Evening star., 1898-09-10
CUBAN CIGARMA<ERs.
Better Paid and Cared for Than Other
Classes of workingmen.

"It is an accepted fact In the cigar
trade" said a leading cigar manufacturer
| in New York to the writer yesterday that
nobody but Cubass can make Havana
! cigars, and as a consequence the fifteen or
sixteen hundred Cuban cigarmakers in New
York are better paid and cared for than
any other workiLgmen. They nave trade
union Of their own, FL Grimio de Tabac-
querro, which is all-powerfu in the matter
of privileges and pay, and through it's con-
nection with similar organiza lions In Hd-
vana, Key West and Tampa. the principal
points at which Havana cigars are maie,
can effectually control the supply of labor
and prevent the overstocking of the mar
ket.
1t is a poor week in which an average
cigarmaker cannot earn 50, and particular
ly fast workmen make $50 or more Tho
work room in one OF the many large Cuban
cigar factories is one of the most curious
places that a stranger to such surroundings
| can visit Here are about 2IO darll-f.IceJ
men, each with a cigar in his mouth. busily
engaged in manipulating the tobacco
On high stool in the center of the room
Is perched man with pile of neNspa pers
by his side who is reading in Spanish in a
voice sufficiently loud to be heard by every
workman in the room the latest news from
Cuba Previous to the war with SDasn tha
Spanish papers published in this city as
wei as the principal Journals of Havana
were mostly read. But for several months
past only the New York daily papers were
to be had, and these were translated and
read. The reader is employed by the firm
and in his way is one of the most important
men in the factory. The Cuban workmsn
have particularly active minds, which must
De Kept occupied, especially when AT rha
bench. II 1t was rot for the reader they
would talk among themselves and IL is "A
popularity Of the Cuban that he cannot
WORK ana TAX at the same time, as il is
absolutely necessary for him to gesticu-
late when talking. Their work is entirely
mechanical, and hence the employment OF
the reader to prevent them from talking
The Cuban ciGarmaker is a constant
smoker, and II Is only at long intervals that
ne Is found without cigar in his mouth
Among his most cherish d privileges is that
OF making up as many smokers as he can
use He is an expert in tobacco, and dainty
In his tastes, and will only the finest
quality of tobacco for his smokers Com
sequently the item of smokers for ths
men forms very important element in the
calculation of the prices Of the cigars and
the profits Of the manufacturers An effort
was made some time ago TO limit the num-
Der OF smokers. The men objected, but af-
ter while apparently submitted. The
manufacturer who tried the experiment
soon discovered that there were mysterious
disappearance of tobacco and concluded TO
go back to the old custom. The men sDl-
dom abuse the liberty given them in the
matter OF smokers. and in isolated cases
where they have done SO have been prompt
ly and severely disciplined by the union
The Cuban cigarmaker is ciannish in his
habits, and refuses to have anything to DO
with other cigarmakers. He prefers TO
fight his battles alone. The great center OF
the Havana cigar industry in New York Is
about Maiden lane and Pearl street. In the
neighborhood are situated number of res
taurants which make a speciality of pre-
pairing food after th5 Spanish and Cuban
methods, and in these places at the dinner
hour and after the days work is done the
workers assemble and feast on their favor
nf lptf aFnH Ia.
merry with the strong Catalonian wine,
which is generally furnished"