The New York Herald Newspaper, March 19, 1853, Page 2

anni some time during the last twenty-five years, a strike of all ora portion of their members. It would, of ‘course, be next to impossible,within the limited space ef a daily paper, to find room for all; indeed, it is doubtful whether the same interest would be taken in a detailed account that a brief history of some of the most prominent would excite. Designing to present, therefore, a sketch of the most important strikes, we have endeavored to obtain the most reli- able and accurate information in regard to them. The following, which we have arranged under separ- ate heads, it will be observed, with some exceptions, took place during the periods to which we have al- ready alluded. THE STONECUTTERS. From the year 1823 to 1846, about five or six strikes occurred among the stonecutters of New York. In the summer of the former year, the jour- meymen, to the number of eighty or ninety, which eomprised all employed in this city, turned out, and decided to take no less than thirteen shillings a day. ‘hie was one shilling more than the employers were willing to give for summer wages, and it resulted in a strike of four weeks duration. At the end of that period the ‘‘bosses” succumbed; and such was the @emand for stonecutters that before the fall the ‘wages were increased to fifteen shillingsa day. The men, determined not to return to work until their terms were acceded to, had recourse to a singular ex- pedient to maintain themselves during the strike. On the ground at preseat occupied by the Astor House Mr. Astor kept a large factory forthe dressing of skinsand fur. It so happened that at this par- ticular time he was in want of workmen, and | was of course willing to engage any person who could perform his work. Now, this was very fortunate for the stone cutters, who preferred work- img for him at the low price of one dollar a day to returning to their legitimate occupation at Jees than the rates fixed by their society. They ac- cordingly tendered their services to Mr. Astor, who gave employment to all who were in need of it. This was a great change for the journeymen—from cutting stone to dressing leather; but they were content with it, and, doubtless, the difference in the occupation for the brief period of four weeks was not wholly devoid of interest. It certainly had all the charm of novelty to recommend it. Mr. Astor paid those who wanted their money every evening, and refused to discharge them even at the request of their former employers, who were not a little annoyed at | the singular turn which the difficulty between them- | selves and the journeymen had taken. Every morn- ing the strikers met at an appointed place, and | marched to work in regular military order, with bucktails in their hata. Although they succeeded in this strike, the differ- | ences in relation to the value of their labor were re- vived during the two following years, in which the journeymen struek two or three times. in the fall of 1826 they were not so successful. The employers triumphed on this oecasion, and the journeymen for once were compelled | Tn the latter | to submit to absolute necessity. part of 1835, they revived the contest by presenting the employers with a list or tariff of prices for piece work, at the same time notifying them that in the g@ommer of 1836 they should demand two dollars a day. The prices received by those who worked by the day were considered satisfactory, and the greater part of the stonecutters were so employed; but those working at piece work were comparatively unpro- tected, and the bosses had undertaken to reduce the rates of wages hitherto paid them. This was resist- ed by the other members of the trade, who demanded that those employed on piece work should be paid as much as those working by the day, in proportion to | their labor. The employers would not accede to the seale of prices proposed, and a strike was the result. This strike continued four weeks, and was termina- ted at last by the employers yielding to the demand of the men, and regulating their payments for piece work by the graduated scale of prices, which insured to the good workmen two dollars a day. There was one thing peculiar about this strike, and that was the unselfish generosity of its motive. The stone cutters, in this instance, did not seek for higher wages; their sole object was to redress the wrongs of their fellow craftsmen, and to make common cause with them. In the fall of 1836 there was another strike—not to procure an advance in their wages, for the amount demanded was no object, but to establish | the principle that the men had the right to fix | the value of their own labor. Among the stone cutters, the scale of prices was settled each season | by committees representing the workmen and the | employers; but in 1836 the Totter broke through the “time honored custom, and refused to nomiuate re- | presen’rives. Theretpon the men threatened to | strike, and their threats being unheeded, they turned out. This strike lasted six weeks, and proved very disastrous to the bosses, for it retarded the work in the ensuing spring, and left a great portion of it un- finished at the terrible revulsion of 1537. The mea gained an addition of four cents a day to their wgaes for ten weeks, and lost six weeks work; but the principle for which they contended was triumphant. In the spring of 1845 another strike occurred—the Tn all of | these strikes they obtained their demands; but | substitates were named “foul men,” and were dis- mised from the fellowship and good of their brther workmen, who were known by the distinc- fave and more flattering title of “fair men.” The real object of the employers in this instance was al- leged to be the organization of a league among the dif- ferent establishments throughout the city, for the purpose of breal up the * Hat Finishers Trade Association,” which for some reason or other excived their enmity. The whole case came up before the society, to which the plan of the em- ployers had been revealed by one of their own number, and a regular trial of the leader in the hostile movement was held at a meeting convened for the purpose. Witnesses were summoned, ap- ared, and Testitied in due form, on both sides. On e side of the journeymen, the employer, whose re- velations had been the means of frustrating the plans of the accused party, was examined, while the ac- cused himself presented a fair share of testimony in his own defence and justification. At the conclusion of the investigation he made an able defence, in which he was frequently interrupted by the applause of his hearers, the majority of whom, though opposed to him in principle, were not restrained by personal feeling from doing justice to his talents. His de- fence, however, did not save him from sentence and condemnation. He was adju guilty of the charge of a Sy against the trade, and sen- tenced to pay a fine of one hundred dollars. This he refused to do, and his establishment was, ix conse- quence, declared * foul.”’ He has at haere ali number of hands in his employment; but all who work for him are not recognized as “‘ regular” by the trade in (eis ‘They are considered foul, and are not entitled to protection from the society. Regular mem- bers are prohibited by the rules from working with them, and if they make application to be received as members, they are compelied to undergo the itary | aoens of whitewashing before they can be admitte: | fellowship with ther brother tradesmen. This system of purgation consists in a levy on the purse of the culprit, commensurate with the enormity of the offence which he has committed. Some are received | into the brotherhood on payment of ten dollars, while | old and hardened offenders are made to pay fifty | dollars before they can be permitted to pass the | thresbhold of the society. The strikes, a8 we have already stated, are mainly confined to shops, and are therefore very seldom made public. When the men are dissatisfied with their prices, they almost invariably appoint a com- mittee to confer with their employers, and make known their demands to them. This is an admirable plan, and well calculated to maintain a friendly feel- ing between both parties. In neeny every case it results in a fair understanding ; and after mutual representatioas of the condition of the employer and the employed, the matter is generally arranged in a | satisfactory manner. Instances have frequently occurred where the former, unable to pay the rates demanded, have, by clearly proving their inability +| Without serious loss to themselves, and injury | to their business, induced their men to withdraw their claims. In such cases the men are never unreasonable ; and when they are satistied that the profits of the article will not allow an increase they submit with a good grace until the re- turn of better times. When there is a ‘turn out’”’ in any shop, the journeymen are required, by the | laws of the association, to transmit to the President a | written notice containing the names of all the jour- neymen on the strike. The case is presented to the | consideration of the Vigilance Committee, before | whom the men must appear, and give evidence in | the matter. If it is clearly proved to this tribunal | that they acted in accordance with law, each jour- | neyman is furnished with a certificate by the Trea- surer, which entitles him to the sum of five dollarss week if married, and to three doliars if unmarri | When a hatter is on a “turn-out,’”’ or out of employ- | | ment, he can only apply for work toa journeyman, | as the rules of the society prohibit him from making application to the employer in person. He is also | prohibited from working in afoul” shop. Only a cer- tain number of apprentices are allowed to each es- | tablishment, and 1] are required to serve four | years each at the trade before they are entitled to | work as regular tradesmen. The rules are very nu- | | merous, and particularly explicit in relation to strikes, | or, as they are called, “*turn-outs.” The trade in this city numbers about four hundred members, all of | whom belong to the one society, with the exception | of the ‘‘foul” men, who, however, constitute a small | minority. | THE TAILORS. | The generally low rate of wages paid to all who | ply the needle for a living, has produced much dis- | content, at various times, among the tailor: particu- | larly. They are among the most numerous class of | workmen in New York; and when there is a general | strike of the trade, thousands are thrown out of em- ployment. As there is no regular organization, em- bracing all its members, they very seldom succeed in procuring an advance of wages, for the employers / can, with the assistance of those who are willing to work under the rates demanded, hold out sufficiently | long to make them yield. Besides, the tailors, as a class, are perhaps poorer thah the members of any other trade throughout the city, and are, therefore, | unable to maintain themselves longer than one or | two weeks at the utmost. The knowledge of these | facts serves to aggravate the severity of the strike, | and not unfr tly to rouse the bitter animosity of | the tailors against the employers. This was proved, | during the strike in March, 1836, and in another, which occurred about tro or three years ago, | when mest unwarrantable and inexcusable | acts of violence were committed upon the owners of shops that had refused to grant the terms of the tailors. The strike of March, 1536, was not attended by loss of life, nor, in fact, was any | movement of the kind among the tailors productive of fatal consequences so far as we could ascer- tain. Several journeymen, who had, in oppo- | sition to the express command of the majority of their fellow tradesmen, worked for less than the stipulated prices, were assaulted and subjected to was said at the time, originated in wence of a | The Mayor was also in attendance, and took an acti German tailor, residing in ‘airy eighth street, | part in preventing any serious disturbance. One or havin; engaged with the bosses to e coats at a | two attacks were made upon some of the stevedores reduc enty-five cents on the regular prices. | to drive them from their work, but the instant inter- By this dishonest proceeding towards the poor | ference of the police saved them from injury. Three or journeymen he was enabled to realize five or six dol- | four ofthe pi were taken into ct ,andone, lars a day profit. Information of this matter was laid before the association of tailors, who Sppointed a deputation to wait on the x) lator, for purpose of making him return the coats made for less than the fair rate of wages, and, in case of his re- fusal to do so, to take possession of them. Before the deputation approached the house, the object of their visit was informed of their coming in time to bolt the doors, and prevent them from entering. Failing in their gt they returned to the society, in Hester strech, where they were joined by a large number of members. ‘With “this reinforce- ment they again proceeded to the obnoxious broxen into, and before he could succeed in making bs escape from the enraged tailors he got a severe | beating. He denied the charge made apne him; but the tailors would not believe him. His clothes were torn into , but he, doubtless, considered himself fortunate in escaping with his life. Captain Freeman and a of police, in their endeavors to well the disturbance by the arrest of some of the ingleaders, were fiercely attacked with stones, knives and other weapons. One man was armed witha pistol, which was taken from him, however, before ie could do, any injury. The captain had the breast torn out of his shirt and was otherwise badly treated. Four of the rioters were arrested and n to the station house. This did not deter the tailors, how- ever, from further acts of violence. While the police house, when a body of police, assisted by a rein- forcement from two other wards, were sent to the scene of the riot. On their Age arrested, after a sharp conflict, six or seven. en they arrived at the house in Thirty-eighth street, where the great body of the tailors ‘was assembled, a desperate en- counter ensued. Stones and brickbats were used un- sparingly, and even daggers were brought into requi- sition. Some of the police were severely wounded b: stones, slung shots, and other weapons ; but the tal lors, unable to contend against the disciplined force brought against them, were forced to give way. Of the forty arrested, the majority were more or less in- jured, some so severely that tNgy had to be conveyed to the hospital. A large number were taken to the station house, where they had their wounds dressed. About twenty of the prisoners were subsequently committed on a charge of rioting, and, on trial, con- victed ; but as they were nearly all foreigners, and unacquainted with our laws, their punishment was considerably mitigated. . A meeting was held in the Park, abouta week after the riot, to sympathize with the tailors and sustain them in their strike. Resolutions were adopted, and speeches made in favor of