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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
present course they are pursuing. In the present
condition of the affairs of the country, when almost
every branch of industry is in a very depressed con-
OTHING for years has agitated the public mind dition, and the employers investing the capital to
to such a great extent as the present labor keep the business running, are at the most only get-
troubles. In every branch of industry busi- ting a moderate interest for the money invested, it
ness is blocked more or less by the unreasonable de- seems to me wrong for the workmen to ask to bo ad-
mands and crazy actions of the leaders of the Knights vanced in their wages. Many of the workmen
of Labor. Naturally, the general public look to the see the situation in this light, yet they
can do nothing but follow the direction of
press for the true news of the Nation's interest.
Now let us see how the daily papers have treated those who are at the head of the order to which
those troubles. With one exception (the Evening they belong. It is time this was broken, and tho
Pont), the daily papers have been afraid to speak honest, sober, industrious workman stand up and
their mind, for fear of offending the Knights of La- proclaim his rights as a free American citizen, and
bor, and thus bring upon themselves a boycott. This be no longer controlled by a few ignorant, law-break-
is exactly the case with the papers representing the ing people, devoid of even a moderate amount of
music trade. Editorially and otherwise they have brains, who are placed over them. This present
favored the piano and organ workmen in demanding trouble is not a fight between labor and capital, but
eight hours labor for a day, when they well know it instead, a fight between the honest workman on the
one side, and the ignorant and intemperate loafer on
cannot but be an injury to those demanding it.
In the last issue, without fear or favor, I clearly the othor hand.
spoke my mind upon this subject. I now intend to
I have spoken freely my mind in this matter, hon-
;is plainly as possible, give my views upon the pres- estly believing I am justified in so doing, and here
ent " Eight-hour Movement." It seems to me that say that the sooner the workmen who have left their
workmen, by asking to have eight houx's constitute benches, whore they were receiving a good honest
a day, with eight hours pay, are deliberately doing wage, return to them, the better it will be.
themselves an injury. Before_I go any further, let
J E F F . DAVIS BILL.
*
me here say that I have talked with a great many of
* *
the workmen, auct without exception, those who are
OPINIONS OF T H E T R A D E .
capable of looking the situation fully in the face, are
I have endeavored to obtain the views of the dif.
decidedly against this movement.
Suppose a man on piece work, by working ten ferent manufacturers upon this subject, and those
hours, tuakes $3 a day ; by working only eight hours who have expressed their opinion I give below.
N
it will be clearly seen he can make only $2.40. Now,
the manufacturer has a certain amount of work
which must be done, and he must hire enough new
men to make up this difference of two hours per day
in liis work, in order to fill his orders promptly, and
thus the old workman losos just sixty cents per day.
Again if the laborer stays in the factory ton hours
every day, which is by no means a killing time, when
he goos out at night he is ready to go homo to his
family with his earnings of the day. On the other
hand, if his work is done one or two hours before a
reasonable time to go home, he often frequents
saloons and street corners, and the natural con-
sequence is that a part of his day's earnings is left
behind him.
It makes but little difference to the manufacturer,
so far as ho is personally concerned, whether his
employees work eight or ten hours a day, provoided
they are paid in proportion to the time they work.
But if this demand of the workmen for eight hours
to constitute a day is only the first step towards
another demand, in a short time, for an increase in
wages, which will make eight hours equal to ten,
then they have decidedly made a great mistake,
for it will never be accorded them. Every American
manufacturer of pianos well knows that th« importa-
tion of foreign pianos to any extent would be ruinous
to our home industry, and this they will fight against
to the bitter end. If the workmen were to demand
and the manufacturer accede to them, an increase of
say twenty per cent, in their wages, then it must
necessarily raise the price of the instrument about
twenty dollars. Of course they must demand an ad
vance of this sum from the dealer. It will be clearly
seen in such an emergency there will be an excellent
opportunity for foreign manufacturers to flood the
United States with their goods, and of which they
would not be slow to take advantage.
From childhood I have been compelled to earn my
own living, and know very well what hard work is.
I have always been, and am now, the friend of the
worklngman, and it is owing to this feeling that I am
trying in my own feeble way to point out where the
workmen are damaging their own interests in the
BEHR KROS. & CO. PRESENT EXCELLENT ARGUMENTS.
NEW YORK, April 30, 188G.
MR. J E F F . D. BILL :
DEAR S I R : In the subjoined letter, which we ad-
dressed to tho Piano Makers' Union on the 28th inst,
you will find all tho questions answered, which you
asked in your favor of yesterday.
