Six hundred men employed by the Steinway piano forte manufactory in New York, struck for higher wages yesterday. The men demand from 12 to 20 per cent. advance and also demand that the apprentices and men learning the trade shall be paid less than $10 a week. Last September the firm voluntarily gave their workmen an advance of about 10 per cent. Two hundred men employed in the Astoria factory as key makers also struck. (Brooklyn Eagle, Feb. 18)

The Steinway firm called a meeting of all the manufacturers in New York City yesterday, and it was resolved that no further advance will be made in the pay of the employes, because such action would drive trade to other cities. It was stated that the New York manufactures now pay fifteen per cent. higher wages than those of Boston, Baltimore or Philadelphia. The strikers met yesterday and appointed a committee of twenty-five to watch the Steinway factories in New York and Astoria, and ascertain the names of all the men who might be engaged to take the place of the strikers. Another committee was appointed to hold themselves in readiness to converse with Mr. Steinway or any of his authorized agents, and to made such arrangements as they might deem necesary. The piano makers' unions of several cities have telegraphed expressions of sympathy to the strikers and promises of assistance. (Brooklyn Eagle, Feb. 19)

THE STRIKERS. - No Compromise as Yet Effected.
No compromise has yet been effected between H. Hermann, of New York, the furniture manufacturer, and his five hundred striking cabinet makers and carpenters. The men met at the Germania Assembly Rooms in the Bowery, this morning, and decided to stick together and not seek employment elsewhere, as they are confident Mr. Hermann will have to yield within a very short time, and give them the increase they demand. Next Thursday each of the men will be paid at least five dollars out of the relief fund of the union, to which they belong.
The United Piano Manufacturer's Association, composed of all the leading piano manufacturing firms of this city, will hold a special meeting this afternoon to consider the trouble between Steinway & Sons, and their seven hundred striking employes. It is thought that the Messrs. Steinway will be sustained by the association in the stand they have taken. Most of the manufacturers fear that if the firm yield to the demands of its employes, it will precipitate upon them a general strike in all their factories, therefore, it is argued they are against yielding to the strikers. An executive committee representing all the different departments in Steinway & Sons' factory, are in constant session in a liquor saloon on East Fifty-sixth street, and feel sure that when their employers present supply of pianos give out, they will be glad to re-instate them in their places at the advanced rate of pay for which they struck. Offers of pecuniary assistance from other trades unions are constantly pouring in, and they claim to be able to hold out for months to come, if necessary, to gain their point. (Brooklyn Eagle, Feb. 28)

The striking employes of Steinway & Sons, of New York, are to hold a meeting this evening to discuss the situation arising from the threatened lockout. The Piano Makers' Union will confer with them. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 1)

The various employes of piano manufacturers, now on strike in New York, hold out persistently, and on the 15th inst. a lockout of 4,000 men employed in the piano factories will begin. On that day every factory in the city employing over ten men will be closed. The bricklayers and marble polishers are agitating the question of an advance in wages, and a mass meeting will be held by the former next week to take action in the matter. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 3)

THE STRIKERS. - The Lathers' Union Demand Increase of Wages.
The striking workingmen's ranks were swelled this mornning by the resolution of the Lathers' Union, of New York, demanding that the pay of its members be increased about twenty-five per cent. Several builders who have contracts on their hands have already yielded and promised to pay the advance, while some few who refused to take any notice of the action of the Union, find themselves without lathers, and it is probable that the men will have a "walk over" in attaining their object, as an unusually large number of buildings are in course of erection, and the builders will suffer some delay in fulfilling their contracts unless they accede to the men's demands.
[Hermann's striking cabinet makers] and carpenters are still determined to hold out, and the difficulty between Steinway & Sons, the piano manufacturers, and their employes has not yet been settled. The men laugh at the threats of the other piano manufacturing firms to order a general lockout by next Saturday week unless Steinway's men come to terms in the meantime. The manufacturers are determined to carry their point, and at present it looks very much as though they would carry out their threats to close their factories.
None but green hands are at work on the pier of the Bristol Line, at Burling slip. The 'longshoremen formerly employed there have not yet consented to accept the reduction of ten cents per hour in their pay. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 4)