forming an association of tailors, in which each member should be a share- helder. The movement, however, did not result in much benefit to them. \ THE STEVEDORES, The stevedores, or as they are more generally known by the appellation of “ ‘long shore men,” are a class of laborers whose principal occupation con- sists in the loading and unloading of vessels. Their work is very laborious and uncertain, as it depends, toa great extent, upon the weather. The whole number at present in New York is between three and four thousand, and the wages of each man varies from six to ten dollars a week, according to the de- mands for his labor and his capacity. Many disputes have originated between them and their employers upon the rate of wages; but, as a general thing, their demands were made only in times of urgent neces- | sity, when rents and provisions were high. The | first important strike which occurred during the last twenty years took place on the 22d of February, 1836, and it was attended with the most serious con- sequences. A large body of the stevedores, num- bering several hundred, marched in procession along the docks, with the view of compelling those who were still at work to desist until the advance in their wages was granted. Great excitement prevailed among the shipping merchants, and many of those at work on vessels fled in precipitate haste when they saw the formidable body approaching. The prompt arrival of the police quelled the disturbance for the time being, by the dispersion of the rioters. The next day, however, they organized in greater num- | who was very refractory, received a severe blow on the head from a policeman’s club. The movement to the ‘longshore men of Brooklyn, where similar acts of violence were perpetrated. Several workmen were injured, but none seriously. A day's calm reflection showed the laboring men the error they had com- mitted, and the injury they had intlicted upon them- Selves. They now saw that their only remedy was in peaceable means, and they accordingly resolved to effect, by an appeal to the merchants” sense of right and justice, what they had failed to do by force. A meeting was held, at whicha series of re- solutions were adopted, stating the grievances under house, byw] in the door, seized all the | which the stevedores labored, asking for an advance coats ey could find, numbering about a | of wages, disclaiming all intention of violent or ille- hundred altogether, and conveyed them away by roceedings, and exhorting them to keep within force The employer was in the house when it was w. Meetings of the merchants and shipowners were also held, and a committee appointed to meet a committee of conference from the stevedores. This committee, in their report, stated that the stevedores had ressly disavowed their approval of or connec- tion with the rioters, «nd admitted the right of every shipowner to employ whoever he pleased, and to pay his own rate ot wiges. The merchants, however, still persisted in their refusal to give the advance; but, Cage” to wmpromise the matter, they offered thirteen shillings a day, which was an addition of one shilling or half what the stevedores had‘fixed as their ultimatum. The meeting appointed another com- mittee to obtain the signatures of such merchants a3 were willing to agree to the terms proposed. The day after this meeting the majority of the men on the strike went to work at the new rate of wages, were absent, their numbers increased to two or three | exhibiting on their part also a willingness to meet hundred. They divided themselves into two parties, their employers hale way in the adjustment of their one of which went back to the house in Thirty-eighth | differences. street and again attacked it, while the other party The principal cons pata which was made by some proceeded to another house in the vicinity, and, | of the laborers, was their being compelled to pay one after damaging it considerably, carried off about | shilling a day to the head stevedores. These men sixty unmade garments. News of this outrage | are a sort of labor contractors, who are paid poll tax was communicated to the Sixteenth ward station the men, as a bonus for the employment with b: which they are provided. At the meeting referred to, however, it was agreed that the head stevedore or “header,” as he is called by the men, should still continue to receive his daily stipend. In a week after the riotous proceedings which we have describ- ed, all the stevedores who could get employment for thirteen shillings a day were at work, and the good feeling between them and their employers, which had been so unfortunately interrupted by an unjusti- fiable outrage, was at length restored. JOURNEYMEN CABINETMAKERS. At a public meeting of the members of this trade, held 10th March, 1835, a series of resolutions were unanimously adopted, in favor of establishing a new book of prices, and effecting a thorough organization of the trade, the better to secure a fair compensa- tion for their labor. One of the resolutions ex- pressed the determination of the meeting to “use all honorable means to obtain the prices contained in the pew book, believing them to be founded in jus- tice.” This is the first intimation we have of astrike of the cabinetmakers. A week, however, elapsed before they came to an open rupture with their employers. They placed their demands before them in a respectful but determined manner. Be fore this time, it seems, there was no stipulated rate, so that when the workmen presented their claims for services rendered, frequent disagreements occurred between them and their employers in rela- tion to the amount of compensation to which they were entitled. About twenty-five years before this a regular list of prices was adopted; but the style of work had undergone considerable change since then, and the prices juired considerable alteration. When the new book of prices was compiled and printed, many of the employers objected to it, on various grounds, and a report was circu- lated to the effect that the journeymen were endea- voring by this means to raise the prices twenty- five or thirty cent. This was designed, of course, to prejudice the cause of those on the strike; but its falsity was proved in time to prevent any injurious consequences to the workmen. About two weeks after the publie meeting referred to, the strike termi- nated, and the new book was adopted by nearly all the aa ers as the standard by which the value of work should hereafter be settled. The strike was characterized throughout by the most commendable moderation on the Told of the journeymen—none of those outrages on the peace of moclety caer their | movement, but while they demanded what they con- | sidered a fair remuneration for their labor, they also | respected the rights and property of their employers. | To this spirit of forbearance is doubtless, in a great measure, attributable the speedy and successful ter- mination of their strike. During the short time they were on the turn out, they received many proofs of substantial friendship from the house carpenters, ship joiners, and pianoforte makers, who assisted them in procuring work at their respective branches. bers, and all armed with staves. They attacked | This fraternal spirit was thoroughly appreciated by those who had the hardihood to resume work | the cabinetmakers, who expressed their obligations aiter the threats of the oy, previous, and drove them | through the public press for the generous assistance from the vessels. Several were severely injured, and | which had been rendered. 