Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1885-10-04

ported hy the company about Sep
lrmhcr to assist them IN yruehlU"
the men ON strike. He resides om
Chapel street and his name is Samuel
Wright,
ANuTIIEK KEDl CrlON.
On July II the usual notice WAS
posted Of il reduction ranging from
10 10 j} l-3 per cent. ON different
SlzcS Of wire, the regulation argu-
mcmt Of not being able to compete.
etc., bcing again advanced. The
men by this time were disgustcd and
the Amalgamatcd Association Of
Iron and Steel Workers. of which
they are Il part, lcgaIIzcd the strike,
which was Immediately entered upon.
Up to August ~ nothing occurred
TO mar the serenity Of affairs, when
H.. ,";nImny ISSUED circular, rl,h-
IIShrd IN the Hr0iNirr, setting forth
that they would give the men until
August 81, at noon, to accept their
terms, otherwise they would never
again employ union man. This
ukase was answered by the associa-
ton, through the columns of the
KegiSe1, as 1oIlows:
The statement printed in Fridays aug
80 register headed "To the Wiredraw-
crs and signed by the New Haven Wire
company, contained some errors which
might mislead many who are not ar-
quainted with the facts. The wire
drawers are forced to the opinion lIint
tn" Wire company deIiberately contem-
plated the reduction Of wages Of its
employees; first, because they confess it in
their statement, and secondly, becattsr
they imported twenty five wircdrawerS
from flttAburg about IA month previous
to til" posting of the reduction. These
men were Iured to this city by advertise
ments in the pittSburg commercial Ga
zrffc 10 This effect:
W ANTED " Wircdrawrrs Good workmen
W guaranteed 81 per day and steady work
Apply at the New Haven Wire Works Monday
morning.
Most Of the men came with their f;,mi-
lies, trusting too implicitly in the honor
of the advertisers. This importation of
labor Of Itself seemed suspicious, and sub
scqucnt facts proved the suspicious Of the
men only too well founded. The object
was plainly to gather a surplus of labor
IN this vicinity in order to weaken the
Union
Last November the men accepted
reduction of about 20 per cent, and the
same arguments" w"r, used by the com
pany then rs are used now And this
cutting of Wages might 90 on 0d WHnjiHm
if check We're not placed upon the ruin
Gus policy by those Interested -ruinulls
tur both employer and employe The
company through its representatives used
Tia" argument that they could undersell
other manufacturers and thus enter the
market hy lessening the cost Of produc-
tlOn: but the men recognize the fact that
such ruthless competition would only
result in competition would only result in
disisterin the end. If the manufacturers
reduce their pioiit, by such means that
is their own business; but when they take
from the hard-wurklnG men that which
is necessary for decent maintenance. it
becomes the especial business Of the work
men to prevent such a catasprophe 10y
honorable and legal means.
The foregoing will show to intelligent
men whether we understand the under
living causes of the cutting or not. We
have advised and do advise the manu-
faCturrrs to form an associations; and if
il is answered that they cannot trust each
other (ani that statement has been madrl
how much less must the employees trust
their employers:
The company says in its circular that
''no doubt many of the men would he
glad to work at the prices offered if the
Union would permit. The company
should understand that the Union Is com
posed OF intelligent men, and they are
perfectly aware of the fact that if il were
not for their Union, they would be com
pelled toacCept any terms, no matter how
unjust, that the company might deign Ia
offer. Ouf union Is our defense. Just a.
the union of states is the defense of our
Union.