South
Danvers Wizard, 1/27/1864, p. 2/7 THE CURRIERS’ STRIKE: MEETING OF
THE EMPLOYERS, SALEM, January 18, 1864 - Report
signed by:
L.
B. Harrington
D.
C. Haskett
J.
A. Lord
Thomas
Looby
J.
C. Simpson
Chas.
Weston & Sons
John
Huse
Nathaniel
Horton
James
H. Conrey
Pinder
& Brown
W.
D. & S Varney
Nelson
& Merrill
S.
A. Southwick
Wm.
F. Nichols
J.
E. T. Bartlett
N.
W. Osgood
Thomas
E. Proctor
Wm.
H. Little
Dana
Woodbury
Joseph
Poor
Andrew
Porter
Isaac
Hardy
J.
S. Hodgkins
John
V. Stevens
Franklin
Osborn, Jr.
Warren
Wilson
Andrew
Torr
William
Pierce
Joseph
Jacobs
Franklin
Osborn
Samuel
Harris
C.
W. Osborn
John
H. Wilkins
Jacob
Putnam & Co.
Derby
& Tucker
John
Redmond
Richard
Harrington
Samuel
Pitman, Jr.
Louis
Bond
Richardson
& Coolidge
John
H. Conway
James
Braden
Lucius
H. Morse
Albert
Wilkins
Nathaniel
Tuttle
O.F.
Adams
Timothy
O’Shea
J.
Jacobs, Jr.
James
Dugan
Mahoney
& Relihan
S.
F. Reed
James
A. Lord
R.S.D.
Symonds
Brooks
& Messer
Joshua
Giddings
Charles
Harrington
John
Calliton
F.
Wheeler
John
Frost
W.N.
Lord & Co.
Merritt
Cook
James
Lord
Patrick
D. Egan
William
P. Martin
Nathaniel
Pitman
U.
R. Williams
Wm.
Kenney
Geo.
W. Bruce
Wm.
Austin
Geo.
S. Hadley
D.
W. Osborn
O.
Kimball
Edward
F. Carleton
Hugh
M. Scott
Evans
& Son.
About
the South Danvers Wizard
Overview:
Jan.- July 1864
About
South Danvers (Peabody), Massachusetts
|
South Danvers Wizard, 1/27/1864,
p. 2/3-4
THE STRIKE [For the Wizard] – “The strike of the curriers is assuming
a position of no considerable local importance. The solution of the
difficulty, it is very easy to see, may, to a very great extent, affect
the material prosperity of the town. The question, as it now stands,
is simply, whether a large number of laboring, wealth-producing portion
of our people shall have the place and give their industry and their skill
in building up some other community – in a measure, curtailing all business
here? Or, whether a spirit of all mutual compromise and concession
shall prevail, and the town of South Danvers and the city of Salem retain
all the elements of prosperity which they now have – and few enough they
are, as we all know.
So far as the curriers simply ask for
a rise in the price of labor, corresponding to the rise in the price of
necessaries of life, they are clearly right; but when they attempt to dictate
to their employers as to the manner in which they shall carry on their
business – what laborers they shall employ – how many apprentices they
shall have, etc. – they are just as clearly in the wrong. This guild
system – relict of the Old World – is, if possible, worse for the laborers
than the employers. The more the ordinary business of life is left
to regulate itself, as a general rule, the better it is for all parties
concerned. In the case under consideration, combination on one side
has led to counter combination on the other. And, if the truth must
be told, the bosses have comported themselves in a manner not a whit more
creditable to their good sense, than have the strikers. In individual
instances, we have seen manifested a spirit of vindictiveness which, with
a little pharisaical, self-righteousness, we thank God, is not in us.
The strikers resolved not to work in shops
where men were employed who did not belong to their association.
As a counter-balance, the bosses resolved not to employ any man who did
belong to the association, unless he would withdraw himself.
And the matter stands at a dead lock.
Doubtless many of the workmen will resume their labor without reference
to the constitution or by-laws of the association to which they belong.
Doubtless many of the bosses will employ workmen at advanced wages without
considering, or caring whether or not they belong to the association.
But the trouble is that many of the best workmen, whose places cannot easily
be filled, are leaving town; and, to a greater or lesser extent, sapping
the sources of its prosperity. What shall be done to avoid general
stagnation and personal inconvenience? Beyond question it as better
for all parties that labor should be well paid. A cheap style of
living among the people is a great drawback to the prosperity of any community.
After careful reflection we think all will agree that in a country like
this, combinations meant not to control the free and natural course of
trade and business. None will be more likely to suffer from such
combinations than the laborers – because labor is, of all things, most
hard to combine. In the present instance, sound sense would seem
to dictate to both parties a compromise. Let the strikers drop the
obnoxious portion of their by-laws. Let the employers hire at reasonably
advanced prices all who choose to work without reference to what associations
they belong to. They can afford to do that.” Signed “LOOKER-ON.”
South Danvers Wizard, 1/27/1864, p. 2/6
THE CURRIERS ON A STRIKE
South Danvers Wizard, 2/24/1864, p. 2/3
“THE STRIKE among the journeymen curriers in this vicinity still continues.