THE STRIKES. - The 'Longshoremen Take a Stand Against the Stevedores.
The 'longshoremen belonging to Union No. 2, of New York, which is composed mainly of men who earn their living along the East River front, have taken a decided stand against stevedores who employ green hands to load steamships at thirty cents an hour, and union men to work on sailing vessels at forty cents. They have ordered all members of the union working for hte stevedores paying two different rates to strike. Most of the men employed along the East River, from Coentias slip to Clinton street, struck yesterday, but some of them refused to, as they were getting forty cents an hour and did not propose to strike because their bosses might be employing men at thirty cents. Those who refused to comply with the order of the union will probably be turned out of the organization. All the stevedores, except Messrs. Hall and Flannery, have [acceeded to the demands] of the men. Mr. Hall, who has charge of the loading and unloading of the steamers of Ward's Cuban line, has a gang of green hands at work on Pier 16, but several sailing vessels which he has undertaken to load will suffer delay, as nearly all the union men he had working on the [] have struck. Stevedore Flannery is ill, but his son manages his business on Pier 18, where he has a green gang handling the freight of the Bristol steamers. The trouble is, that the work on the sailing vessels is much harder than that on the steamers, and it requires skillful men to handle the cargoes. Outside of the union men, there are very few able to do the work properly. The 'longshoremen of Brooklyn and Hunter's Point have successfully demanded an equal rate of pay.
Among Steinway & Son's piano makers and Hermann's furniture manufacturers there is no change. They are still firm, and confident of ultimate success. In other branches of trade no new move of interest or importance could be [] of. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 6)

THE STRIKING PIANOMAKERS. - The Ultimatum of the Manufacturers not Accepted - All the Factories to be Closed To-morrow.
Steinway's striking pianomakers held no meeting yesterday, nor did the committe send any communications to Mr. Steinway relative to accepting the terms he offered them and returning to work. Yesterday afternoon, when the hour of four o'clock passed, the time allotted to the striking piano makers to determine whether they would return to work or not, all the manufacturers made preparations and on Monday morning next at seven o'clock all the factories will be found closed and the men locked out. On of the most prominent of the piano manufacturers stated last evening that the greatest dissatisfation prevailed among the men in the other shops at the conduct of Steinway's men in [not accepting the terms] offered them and returning to work. He said that twenty-four out of twenty-eight piano factories of this city would close their doors on Monday. The remaining firms were small ones, two or three of which had failed during the past few months. It is estimated that by this action some 4,000 men will be thrown out of work, and about 3,000 additional men will withing a few days be compelled to quit work on account of the closing of the factories. These men are working in shops which get up parts of pianos, such as piano forte cases, keyboards, actions, legs and lyres and iron frames.
A mass meeting of the workmen employed in all the piano factories in the city will be held this morning at Turtle Bay Hall to consider the situation. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 14, March 15)

The off platoons of the New York Police force have been ordered to be held in reserve at the station houses until further orders. This action was rendered necessary in order to keep the peace, should the striking workingmen resort to violence on account of the lockout of the piano manufacturers. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 15)

