New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-18
SUPPLEMENTAL STRIKES.

Perhaps this strike Of granite critters. with
| all its attendant features, Is not the most I'M
portant event of the time, but 1t IS peculiarly
| instructive. There is no dlscOverable reason
| for the contest, except that two opposing or
carnations want TO manage the business. The
contest does not seem to be about wages or
about hours OF work The existing terms, in
both respects are on the face of things accepted
by both parties. But the granite cutters have
an idea that the association of quarry men in
tends TO crush out the influence of organized
labor and thus to hold the men at its mercy.
For this idea they are not able to give very
coherent reasons, it must be admitted, and yet
it may nevertheless be correct. The employers
claim that the contracts should be made jan
uary /, while the men insist that they should
be closed May ! and it is hard to see how a
decision either way would increase the power
of the cutters organization or strengthen the
organization of Quarrymen.
But when two powerful organizations exist,
representing the presumably antagonistic in
terests of employers and employed, there Is
likely to be an impression on each side that
some dark and INSCRIPTIONS purpose mderlies
even the most simple proposition by the other.
4 trained observer of labor controversies AS
serts that four-tifthS of these struggles within
the last five years have been engendered by
the existence of an association on one side and
fear and jealousy of it On the other. TO the
disinterested outsider it seems evident that
nearly all the granitecutters, if they were
called upon to make contracts each man for
himself would as willingly make them at the
beginnn. as in the middle of the year. On
the side of the employers there arc obvious
reasons for settling the terms of labor for the
year. if practicable, before it becomes neces-
sary to enter into or compete for contracts Tor
the spring and summer work.
But whatever the motives on each side, 1t
does seem clear that agreement between lndl-
vidual employers and individual workers would
be reached on such question as this without
difficulty With powerful organizations on
each side, a great fear and jealousy on each
arises respecting the power of the opposing
organization, and every difference, however
slight, appears to be magnified into cause for
war; But the trouble is made UNNECESSARILY
greater, more absurd, as respects the interests
of the men, and more dangerous to the public
welfare, when thousands of workers in many
cities who have not the faintest shadow of in
all sorts Of other occupations, are ordered to
refuse all work on stone quarred by quarrymen
who are at odds with their workers.
The workingmen themselves must see be-
fore long that such supplementary strikes, in
aid of workers who have any controversy on
hand, will presently fritter away and destroy
the reasonable and beneficial influence of labor
organizations. 1t was in exactly this way that
other organizations of great power in times
past broke down their influence, lost the sup
port of large part of their members, and
ceased to be able TO get better terms for the
individual workers than they could get for
themselves. Whatever the merits Of the dis
pute between employers and employed in the
granite quarrying business, there is no just
reason for involving in the controversy thou
sands of workers on buildings who have moth
ing to do with that dispute.