– The strikers have received pecuniary aid from other sections; the curriers’
association of Boston having sent them some five hundred dollars, and other
sums are expected from New York and Philadelphia. The Shoe and Leather
Reporter says that the leaders also report that many master curriers in
towns not affected by the strike, favor them and contribute largely to
their relief, with the ulterior design of profiting by the stoppage of
business competition in Salem and South Danvers to get higher prices and
more customers for their stocks. We hear of large parties of workmen
leaving town, but by the numbers we see every day in our streets, we are
inclined to the belief that most of them are still here, waiting for ‘something
to turn up’.- The Register last Thursday contains an advertisement headed,
“To the Journeymen Curriers of Salem and South Danvers” from the officers
of the National Union of Journeymen Curriers, Noah W. Crane of Newark,
N.J., President, exhorting their brethren in this town and Salem to stand
firm, and pledging themselves to sustain and support them. – Meanwhile
the bosses still abide by their published declarations, refusing to hire
any man belonging to the striker’s association, and are gradually filling
up their shops with new, and in most cases, a different class of workers.”
South Danvers Wizard, 2/24/1864, p. 2/4
THE CURRIER’S STRIKE – [By request of one of our subscribers, we publish
the following article, cut from the Shoe and Leather Reporter.]
“The curriers of New York and Newark, as well
as those of Salem and South Danvers and other places, have struck for higher
wages under the lead of societies prescribing rules and regulations.
Our readers need not be informed that we are as principals opposed to strikes,
as well for the interest of the workman as of the employer. Even
if successful for a time, they must inevitably in the end result
in a reaction which will depress the price of labor just in the proportion
in which it has been forced up by combination. A flood tide must
be succeeded by an ebb. An generally the effect of a successful strike
is to drive trade to other places and thus soon throw a portion of the
workmen out of employment. Our modern strikers do not often make any pretense
of necessity…”
South Danvers Wizard, 3/2/1864, p. 2/2
STRIKERS MEETING –“The strikers of this town and Salem had a grand
mass meeting at Mechanic Hall, Salem, last Monday evening. The attendance
was large and speeches were made.”
South Danvers Wizard, 3/2/1864, p. 2/3
“THE JOURNEYMEN CARPENTERS of Salem have held a meeting and voted that
the price of labor be advanced 12-1/2 percent, on and after the first Monday
in March.”
South Danvers Wizard, 3/9/1864, p. 2/2
THE CURRIER’S STRIKE – “The Strike still continues in our town with
no apparent disposition on the part of bosses or journeyman to yield.
We have heard of one or two instances where the strikers were withdrawn
from their society, and resumed work with their old employers, but these
are exceptional cases. Without stopping to discuss the merits of
either side in this unfortunate controversy, we can spare room to record
our prophecy, which we do here and now, that this state of feeling between
the strikers and the strikees, can’t in the nature of things continue much
longer.”
South Danvers Wizard, 3/9/1864, p. 2/3
ASSAULT AND BATTERY – “We are sorry to hear of several cases of personal
violence that have arisen out of the strike excitement. One instance
in particular is much talked of. It seems that a journeyman carrier, who
had altered his mind about the strike, took his name off of the books of
the association and went to work for his former employer; whereat somebody
assaulted him with great violence, and with so much effect that the victim
neither dares to continue to work nor disclose the names of the guilty
party. We trust our peace officers will investigate this or any similar
case, and see that the law is enforced.”
South Danvers Wizard, 3/30/1864, p. 2/4
STRIKERS – “The strikers had another grand rally at Mechanic Hall,
Salem, last Friday evening. We understand that the audience was not
quite so large as the previous meeting, although the house was reasonably
full. Addresses were made by several gentlemen from Woburn, Boston
and other places. There was a delegation present from out of town,
with a band. Mr. Sumner, the President of the association, presided
and introduced the speakers.”
South Danvers Wizard, 4/13/1864, p. 2/4
TANNING AND CURRYING – “This business still continues prosperous in
our town, and there is much of it being done notwithstanding the strike
among the workmen. The strikers are gradually falling back into their
old places, or going into other business, so that street idlers are getting
much more rare. One result has followed from the strikes which is
quite noticeable, and is this: there has been a very large accusation of
American workmen to the currying business to fill the places vacated by
foreigners.”
South Danvers Wizard, 5/4/1864, p. 2/2
THE BARBERS – “It will be seen by an advertisement that the Barbers
of South Danvers have determined to ask ten cents for shaving, instead
of six, the old price, after this month. We learn that this rate
applies to fat and lean alike, and that no allowance is made for lantern
jaws. Very well. It is their professed business to shave the
community.”
South Danvers Wizard, 5/18/1864, p. 2/2
STRIKE – “The Morocco Dressers in this vicinity have recently struck
for higher wages, and the bosses, we understand, have acceded to their
prices, but they claim and say they shall exercise the right to employ
as many apprentices, and any class of workmen that they may require, without
dictation from the Morocco Shavers’ and Finishers’ Association; and that
they will not accede to these declarations. Upon these and no other terms
will they give out any stock to be finished.” |