5 a policeman, who had rendered himself conspicuous | A strike of the cabinetmakers in March of 1850, by his vigilance and activity, had his skull fractured | led to an advance in the wages of some of the jour- rather hackh treatment, and one of our present most efficient police officers got severely punished for a rusé he had performed upon them. A large crowd of tailors, it appears, had assembled in front of one of the most extensive establishments in the lower | part of Broadway, and the export that vicinity | fearing an attack, sent to the police office for as- sistance. Four energetic policemen were detailed | men demanding eighteen shillings a day, and the employers offering two dollars. After standing out a month, they obtained the desired increase. In justice to boih the journeymen stonecutters and their employers, we cannot close this article without mentioning the good feeling which existed between them, even after the most determined and protract- ed strikes. The moment the difference in relation to wages was settled, no reference was made to their | past disputes, both parties acting in the spirit of the good old proverb, they “let by-gones be by-gones.” | 5, THE HATTERS. The first strike which took place among the hatters during the last quarter of a century, and which is of sufficient importance to entitle it to particular notice, @ommenced about the middle of December, 1834. This movement was general among all the journey- men hatters throughout the city, and lasted for a considerable time. It was occasioned by the refusal of the employers to keep such members of the trade as had joined the Trades Union in their em- | ployment. They firat began by objecting to the list of prices; but this difficulty was settled by a conces- | sion on the part of the workmen, who reduced their wages to the amount demanded. They next required that such of their employés as had become mem- ‘ders of the Union should resign, threatening, in the case of their refusal, to discharge them. The jour- neymen had their case presented tothe Union by their delegates: and such was the general feel ing of sympathy clicited arnong the members of their trade on their bebalf, that a large sam waa subscribed to support them in their stand. The society, after a due consideration of the matter, adopted a series of resolutions, declaring the position taken by the em- ployers to be an attempt at proscription, anda direct infringement of personal rights. The resolutions also ex: tain the hatters, and in the event of the employers persisting in their endeavors to destroy the Associa- | tion of Hat Makers, to resort to such measures ay would enable it ‘effectually to reach their interest.” This movement on the of the Trades served as an exampie to the various societies in this city and its vicinity, and in Newark $119 was raised in less than a week to sustain the hatters on strike. One firm wrote to the Union, acknowledgin. ‘the right of the journeymen to regulate the price their labor, and to adopt such means as they might consider requisite to secure the -permenenrs of its value. The men employed in their establishmeat were allowed the regular wages; and in two or three weeks after several other shops followed their exam- , or admitted the right the men to join the nion. ‘Those shoy ‘that still held out were called “foul,” to distinguish them from such as were con- sidered fair and honorable in their conduct. About four or five weeks from the commencement of the strike, the glee with two or three exceptions, withdrew their objections, and admitted the all members of the trade to join any society which they ‘ht consider beneficial to them. ‘Thus ended one of the most obstinate and protracted strikes that ever occurred among the journeymon hatters of New York. There were several before and since; but they were not so general, and were confined mostly to the question of wages. About two or three Dowever, Bae er strike of a somewhat different chesaner oceurred, in which three or four establish- iments were concel work. They refused to receive any excuse or reasoa for their absence exeept sickness. As some of the hatters were members of the fire department, and others belonged to military companies, they could not «1 iy with tiie dewian tions. They fi har the determination of the Union to aus | Jnion | ght of | ears | The difficulty was occasioned | in this igstance by the expressed determination of the employers to discharge such workmen from their service as failed to be punctual in their attendance at id without breaking their | for the purpose, one of whom adopted rather an in- | genious method of entrapping the unconscious tailors. ‘aking off his coat and tying it up in his handker- chi fhe elbowed his way through the crowd, and, imitating as closely as possible the bearing and appearance of a tailor, entered the store with his bundle under his arm. The crowd outside, not perceiving the trick, vented their indignation on the supposed recreant in the most unflattering terms. He was called ‘‘a scab"—an epithet of Caged applied to all tradesmen who underwork their asso- cates. In the midst of all the abuse lavished upon him, the officer preserved the most imperturbable coolness. When he came out of the store he had another bundle under his arm, which the owners had given him the better to keep up the delusion, The tailors, exasperated as they must have been, did not, | howeven proceed to extremities in their punishment | of the offender, but contented themselves by pelting him with ice. This qnickened his pace into a pretty brisk ron, when he was followed by two or three of | his aasailants, one of whom gave him a severe thump on the side of the head, which, taxing the good na- tare of the officer beyond the power of endurance, was repaid with another of equal force. Two or | three other polieemen arriving at this juncture, the | unfertunate journeymen were arrested, having disco- | vered the deception when too late. Some months | after, one of the tailors who hadteen struck by the | officer commenced a suit against him for personal | injories, and actually succeeded in gaining the case, | and obtaining damages to the amount of $27 11. | Some rioters, who were arrested for disorderly con- duct in other parts of the city, were discharged after a brief imprisonment. The strike terminated about two weeks from the time it commenced, the ma- jority of the tailors being unable to obtain an ad- vance. A few stores, actuated by a liberal and Foor aber spirit of fairness towards thove in their employment, raised their wages—but they were “like ‘angels’ visits, few and far between.” The eauses which led to this strike originated among the | master tailors themselves, and not with the journey- men. It appears that they assembled. some two | month previous to the turn-out, and agreed to re- dunce the wages which the tailors had received throughout the whole of the previous year. The em- dy were also opposed to the Trades Union, and pound themselves, under forfeit of $100, to give work to no man who joined that society, and to protect and employ those who held aloof or broke off all connection with it. This combination against the interests of the journeymen was conducted with the | greatest secresy, the first intimation they had of it | being the presentation of the reduced list of prices. They refused to work at the rates specified, which would reduce their weekly wages at least twenty er cent. A few years after the tailors succeeded in obtaining better compensation for their labor. | We hoc also