2!)2-298 ELEVENTH AV., N. Y , April 28, 1KN6.
To
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
MAKERS' UNION.
OF
THE PIANO
GENTLEMEN: A few days ago your committeecalled
at our office and notified us, that after the 1st of
May our men would not be permitted to work more
than eight hourn per day, and that no man would be
allowed to work over time.
We were asked whether we were willing to adopt
the eight hour system in our factory, and we prom-
ised your committee to give you our decision in
writing.
After due consideration, we have concluded that
under no circumstances can we adopt the eight hour
system in our factory; and we herewith notify our
men, that if they adhere to their demand we will bo
obliged to close our factory on May 1, and keep the
same closed until they are willing to return to the
present basis, namely ten hours.
Below we give you some of the most important
reasons why it is impossible for us to comply with
your demands.
First: If our men were to work but eight hours a
day, at corresponding wages, it would in a very short
time ^necessitate them to strike for 25 per cent.
advance in their wages, in order to earn the same
amount that they do to-day.
Second: Our men know only too well, that our
room for manufacturing purposes is already very
cramped ; and, if we were to adopt the eight hour
system,we would be obliged to build another factory,
put in more machinery, and increase our entire plant
25 per cent., in order to be able to turn out the same
number of pianos that we do to-day.
Third : If the eight hour system should be gener-
ally adopted, it would naturally increase the cost of
everything that goes into a piano, and in con-
sequence we should be compelled to raise our prices
at least 20 per cent.
Fourth: It would stimulate the importation of
foreign pianos, which are already now gaining a
strong foothold in this country; if the American
pianos were to advance from 15 to 20 per cent., they
would come here in such quantities that In a very
short time our factories would be running on half
time, and instead of more men being employed (as
you claim) the number would be greatly reduced.
Fifth : The higher the price of any one article, the
less its consumption. If we should be forced to
raise the price of our pianos, you will find that the
demand will decrease in about the same proportion
as the price is increased ; instead of more men being
employed (as you claim) the number would be greatly
reduced.
Sixth : If the oight hour system should bo generally
adopted and the men were to got ten hours" pay, it
would naturally advance the price of every thing you
consume from 10 to 15 per cent.; and in probably
less time then a year you will again call on us and
demand an advance of 10 per cent. ; giving as your
reason, that everything has gone up in price, for-
getting however that you yourselves are to blame.
Now, gentlemen, we have given you some of the
principal reasons why wo cannot comply with your
demands; and we would advise you to reconsider
your action, and allow our men to work ten hours
as heretofore.
We have always been on the most friendly footing
with our employees; they have been earning ex-
cellent wages, and to the best of our knowledge,
have always been satisfied, and we are only too sorry
that they were not allowed to confer directly with us.
We have not the least doubt but we could have
made it plain to them, that it is to our mutual interest
to continue in the old way, and we honestly believe
to day, that over two-thirds of our men would con-
tinue to work as heretofore, if allowod to do so.
Yours truly,
BEHR BROTHERS & Co.
NEWBV & EVANS.
NEW YORK, April 30, 188G.
J E F F . DAVIS BILL, ESQ. :
DEAR SIR : In reply to your favor of yesterday's
date, our position towards the eight-hour movement
will be measurably influenced by the form in which
the final demand may be made. We are not opposed
to eight hours constituting a day's work, but think it
would be disastrous to the piano trade in New York
if shorter hours and higher wages wore demanded
here, unless the same trade rules were enforced in
Boston and other manufacturing centers with which
we have to compete.
Very respectfully,
NEWIJY & EVANS.
SOHMER .V CO.
NEW YORK, April 30, 1886.
MR. J E F F . DAVIS BILL :
DEAR S I R : In answer to your inquiry we would
say that, after calling a shop meeting of our men, it
was decided to work eight hours a day at eight hours
pay.
We do not care to anticipate a further demand and
will not waste gunpowder until we have something to
blaze away at. Will keep you posted on anything
new.
Yours truly,
SOHMER & Co.,
Per G. REICHMAN.
C. B. HUNT & CO.
BOSTON, April 30, 188C>.
JEFFERSON DAVIS BILL :
DEAR SIR : Yours of the 29th, in regard to the
eight hour movoment duly received. We do not hear
of the question being agitated here in Boston at all.
We thing that there will not be any rise demanded
here until there is business enough to keep them all
at work, which is not the case now. Since the strikes
commenced through the country, business has been
gradually growing less and less. It is folly to de-
mand less hours or more wages when the demand
for the labor is light. We have reference only to
piano and organ business.
Yours truly,
C. B. HUNT &, Co.