The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-29
THE MOULDERS
AT THE LIVERMORg COMPANY'S
FOUNDRY
And the Nine Hour MOVement-What
Mr.. LiVermOre Said in Making
the Concession.

- ANh AANn Az NLG AAAOuAutIn Ol
Memphis determined to make de-
mand for ten hours pay for nine hours
work and they so notified their en-
ployers. Upon full consideration OF
all the points involved in this de-
mand, the Liyermore Company and
the stove company conceded il. It
was an easy matter for the latter
named concern 10 make the conces-
sion, as it pays its workmen by the
piece; but 10 the Livermore concern
1t was otherwise, as they pay by the
day or the week. But, bard as it
was, the concession was made, but
not without protest, as the following
letter from Mr.. Livermore, president
of the company will show.
LETTER FROM Mr. LIvKRMORE TO THE
MoULDERs.
MKMPBIs, TENS., May p, 1886.
To the Officers and Members of the Iron
boulders Union No. 66, Memphis, Tenn; :
GESTLEMEN-Your communication
OF the 18th ms ant has teen duly re-
ceived and cons dered. | hardly
think your demand is Just, for the fol-
lowing reasons: AS you we'll know,
we are under contract for wo'k on
house fronts, railroad work, etc, based
upon time and wages allowed and
paid at the time these contracts were
made. Competition from other places
outside OF Memphis has been and is
very strong. 1t has been our aim to
bring the work TO Memphis at an ex-
tremely small margin Of p oft, hoping
thereby to increase the amount of our
work, employ more men, and, by this
increase in quantity, help to counter
balance the low prices at which the
work is taken st. Louis, Cincinnati,
Louisville, etc, are strong competitors
for house work and, in fact, every kind
OF work. You must also be aware that
every railroad can, without trouble,
get their castings from the East, South,
West or Northwest, and that the item
of freight is very small consideration
to them. In fact, freights, as a rule,
are against Memphis.
We ella m ard believe that we Rave
done as much or more than almost
any establishment of any kind to in.
duce and bring trade of every kind to
this city. We are strictly Memphis
institution, and every dollar which
can be brought here, and every man
added to our population, is a benefit,
directly or indirectly, to every citizen
of the place, be he rich or
poor. Are the hours and wages
you now demand in Memphis, paid
in our competing points? II so we
could have but little to say. On the
contrary, however, am informed and
believe 1t to be fact that wages in
Memphis are and have been higher
than at almost any other place OF its
population.
Manufacturing is the very life of
any city. A strong effort has been
made recently in this city to attract
this class OF I AIDE. If, however, with
other disadvantages, wages are made
higher here than elsewhere, the
chances OF increasing, or even holding
what we have, are small indeed. The
expense OF advertising, travelling, etc p
etc, to secure orders, as we have, from
Texas, Arkansas, Southern Mississippi,
and other 30 nts, could not be sls-
tanned when competing with points
that pay from fifteen to twenty five
per cent. less wages. had hoped and
believed that our Memphis mechanics
would realize this fact, and hold a'oof
from demands incident to the excite.
ment of the hour, and thereby bring
more business to OUR city and give
to more men ANY other
course, is, in my honest opinio0, Getri-
meutal to employer and employe. We
have here no soulless monopolies, but
the interests of the employer and of
the employee are one and the sane.
The employer cannot afford to keep
open at loss, and the emp'oye who
has no work is in, distress.
l have noticed in a number of cases
where nine hours havs been demanded
that the demand was accompanied by
an allowance of only nine
hours pay. This certainly would
looE more reasonable. am
not opposed to trades unions
or organizations for mutual protec.
ton, advancement, etc, but believe
that where they make demands all
sides should be duly canvassed and
considered, and the harmonious plan
is the appointment of committee 70
discuss with the employer the FEAST
bility and practicability of any radi-
cal changes.
We shall concede your demand, but
| ask that you consider the matter
carefully and thoughtfully in the
joint interests OF Memphis, the sue
cess of Memphis manufacturing inter-
ests and the continued employment
of yourselves and others.
II will not require a g'eat amount
OF time for you to thoroughly canvass
the matter through committee and
come TO final conclusion, but it
should be thoughtfully and carefully
done.
In the meantime we understand
that you start Monday on nine hours
with ten hours pay, only asking you
to consider carefully all the points in.
volved.
] am no politician, am running for
no office and make no claims to be
the "workingman's friend" but to
those who have worked for this es-
adjustment during the past five
years, or those who have been under
me on railroads and elsewhere dur.
,lng a pc iod OF over twenty years, ]
feel that | can confidently say no in.
Justice has been Intentionally done to
any one. Yours truly,
A. S LIVERMCRE, President.
In, tone and temper, in frankness
and fairness, this is an excellent letter
and 10 doubt has had an excellent
effect upon the moulders employed
by the uvermore foundry. In it Mr..
LiVermQrtclearly states the case for
his compsny, and in relying upon
the good sense Of the men as to the flu
ture, there AN be as little doubt that
he is banking on a solid foundation.
The great body of the workingmen of
Memphis are conservative and Just,
and they are quick 10 respond to con-
cessions made Ike the above, after a
fair statement O the pros and cons,
and in time TO cone they will respond
quickly to any demands the exigencies
Of Mr.. Livermore's company may be
under. In dealing Justly by them,
according their own standards, he has