state that several union shops, for the employment of the tailors ‘‘on their own hook,” were established in this city; but so grasping were the members of one of these concerns that they | advertised the others unorthodox, and endeavored to break them down. The organ of the trade of that day came out upon them, and exposed the injustice | and folly of this conduct. None of those establish- mente, we understand, are now in existence. to republican ears, and so subversive of republican principles, was first introduced. It was assumed by some marble cutters in Baltimore, and seems to have embittered considerably the strife between the em- ployers and the employed. The most sorious riot was that of the Sth of August, wernded, and forty thrown into prison for partici twrbance, Th Aboot this time the word “master,” so obnoxious | 1850, when between twenty and thirty persons were | se of Wiis riut, it! beg by a blow of a stave. His assailant was arrested, but immediately afterwards rescued and carried off in triumph. The fight did not last much longer than an hour, when the police remained masters of the field, havin arrested about a dozen of the ringlead- ers. Thexe fruits of their victory were marched off to prison without any attempt at reseue. During the whole day business was almost wholly suspended, as very few steyedores could be induced to resume work, in opposition to the general feeling of the body. Several vessels were delayed two or three days beyond their appointed hour of sailing, and the piers were filled with boxes, casks, and every des- cription of merchandise. The owners of some vessels, desirous of having them cleared immediately, employ- ed the laborers at their own prices; but the great body of merchants refused to accede to their terms, in consequence of the eompulsory means | which had been so unwisely resorted to. Due pre- cautions were taken by the city authorities to pre- vent a repetition of these riotous proceedings: the police were ready at a moment's warning to march to any part of the city where their services might be | required, and a large force of artillery and _ailitia | were quartered at Tattersall’s and in the Court of General Sessions, prepared to suppress any riot | neymen. | THE CORDWAINERS. In May, 1535, the cordwainers struck for higher | wages, alleging that the high rents and the rise in provisions rendered the former rate of compensation inadequate to support their families. During this strike, which lasted two weeks, the cordwainers re- ceived sympathy and support from the members of the other trades, and were encouraged to hold out by | the example of the cordwainers in Newark, Phila- delphia, New Brunswick, Orange, Poughkeepsie, and other places. It was a wide-spread strike, and ended in their triumph. A very important convention of cordwainers was held in this city, in March, 1836. It lasted three days, and was attended by delegates from New Ha- ven, Newark, Philadelphia, and about twenty other cities in this State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The number of tradesmen represented exceeded five thousand, some of whom received an in this and another establishment to leave their work, and mareh with them to the scene of their former defeat. Here, however, they met with no better suc- cess. News of their previous visits had been sent to the police authorities, and a the command of Justice Bloodgood, was prepared to receive them. As the appearance of the police entirely unexpected, they withdrew as speedily as possible, directing their march to other yards in the neighborhood. herever they went, the police, however, followed, and any mischief. Some of them became quite exas- perated at being dodged in this aac the offi- cers, and, unable to restrain their indignation and resentment, turned round and attacked them; but the fight was of short duration, and was terminated— as all such fights generally do—in the discomfiture of the assailants, and in the triumph of the police. Eight of the unfortunate men were immediately ar- rested, and committed to prison. Thus ended this ill-fated strike; and we are told that the advance wai they had asked was granted only by a few em- ployers. THE HANDLOOM WEAVERS. A pretty general movement took place among the weavers of this city in February, 1836, and several meetings were held to effect a change in the price of their labor. This, it may be remarked, was the principal cause of the formation of the Trades Union. There were many secondary causes, such as regulation of the hours of labor, which led to some of the most important strikes which occurred among the trades. At one of the meetings of the weavers, a series of resolutions were adopted, setting forth the grievances under which they labored. It was stated that their wages were insufficient to procure the means of a comfortable subsistence, and far be- low that which is generally. obtained by other me- chanics. A convention of the several bodies of asso- ciated handloom weavers in the United States was called for the 8th of March, of the same year, to meet at Philadelphia, in order to investigate the evils affecting the trade, and “ to ascertain whether they resulted from foreign or home competition, or from the product of the acres loom, and to devise a re- medy for them.” e have not been able to ascer- tain whether this trade convention ever took place ; but from the silence of the papers of that date on the subject, we should think it did not. THE SAIL MAKERS. A portion of the sail makers struck in October, | lice was | Combination of all the speculators, capitalists THE GREAT FLOUR RIOT OF 1887. Rents, provisions, fuel, flour, money, work, are now absorbing the attention of all classes. In the very housed of Heaven men forget hereafter, in dwelling upon the sse of officers, under | deeply important matters of the present moment, On the subject of rents, there appears to be & mand Owners, against the poor, the needy, the laborer, and tha workingman. Even the corporation, that arena »f specu= Jation, is lengued with speculators, agaist tenants. They are opening streets Tn all Giresctons. This only’ revented them from doing | serves to increase the value of houses, and drive tenant: from the city. The foregoing extracts are taken from the New York Heras» of February 7, 1837, and may be re= | garded us a graphic and life like sketch of the cons | dition of our city during that disastrous year, Thera is much in it that would apply with equal force ta New York in 1853, and men are now prophesyings like resulta, Heaven forbid, however, that we should) ever be compelled to pass through such another ors deal, or that speculators, heartless as some of theng are, should be indueed by the necessities of the tines to engage in the same system of extortion whicle distinguished the year to which we refer as an era ie the history of the good old Knickerbocker city. At the time to which we allude, the exciting and all-absorbing topics were the high rents and exor- bitant prices of provisions. They formed the princi- pal subjects of discussion, and apprel ions were entertained by the wise and far-seeing that the peace of the city would be endangered if an immediate remedy could not be provided. On Friday, the 10th of February, a notice was published in our paper, ta: the effect ‘that preparations were making “for a great mecting of the people in the Park, to take inta consideration the present state of things.” The ple were roused, for they had good reason to believa that the landlords were leagued to increase theit rents, and that