The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-03-16
The gentleman again begged the bosses
to meet their men halfway, but with

31ne gentleman AGAIN Oc6Scu-ll BOSSES
to meet their men halfway, but with
out result. .n + a,Es.
/ This philanthropist cleaned some in
teresting facts on questioning the COM
'mittee selected to make a statement to
him of the grievances of the brick
makers A rather bright young fellow
of q years was principal spokesman,
He was asked: -
Is @. Where were you born? -
+ A Right on this spot.
+ @. Are you married or single? -
A. Married, and the father of two
little ones.
@. How much do you earn at the
brickyard in the course of season?
A. 1 earn, about $3.50.
@. Is that all your income for the
year,? .&'--
A., If the river is in good shape in
winter time I may earn $40 more cut
ting ice. a.
c.. And you support yourself and
family for the year on $3.50?
A. I've got to. I pay rent and buy
bread and clothes. See those trousers? -?
They cost me 81. 1 can't afford to pay
more< They're mighty tender and
don't last long. These shoes 1 wear are
81 a pair, and they soon wear out. It's
tough, isn't it? T.,
@. What is your idea of bettering
your condition?
/ A. There is only one way. That is
to get more wages; but the bosses want
to cut the miserable pittance we have
been getting. I can't pull UP stakes
here. l don't know where I can risk
my little family to better myself. They
say there are thousands out of work in
New York I have never beeen there.
I can't afford the trip. suppose I'll
just drag along here year after year
in the hopless struggle.
The man giving this statement was
an American, not an imported contract
laborer. In another field he might,
with opportunity, have been prosperous
and we'll to do. But he was almost
without hope, though his manhood re-
volted at the further imposition of re-
ducing his small wages 10 or Is per
cent. He and the others kept up the
fight for five weeks, and then surrend-
dered, accepting the bosses terms.
This is fair index of the condition
of the great brickmaking industry on
the Hudson River. Think Of an AM
, erican supporting family in common
decency on $500 year. Yet thousands
are forced to do this, Tor if they rebel
their places are soon filled by others
more needy than themselves, who must
have bread.
| Organization is the first requisite for
| this condition of the toiler. The third
generation of brick-workers on the
Hudson are almost spiritless, although
there is an occasional uprising against
this serfdom Partial organization has
now been effected, but there is little
! Improvement. 1t must be made as per-
feet as that of the men who handle the
bricks and other building material in
| the city of New York. These artisans
! compose the powerful building trades
section Of the Central Federated Un-
ion. Their loyalty to- each other has
Is ' ers,
them wages.
The poor b ick ma kers that line the
Hudson's clay banks above Nyack are
far and away: behind their fellows OF
New York City in the race for d liveli-
hood. Organization will help them
some, but a great change will have to
take place in the hearts of theil. mast
ers before they get even-handed justice
l-American Federationist.