF
the Socialists are received by the workingmen TRIB-
UNE reporter recently talked with number of we'll
known mechanics whose ideas similar to those held
by the most intelligent members of the trade unions.
One of them who prominently connected with the
half-holiday movement last summer, said:
"No, the Socialist have never attempted to in
terfere with our affairs we would not permit it. In
the first place the men in our trade are, as gen.
era thing intelligent and read the daily news
papers, they are conversant with the topics OF the
day. and capable of caring for their own interests
We have allowed, nor will we permit, lot or
foreigners to dictate rules of labor and capital TO us
BEFORE they were driven srOm their own country on
account of their revolutionary pr0chvitles they wern
Obliged work for about Onethird OF what they now
receive this country and yet they are not satisfied
OF them came to us last spring and said their
newspaper the side Of the worklngnen ana tnat
in every instance they proposed 10 any themselves oH
the side OF labOr they even wished 10 take charge Oh
in the season but we told them that II we were NOT
capable of managing our own ahalrs, we Would not
allow them to manage them for u.s.. Ihat ended our
prove now well for US that II was so Many OF
titled with them i'm their labor troubles, were plunged
into difficulties more grleyous than those resulting from
their prevOus trials To work long hours for neagre
wages was bad enough but TO be thrcN out OF WORK
without a chance of unemployment in the city, through
the msnanagement of the socialists, VINO had ul
drrtahen TO better their condition, was much worse
Yet such was the case with hundreds 81 workingMen
The methods by which this class Of men sought to
make OF the workingnen did not come TO lght unt
some of their schemes rejected and the true inward
of these dyuged by those VINO sad they khe"
what plans were used. DISCHARGED ear-lrlVei, VINO
cardryers' union for the purpose OF making strike
alterward told how the attempt was made 10 TO
organize the society. An emlssdry from the
Socialists organ-the TotS ZcituHg- distributed among
the cardriyers printed call Tor organization An as
sOcation be formed OF winch he was 10 De lne
manager treasurer each driver was 70 pay INTO tne
treasury thirty cents week. On the other hand tns
nan " w6o was to act AS treasurer agreed to turn the car
drivers into powerful society and to cOnauct stlke
by which they were 10 secure IMPORTANT cOCesslOhs
An Old driver remarked day that there were at
least 900 drivers on tue various lines the city the
Ot
be about 81 500 week, ior which he would not III any
way responsible To the union Inc result was lha no
union formed
PROPOSED MEETINGS AT IRVING HALL.
Three weeks later circular was addressed to each
driver the city calling lin to tieup" at certain
hour, and go to Irving Hall where a massmeeting
would be held The statement the circular that GER
tain prominent citizen of NewYork would address the
meeting WAS without any foundation whatever, the
man had sgnifed no intention OF doing This circular
emanated from tho Socialists headquarters. Only
seven men tedup" and went to Irving Hall. On the
same day however, the drivers on many OF the lines
sent committees to the offices of the companies to ask
for decrease in wOrkng-time, or an increase
in wages. Their requests were generally
acceded to, and tue car,dryers escaped
the discontinue which becl the brewers men, ana
the bakers Dy disregarug the Overtures OF the men
calling themselves Socialists. who the more intelligent
classes Of WOrkngmcn they nave learned are detrl
mental to the interests OF any society representing
In the ailors' strike of last summer, presented
the anomaly "A body of Socialists advancing extreme
test with their employ efS an soeailsi anu 'eIlnE 70
practical opposition TO an enort TO reduce lhelr
wages They entirely successful IN their strike by
not following the advice which they urged upon other
trade unions. -
that tho tactics Of the Socialists organ were fully re-
vcaed The strike like the bakers strike organized
by reporter Of tHe VOS Ieitung schedule OF require
neuts was submitted To the brewers, which demanded
among other things higher wages, fewer hours labor
aud sunday work unless 1t was PAID Tor at the
rate of fifty cents hOur-a rate much in excess
oil the regular wages Many OF the brewers were
10. 81. arasa wit fha
ton Of the sunday work, which they said, only
amounted two or three hours in the morning, ana
were inclined to accept this condition and return TO
work, the leader of the strike reinforced by party
tne sleigia al 'Iel To- ne;iu @ of tb trSSrs VI er ere
made the occasions Of the most bitter inyectve and
revolutionary speeches by al the political refugees III
the city. Mean while the brewers remained firm, and
were endeavorng replace the strikers with other
The uneaslness which had from the beginning been
noIced among the men now assumed the form OF open
discomfort with the leaders OF the strike. The uneas
intensified by the knowledge that other men
were rapidly taking their places in the breweries This
state affairs led the Socialists to deception toward
assuring the men that The end was near success
hand the weakening. These reports kept
the strikers quiet for few days, ana tLeh
than ever. II was stated to the strikers
at that time that the English newspapers were mis-,
representing the facts and that the strike had suffered
little from the incorrect reports published III the
newspapers.
A FRATERNITY OF BEER DRINKERS.
The brewers then formed "A protective association,
which generally indOrsed by the brewers through
out the country this the leaders OF tho strike
resored to the idea of forming organization Of beer
sellers the members OF which to buy only union
beer" II was alleged that 600 liquor Joined
this association. Beer sent down from Albany
and from the West to supply these dealers.
Pacards ornamented with the stamp Of the
organization were displayed to direct the
thirsty to the resorts where "unionbeer" could
be obtained Two days later the city was flooded with
spurious pacards and for the brief time in which the
beerselers (whO in most instances sOciastsl an
serted thar they could force the brewers to concession
the dealers who hung out spurious signs, a well as
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