the speculators had taken advantaga of a deficiency in the wheat crop of the previous har« vest, to bayep all the flour throughout the country. This speculation was not confined to our own State, but extended to Maine, Maryland, Vi and Penn- sylvania, where public meetings had been held ta rotest against the outrage. The necessity, there. fore, of similar action in New York, was becoming more apparent every day; but, as it was desire able that the meeting should be composed of all classes of citizens, laborers, mechanics, and merchants, were all invited, without exception, It was hoped that an assemblage of this character 1835, against the extension of the hours of labor, | Would be productive of good effects, and that soma A public meeting was held, at which measures were taken to defeat the purpose of the empleyers. Re- solutions, expressing the highest indignation at the | injustice, were adopted, and the right7of the employ- | ers to change, the time was wholly denied. _ his in- fringement on their rights, it was alleged by the | sanmneyaien, was attempted by men who hada very imited practical knowledge of the trade, and who, to use their own words, could not do a day’s work in | twenty hours Some of the regular employers, who had hithertostood in good repute with the men, joined | in thismovement against them. The originators of the prieaed change were denominated rious, but rather far-fetched cognomen, of ‘‘Modern Esaus.” The determined stand taken by the men, however, prevented the employers from insisting | upon the alteration in the hours of labor, and amica- ble relations were again established between them. STRIKE OF THE PIANOFORTE MAKERS. In November, 1835, a strike occurred among these operatives, in consequence of one manufacturer re- taining in his employment, as superintendent, a per- son who had rendered himself obnoxious to the rest of the men by working under wages. Finding that all their efforts to procure his dismissal were unavail- ing, they proceeded to inflict punishment on the re- creant by tarring and feathering him. This act of cruelty was committed upon a man guiltless of the crime—a mechanic of their own body, whom, in the dusk of the evening, they mistook for the obnoxious individual. The wilh was charged at the time to the account of the Trades Union, by persons op) to those societies, although the pianoforte makers had no connection with them. This, however, did not prevent the pianoforte makers from sympathising with their struggling brethren of the Trades Union, for,in March, 1836, we find them giving aid and support to the tailors, who were at that time on a strike, and pledging themselves to patronize the clothing emporium established by them. One of their resolutions reads as follows:—‘‘That as labor is the only merchandise which the journeymen have in the market, they have a right to set a price on it; and those who will not enjoy the privilege are slaves, and that we recommend them and their masters to the attention of the abolitionists.” THE OPERATIVE MASONS. A union of the members of this trade was formed in May, 1850, for the purpose of remedying the evil system of subcontracting, and the odious prac- | tices “ carried onin the erection of buildings through- out the city. The custom of giving out the building | of cellars, basements, &c., to men who did not be- long to the business, and who were not practical me- chanics, had become quite prevalent, and was pro- ductive of much injury to the masons. It was urged that such men were not qualified to carry out the re- sponsibilities which devolved upon them. The stand taken by the masons on this occasion was partially successful. THE CARPENTERS. A grand procession of journeymen carpenters, num- bering between three and four thousand, and accom- panied by bands of music, took place on the 13th of March, 1850, They were on a strike, and this im- posing demonstration had, no doubt, considerable in- fluence in making a large number of the bosses ‘agree | plan of action might be adopted that would remove the grievances of which the great body of the peo- pie had such just causes of complaint. In an edi- rial article, published on the morning of the day for which the meeting had been called, the HERALD | gave the following judicious advice, which, if fol- lowed, would have prevented the disgraceful riot that ensued:— We trust, therefore, that this meeting may be con- Aueted with order, decorum and intelligence throughout. Let reason, knowledge and common sense be the guide. | Its magnitude and importance never have been surpassed. It is a question of life against death—of hunger and cold yy the oppro- | against avarice and usury—of common sense against arty politics—of protection against the arta of the specu- lator, politician and extortioner. Let every measure and | every movement be conducted within the limits of ex- isting law. If our prerent laws are corrupt, bad, inju= rious, they can only be amended ina legal way. Let | there be no riot, no mob, no breaking of the peace, It was doubtless a matter of subsequent regret, | that this wise counsel was not followed, and that tha | wild violence to which the city a peared to have | abandoned itself, was not restrained. yy a regard for the rights of personal property, or a rec! and rodigal waste of one of the great necessaries of lifes ‘he meeting was organized in the Park, immediate- ly in front of the City Hall, at four o'clock. The day | was the most inclement of the season, the wind was piercing cold, and had the subject been one only of ordinary interest, very few would have attended. | But the subject was of general and vital im tance; one of the est crowds ever gathered with- | in the limits of the Park was assembled on that mo- | mentous occasion. There were about twenty-five | thousand persons present, among whom were a lar; repreeentation from all classes and conditions of life, | from. iS ane tradesman who builds the lordly man- | sion, to the rich merchant who inhabits it. Resola. | tions and speeches, expressive of the determination | of the meeting, in relation to the existing monopo= | lies, were presented and made, and there appeared! | to be but one feeling in regard to the enna | that of general condemnation. But a lar; | not content with the peaceable and xt number, mode of proceeding which had been adopted, and unable to restrain their excitement, formed in a body, went down to Washington street, near the mar- ket, and commenced a desperate assault om the extensive store of Eli Hart & Co., wha had rendered themselves particularly obnoxious b* | their apace in flour,and the high price whic! j they demanded for it. Five thousand infuriated | men broke into the building, smashed the windowa, | overturned everything within their reach, and, seizi about a hundred barrels, smashed in the heads, ant cmptied the flour into the streets. A large amount wag | cestroyed by being trampled under foot; but a consid- rable portion was saved and carried off by children ji nd women, who, taking advantage of the distur- lance, filled sacks, bags, and everything that would «mswer fer the purpose, or that could mustered into the service. The streets for several hundred | yards from the ransacked building were strewed with flour. The interposition of the police was called fors but the crowd was too great, and the popular feeling | teo deeply enlisted and aroused, to admit of any- thing effective being done to quell the riot. The Mayor was present, and did all in the power of maw ; to allay the excitement and prevent the people frone