The Lockout in New York. - The strike among the journeymen piano makers of New York has no sooner begun on the part of employes of certain firms than the manufacturers themselves have combined not only to resist the demand for increased wages but to control the labor market. They have retaliated upon the employes by ordering a lockout, so that several thousand piano makers are now out of employment. The strike began because the workmen in the Steinway factories demanded an increase of fifteen per cent. in their wages, and failing to obtain that advance, struck. Belonging to a union they naturally looked to that body for support, and then came the edict of hte Manufacturers' Union or association, whose object is to destroy the association of employes and thus reduce the entire trade of piano makers to starvation and force them to accept wages at any figure that the capitalists may chance to determine upon. This is a proceeding which seems to us as illogical as it is censurable, and likely to breed trouble. Any affairs that are conducted upon the "honest farmer" principle of "Heads I win, tails you lose" is so radiaclly dishonest that it cannot be made universal without resort to force, and this is precisely the position adopted by the manufactures. Ever since the panic of 1873 wages have been gradually descending. Business was dull and prices fell. As the situation became darker the piano manufacturers, like other employers, gradually reduced the price of labor, until it reached the present figure. They had no hesitation whatever in so doing. Business has now become brisk in every department of commerce. At the same time the purchasing power of money has depreciated, owing to the lowering of hte standsard of the dollar. The consequence is an increase in the price of every article of domestic consumption. The piano makers thinking it about time that wages should rise again, as they had previously fallen, made their demand and were met in the manner described. That is to say, when business declined their pay was reduced, and now that it has revived they must still put up with reduction. That is the "honest farmer" doctrine of heads and tails.
Had the employers rested there the laborers would have had no grievance which he could not himself remedy. He could refuse to work, and there would be an end of it. But now comes in a new application of the "honest farmer" theory. The capitalist has always worshiped, up to date, a fetish of most hideous mien - the law of supply and demand - whose interpretation is "do the worst you can for your fellow man." Wages, the fetish has declared, are regulated by the demand for labor. In reducing his employes' wages he has quoted this outgiving without hesitation. He has not troubled himself to combine against strikes in a period of falling markets because he has trusted to his fetish to help him out, and it has done so, because too often the trades' union has consented to worship the same idol. The workingman has suffered in silence after an ineffectual attempt to resist reduction. But now the conditions are changed. The market is rising, and the workingman demands an increase. According to the law of supply and demand the manufacturer should be quite as secure as in the other case. If the workman's labor is not worth 15 per cent. more than he is now getting he will not get it, even though his strike should last until doomsday. All on a sudden the manufacturer announces that the precious oracle only applies to reduction of wages not to increase. Instead of letting the market fix compensation he declares a lockout. Instead of saying "I can only pay you natural market wages," he says : "Hang the market. We will combine and fix rates for ourselves. Accept our own arbitrary terms or starve. We have the best of you. Not a man of you shall receive a dollar unless you accept our figure. We know that this is the very acme of injustice, but so long as we hold together you are powerless. You must look to us for support, but we refuse to employ you until you agree to our terms. A little starvation will render you less ambitious. Go and starve, as you must, since there is no market except ourselves." When the law of supply and demand operates to the advantage of hte piano manufacturer it is a perfect arbiter, a Daniel come to judgment ; when its operations favor the journeyman piano maker it is dispensed with. This is another application of the "honest farmer" heads and tails principle. And it is an arraying of capital against labor of a defiant and tyrannous sort, a proceeding fraught with consequences so dangerous that we hope the capitalists will see it and abandon it without delay.
As a rule the EAGLE is opposed to strikes. They are likely to lead to acts of violence and to mob law. But few strikes, however, of any magnitude have been recorded where there was not a real grievance at bottom. We think that in the whole history of strikes in this country, except where strikers have become rioters labor has never put itself in a position so false and so tyrannical as that which the piano manufactures have assumed. They have not attempted to get labor at its market price, but by closing the market they have attempted to buy it for less than it is worth. If the attempt is persisted in there is little doubt that the laborign men will suffer. No man who lives on small wages can be deprived of his weekly allowance for any length of time without suffering. But the evil consequences will not be confined to the workmen. The capitalists will presently suffer and that too very seriously. By closign the market against skilled piano makers they will either drive them out of the business into some other, or disperse them throughout the country, and the piano factories of other cities will be the gainers. Already the New York houses find strong competition East and West, and formidable as it already is their own action may give such an impetus to rival cities that New York will away some day to find its piano trade gone. This would be a calamity, of course, but the amazingly narrow policy of hte manufacturers will place them beyond the pale of popular sympathy. The public and the daily press, which has always discouraged combinations of the part of labor, are forced now by their own logic to reprobate the combination of capital. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 16)

