New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-18
THEY STATE THEIR GRIEVANCES AND CLAIMS
DIsCLAIMISG DISORDER.


DIsCLAIMIyG DISORDER.
The third month Of the Yonkers' carpet
weavers strike ended yesterday and the
their Executive Committee issued statement for pub
lication part of which Is the following:
Three months ago the employees OF the Alexander
snlth Carpet Factory at YOnkers struck over 1000
hands representing nearly all the skilled labor In the
factory went out with them about 1000 others
employed ut work requiring less skill. On March we
made statement to the public In which grievances
were set FORTH since when have silent But the
column after column OF Misrepresentation and abuse
which have appeared In Ihe Ysnkers Statesman need
some reply The Statesman Is owned mainly by members
OF the smith Carpet Company. both
Cochran being among its largest Shareholders
while Mr. Cochran ia or was until recently of the
crnsOrs OF the paper appointed by tbs directors
anime and exclude from is columns objectionable
ter an Innovation IN American journalism introduced by
the smiths from En&land It seems necessary TO stat"
these facts in order thai the statements about the
va The causes which led to the strike were three In
number:
FIrst-In the fall Of 1884, when the smith Company
were paying less than any other reputable factory in the
country. they reduced the per We
to have that reduction restored
secOnd-There had been very many acts Of petty
tyranny on the part OF petty bosses aud superntend
ehs No appeal To owners superors would be heard
and therefore, no redress could be obtained We struck
70 have this stopped.
Third-mdNidnal appeals not being listened to, we
organized ourselves into labor unon the better to pro-
tect ourselves through combined action. Employees
discharged for Joining this union. No Reason was
sighed Tor their being sent away but this was the real
reason We struck TO have these people restored to their
old places
AGAINST demand for wages It is urged by the
organs Of the mill owners, that although wages at
Smiths are from 20 to 80 per cent lower than at Hlg
gnss and other rstclass factories. the pluyes Of the
Smiths can make "a much money as those at other
places on account OF superior machinery used excsyey
by the Smiths that girls at smiths make 81 day much
more than they cOud get at hOusea oIk that empOyes
q manufacturer shall pay for labor AMI that the EN-
rloyes Gospel the manufacturer TO pay those wages
America VIII nor he HDle To compete with Europe III Tie
manufacture OI carpets
As To their first arguaent 1t is not true that owing to
iunr tNalI nd Hka mueh A The
Smiths wages at the higher paid By Oers. IL
1t so IL would virtually be saying that ouly the
Smiths had kept track VI The imprO emens In carpet
making machinery There Is no surer test than the
number OF pieces that be made In minute
Hgginse looms make an average Of 30 while Smiths
only 80. Higgins pays pig cents peryari for weav
ing, while the Snhs pay only Clio cent AT Higgins
four WEEKS, while at Smiths they make only
or It is true hat some girls make nigh sIe-
times. 81 day AT Snitus aud that this than
she could get It holsewOik 1t Is also true that
renters 50 to 50 80 dy, about the same,
rstrass machnsts more. DESIGNERS rs high as and
all IN excess OF what these could get
at shovellng dirt or breaking stone. They paid
because skill IA required OF them 80 skill reqn red OF
others employed In the work II II were not places
would long since have bcen filled with others All kinds
OF echancs would laugh at boss who insisted their
working at ~ % day because they coulu get no more
AT common aiOring work.
Now, has labor right 20 combine 10 protect ITSELF
Why II IL is orderly and breaks mo law The carpet
manufacturers OF this country have an assoria-
ton FOR their protection why should not the labOrers
As the remaining charge that Labor l. driving manu-
with Europe,
the The Salesman had better study The stats
ties Of this country IA htte. higgins pays ~ TO So
per cent more than the Smiths, and the
Phade phia manufacturers pay more than Higgins.
They all make money. The Lowell factories md Higgins.
paving more Than the Smiths paid before their 10
per rent reduction last d nave Just male AN Increase
10 per cent This does not look rs II they
afraid OF European competition so far as the price or
labor IL concerned
Ne only want TO draw attention To one thing more.
Gsnrierl, mob "law.hrrakers' etc. etc We want
to that this str Ike began OF rs has
b oxen the law In any way. We challenge the
records Of the courts OF YOnkers, Of the
County OF Weslcbestrr and OF the police depart
meut NJ YOnkers cOUtrOv this finent IL has
been quiet ana order to an XraOrunary degree We,
OF have kept our pirkrts out since the mills
opened. before last and they have walked and
down the In front or the factories. TINS they
and saturday last they cause the arrest OF two OF
them The baroness OF material 10 make criminal
charge best Illustrated by using the words OF the
complaints In these Thomas Dovne
arrested for being di-Oriery in that walking
up down 'front.' of room OF smiths factory
Nepperbuu-aVe public street OF this city John
Welsh was arrested because - lie using language
tending TO incite disturbance Of the peace. lie hO
These are all the charges that have been made
against Ls and they very hlInSy
the mills have been thrown open To all who desired
at the oil Not more than ZOO all told,
have awaited themselves Of ibis privilege OF total
o, 300 Not striker has returned, aud they will
return until adiu ,mrnt Is reached. The mill owners
doing their level best to get break ranks.
Can any fair-muutd man blame Us II We try To make
from theirs There just causes OF ddcr
euce between We may have been wrong In some
particulars. No one IA infalible. We willing
meet arbitrate all differences and cheerfuy
render when We are wrong.