executing their vengeance in a still more summary manner. It was not an ordinary mob, composed of the lowest and most degraded of the population, but | was formed of respectable mechanics, indus- trious hard-working laborers, and men from various professions and occupations in life. Such men were not to be put down ee when once aroused 3 and it must be admitted that there were many palli- ating eircumstances which might be urged for what they did, however much we may condemn any move- to the proposed increase of wages.” Ata meeting | pipet oe ae ee besce one on ae te 4 3 ~ | ciety, or which has a tendenc; our confi- which was held two or three days after, it was an dence in the integrity and sdministration ob oor laws. nounced that of the whole number of tradesmen only | 'The battle-cry of the masses on this occasion waa fourteen were still on a strike ; but many of the em- | “ Bread, bread,” and “ No monopoly ;”’ and wherever ployers subsequently refused to fuldl their agreement — it was heard it struck terror to the hearta of the with their workmen. In consequence of this, and | culators. The police, unable to contend against the the general apathy among the majority, many were | enraged populace, called on several citizens to assist that might take place. No less than three thousand . rounds of ball cartridge were distributed, and the | 8dvance of sixteen per cent, and others of Mayor had determined to place himself at their eleven per cent. A constitution was adopted, in head, and when necessary to give the word to fire. | which it was provided that the convention should ‘These measures had a most salutary effect in deter- | meet annually on the fourth Monday of September. ting the stevedores from further violence, On the | It8 awowed objects were “ to secure to the journey- afternoon of the 24th, a small detachment of the steve- | men cerdwainers of the United States a just compen- dores marched in eee up Wall street and through Broadway, but their demeanor was peace- able. They had thrown away their staves, amd the only weapons with which they were now armed, consisted of a few broken down umbrellas. The weather, the mii tary, the police, andthe merchants, appeared to be all leagued against them, and they seemed to be intent only in preserving themseives from the rain. During this riot great service was rendered by that Fouché of the New York police, ‘High Constable Hays.’ That worthy official, it is alleged, made an address to the mob, requesting them, in the blandest terms, to disperes quietly, which they did. “ "Taint no way, this, to raise wages,” said he. “‘If your employers won't give you ‘our prices, don’t work—keep home and lay a et. Make no riot here. J don’t allow these things. Come, march—home with you—your wives and children want you.” Now, although we are inclined to doubt the atithenticity of this speech, we must admit that it contains a great deal of good advice, and if it was not delivered by “Old Hayes,” it was every way worthy of him. This strike terminated in a sa- tisfactory manner to the majority of the laborers who received the advance demanded. If they had presented theie claims in an orderly and peaceable manner before quitting work, the merchants would not have refused them what they considered a fair compensation. Their riotous proceedings, however, could not fail to subject their conduct to public con- demnation, and placed many of them within the power of the law. After an imprisonment of a few months, however, all who had been convicted were discharged. On the 12th of October last the stevedores made another strike for wages, asking for an advance of twenty-five cents per day on their former pay, which would. make it amount to one dollar and seven- ty-fivs cents. Four or five hundred paraded through the lower part of the city, and after marching about for a few hours, with banners flying, they assembled on the Battery, where addresses were made, encour- aging them to hold out until their employers agreed to grant them the advance demanded, Inflamed by some of the speeches, and their supposed wrongs, the stevedores, after leaving the Buttery, proceeded to the docks along South street, where they were joined by more of the discontented workmen. Dividing themselves into bands of one hundred, they boarded the vessels of such merchants as were opposed to them, and compelled those at work to leave it. Inone or two instances, where they refused to do so, they were pretty severely handled. The majority refused to comply with the terms of the strikers; but a con- siderable number granted the wages, and were en- abled to continue their business without the least in- terruption. The animosity of the riggers appeared to be directed only against those who held out. e reasons alleged in defence of this strike wore similar to those urged in justification of that which occurred years before—high rents and the increase in the ‘price of all the necessaries of life. ‘They were prevented from boarding one vessel by the resolute conduct of the « in, who, placing himeelf at the gangway, with a pistol in his hand, threatened to shoot the first man dead who should attempt to pass the bulwarke. Very little work was done the lowing the Chief of Police, with a larg nd, reary to put dowa anya rst day of the strike; but on the day fol Ww on | sation for their labor, to promote unity and concert ef action for its attainment, and to devise means for | their moral, intellectual, and physical improvement.” | Resolutions were passed disapproving of the impor- | tation of oes boots and. shoes of all kinds, as de- | structive to the interests of the ating Gree engaged in the manufacture of these indispensable articles, in consequence of the reduced prices at which they were | sold. It was recommended that the tradesmen con- | nected with this convention should refuse employ- | ment from thore employers who were engaged in im- porting or vending such articles. The convention | expressed its decided condemnation of the system | which had been adopted in the State prisons, of em- | ploying convict labor, thereby bringing it into com- | petition with their honest industry. The majority of | the cordwainers succeeded in obtaining an advance in their wages; but the convention was broken up in the general disaster which befel the working classes in the great financial revulsion of 1837. ‘The cordwainers also joinedin the general uprising of the trades in 1850, and in May of that year struck for higher hikes They formed in procession at the Fourteenth Ward Hotel, and, with banners flyinz, marched throngh those streets where the boot and shoe stores were most numerous. About a fortnight after this demonstration a list of prices was adopted by the trade, and a committee of four appointed to notify the employers of their action. Ata subse quent meeting this committee d that they had acted according to instructions and that the majority of the bosses expressed their willingness to gran a reasonable advance. As there was some difference in relation to ths list which had been adopted, it was modified so as te suit the wishes of all the members. The prices were paid by the employers, with a few exceptions. THE COAL BREAKERS. Several strikes Inve taken place among the coay breakers, during the last twenty years; but the only one deserving of patticular notice occurred on the 7th of March, 1836. About twenty of those who were thrown out of employment by refusing to work for less than the tariff & prices fixed by a portion of their fellow workmen, marched, with the most hos- tile