Confidence - March 25, 1896

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"If we stick together, we will win." Indeed.

Garment workers surely seem to be the best-dressed strikers

At this point, two weeks into the strike, the union officers are expressing confidence but then what else are they going to say. However, at strikers meeting, the pain of missing wages is noted as some of the workers are "sorely in need".

Meanwhile the manufacturers release their statement in an effort to garner public support. It accuses the striking cuttings of "terrorizing 20,000 tailors" with a sympathy strike when in fact the cutters had "all the wages they asked for." Also, in case you are wondering, the manufacturers are not anti-union just anti-THIS-union with its "irrational, inexperienced, and incompetent" leaders (presumably because they are demanding an hourly wage).  We assuredly can know that the manufacturers are reasonable and fair because any cutter can accept "the conditions that the employer names" and has "by his remedy refusing to work." In other words, take it or leave it and don't demand fairness for the next poor immigrant sap. 

Finally we get the word from the court of the street police where all the street fights get adjudicated. The violence from both sides sounds serious. I know that I would prefer to avoid being beaten by "clubs, shears, and other articles."



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