demonstrations, to me of the coal yards in Washington street, where some coal breakers were working for leas than the specified amount. They | were in the act of inflicting summary punishment upon the offenders, when one of the proprietors of the establishment made bis appearance, armed with a pair of loaded pistols, and threatened to shoot the | first man who attempted violence upon those work- ing for him. This dampened their courage consider- | ably, and they left very reluctantly, avowing their | determination to call again. True to their word, they did come, and this time there were no less than eighty; but the coolness and determination of the owner saved his place from violence. He ex- hibited his pistols, and bf proved more persua sive than the most log’ arguments he cou employ. Failing in their purpose th next proceeded to another yard, the owner of which had Jost all favor in their sight by his non-com compelled to work for less than fourteen shillings a day, the amount stipulated by the trade. THE HOUSESMITHS. These tradesmen struck for an advance of twelve | and a half per cent., in March, 1850. At one of the meetings it was proposed that the whole of the trade should stand out while a single employer refused to pay the {increase demanded, but it was finally de- termined that each shop should stand out for its own men. A majority of the employers aceeded to their terms. The Housesmiths, as did many other trades, passed a vote of thanks to the editor of the Hun- ALD “ for the kind manner in which he noticed their proceedings..”’ THE UPHOLSTERERS. The strike of the upholsterers, in'March, 1850, was, perhaps, more successful than that of any other body oféradesmen. Only one shop held out against them, and that at length Meten [he workmen employed in it were assisted by their fellow tradesmen, while they were on the turn-o1 WATCHCASE MAKERS. This hody of tradesmen experienced little difficul- ty in their strike of April, 1850, all the employers exept two having agreed to py, them their terms. The advance demanded about thirty per cent. THE COACHPAINTERS. A partial strike of the members of this trade was made in April, 1850; but it was of very brief dura- tion, as those out of employment were engaged al- most immediately by bosses in need of hands, THE SHIPSAWYERS. In April, 1850,@ pretty general movement took place among the shipsawyers, for the purpose of ob- taining an increase of wages. A permanent organi” zation, embracing the tradesmen of Brooklyn also, was established. The shipsawyers, we believe, were successful in procuring the desired advance. BRICKLAYERS AND PLASTERERS. These hard-working tradesmen formed themselves into a protective} association in May, 1850, and shortly after demanded an advance in the wages they were then receiving. The establishment of the society resulted very beneficially to the trade in gene- ral, and had a good effect in preventing many who had not served a regular apprenticeship from eom- peting with those who had. A strike was made at some subsequent period, by a portion of the brick- layers, which, we believe, was successful. THE LABORERS. A large and well conducted meeting of this numer- ous body of men, was held in May, of 1850, to con- sider the propriety of demanding an advance of wages, and during the summer, a_ considerable number who failed in Leadti struck, They were eveutually successful, howeve THE PRINTERS. The members of “ the art preservative of all arts” struck for an advance in May, 1850, having pre ously adopted a list of prices. Some of the newsp pliarce with their demends. They forced the men pers refused to accede to their terms, while othe g J them immediately. | them in maintaining the supremacy of the laws; but | they were prevented from doing s0 by a feeling of | sympatby with the rioters, or from a fear that | might be ronghl: handled for their interference. * An agent of the firm who owned the store endeas yored to stay them by offering to sell the flour at eight dollars a barrel, four dollars less than had been previously demanded for it. It had no effect, how- ever, for nothing but the destruction of the propert; would appear to satisfy them. ‘ It is too late,” they lied, as they flung barrel after barrel into the street. The same words, re-echoedin the French capital, im February of 1848, sealed the doom of Louis itty 5 destroyed the succession in his family, and, if we fol ‘rel it out to its consequence, placed the prisoner of Hang and “ the nephew of his uncle” en the imperial throne. In our city, however, the grievances of which the people complained were temporary, and not deep-seated, as they were in France. It was, therefore, impos@ible, that they should be attended with the same consequences, or that they could result in an overthrow of the government. Inthe midst of the wild excitement and violence which prevailed, there were eome instances of respect for the laws an: the rights of property which redeemed the worst features of the riot. In one case, the police were en- deavoring to prevent some plunderers from carrying off a wagon load of flour, and were beaten back, where they were assisted by a tall, powerful fellow in « | a carman’s frock. Addressing the crowd, that Pa . all iba Sree te eee the offieers, he cal upon them to respect property. “ No plunder, my lads.” said‘he; ne planineede> stroy, destroy, as much as you please. Teach these monopolists that we know our rights, and will have them; but, d—n it, don’t rob them.” Whew the crowd had wreaked their vengeance upon the flour store, they gradually dispersed, and the scene of destruction was left entirely in the occupation of a large number of special constables, who were put or guard there to prevent the recurrence of a similar outrage. By eight o’clock that evening all was quiet, and only the remains of the scattered flour, mingled with the dirt of the streets, and the ruined building, (ek! evidence of the violence that had beer committed. Special guards were detailed from the poe to protect some establishments in Broad streets uit there was, fortunately, very little occasion for | their services, as the people were satisfied with what they had already done. ‘I'he military were also call- | ed Into requisition, and, having paraded through the streets, returned to their quarters without ffring s shot. The damage done in other parts of the city waw camparatively trifling in extent. In Broad street some demonstrations were made upon Meach’s flout store; but here the rioters were content with smash- ing one or two panes of glass, knocking the heada out ot a few barrels of flour, and scattering their con~ tents in the street, Herrick’s store, at Coenties slip, was also attacked, broken into, and some of | the flour destroyed in the same manner. Durin the riot about thirty persons were arrested, and suc! were the apprehensions of the lice authorities, that in every case they refased bail, no matter how unexceptionable. They were all committed ta | durance vile until their cases could be investigated. | To such friends as Cie for their disch: on | procuring bail, the only answer was—“No bail cam be taken; we have not yet decided what to do.” | Some of the rioters were arrested for assaulting the | pol'ce, some ona charge of breaking into the flour stores, and others on a charge of Lidge the | flour to their own use. After a trial, in the course of which it appeared that more than one-half of the prisoners were innocent of the charges preferred guinst them, one was sentenced to six months im picomept and anc to four months in the Cig