LOCKED OUT. - The Large Piano Manufacturers Shut up Shop.
Steinway's Men Refuse to Accept their Employers' Terms, and General Suspension of Operations Follows - Prospect of Distress Among the Workmen. Meetings of Both Employers and Artisans this Evening.
In Compliance with the resolution adopted by the Piano Manufacturers' Association to close their factories this morning, unless the striking employees of Messrs. Steinway & Sons returned to work, the men employed by the manufacturing firms of Albert Webver, George Steck & Co., William E. Wheelock, Joseph P. Hale, Haines Brothers, J. & C. Fischer, Henry Behring, Decker & Sons, Billings & Co. and James & Holmstrom found the doors of the factories of these firms closed against them this morning.
It was no surprise to them, as the firms named had given notice on Saturday night of their intention to close their factories this morning. All of them except one had given the men to understand that the step was taken in compliance with the resolution passed by the Manufacturers' Association. The one whom the men said lacked the manliness to acknowledge that he joined in the lockout was Hale, and he informed his employes that he closed for repairs and taking an account of stock. As might be expected, there was considerable indignation among the men when they realized that their employers intended to carry out their determination the force Steinway's striking employes to accept the terms offered them by ordering a general lockout, and several gave vent to their bitterness by denouncing Steinway and all the firms who had joined with him, at the mass meeting which took place yesterday morning and was attended by nearly [four thousand piano makers.]
Others were pronounced in their opinion of the strikers, who stubbornly resisted the efforts of Messrs. Steinway & Sons to effect a compromise, and expressed the opinion that if the strikers were all inclined to prevent the lockout they could have done so by accepting the 5 to 15 per cent. advance offered them, instead of holding out for their original demands, which were unreasonable. A number of other manufacturing firms will probably join in the lockout by to-morrow morning - thus throwing at least 1,000 more men out of work. This morning meetings were held by the employes of Albert Weber, George Steck & Co. and J. & C. Fischer, at which resolutions denouncing hte action of hte firms were adopted. Weber's men decided to demand an [increase of fifteen per cent.] in their pay before returning to work, and it is very probable that all the other men turned out will follow their example. In the event of the success of Steinway's men, and before the idea of a lockout was suggested, it was the intention of the union by which the men are governed to order strikes in all the factories, but not in more than one at a time, so that as fast as one firm yielded a strike woudl be ordered in some other factory, and thus the treasury of the union would not be in danger of being drained, as the men employed in every factory but the one at which the strike was in progress would devote a large per centage of their earnings to the [relief of their striking brethren,] who, as soon as their object was attained, would reciprocate by assisting other strikers. These plans have been upset, however, by the lockout, which, it is understood, will soon make away with the existing relief fund, and it is asserted that the aid which will be received from outside sources or other trades unions will be inadequate to meet the wants of the men, who, after a few weeks, will find themselves not only without employment but devoid of means of support, and it is predicted that the destitution which will naturally follow will force the men to end the trouble of their own accord.
The men themselves, on the other hand, argue that a large majority of their number by industry and frugality have accumulated a few hundred dollars each, and will thus be enabled not only to hold out themselves but assist their less fortunate fellows to hold out for months. The idea of starting a co-operative manufactory is already being discussed, but such an undertaking would be very likely to result as disastrously as that of 1864, when the locked out men, after being out for some weeks, started such a factory and sunk what little money they had saved into it, but they soon got squabbling among themselves and the result was a grand failure, which carried with it the hard earned savings of those who had joined in the scheme. The Steinway men hold a grand mass meeting to-night, when the exact state of affairs will be made known through the reports of delegates from every factory in the city. The manufacturers themselves [meet this afternoon] to consider the situation. Those who joined in the lockout assert that all the factories that have not joined in the movement, combined, employ less than a thousand men. In addition to the piano makers thrown out of employment a large body of men employed in New York City and other localities in supplying material to the manufacturers will soon find themselves idle, unless the trouble is ended by one side or the other yielding within the next few weeks. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 16)

THE LOCK OUT IN NEW YORK - At the meeting of the Piano Makers' Protective Union Executive Committee in New York to-day, offers and subscriptions of aid for the locked out workmen were received from numerous sources, including many outside the trade. Nearly 3,000 men are now locked out. They declare they will not return to work unless their demands are granted. They are confident of success. The men who apply for it are to be allowed from five to nine dollars each per week out of the General Relief fund. The manufacturer saw they will stand firm. they are preparing an address to the public. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 17)

The Piano Manufacturers' Society has issued a card to the public defending the action of its members in combining against the demands inspired by the Pianomakers' Union. The manufacturers say that the public is entitled to know precisely what encroachments they have decided to resist. After detailing them they say that in resisting the encroachments of this trade union they are strugglingfor their very business existence, as well as to prevent the New York piano industry, celebrated all over the world, from sharing the fate of many other industries, viz. : Be driven entirely from the city. The card is signed by Steinway & Sons and eighteen other firms. The men belonging to the Pianomakers' Union held several meetings yesterday and heard the Executive Committee's reports. They expect a long strike, but are sanguine of victory, and claim that they have a very large sum in their treasury, and that financial aid is promised by the bagmakers, silk weavers, cabinetmakers, cigarmakers and other working pianomakers of New York. They also expect to receive aid from various other cities. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 17)

As an offset to the card published by the piano manufacturers of New York yesterday, the Union of Journeymen have issued a declaration, in which they defend their own action and attach that of their late employers. The circular states that society as organized has always afforded greater protection to the employers than to the working-classes, and it is therefore the duty of those who receive the most favor from society not to act against the interest of their fellow men by closing their factories and rendering thousands breadless. It further says that if the employes had made demands which prevented the manufacturers from realizing a sufficient profit, then the lockout might have been justified. The existing low scale of wages and the enormous demands for pianos prove the contrary. The union denies that it dictated the strile but says that it upholds the men now that they are out. The Grand Lodge of the Union decided in secret session Tuesday that the men of those factories which do not open their doors at 7 o'clock on Monday next shall demand an advance of ten per cent. on their wages before returning to work, and yesterday the men of the various shops met and passed resolution to that effect. A large number of the workmen have had offers from other cities, and three hundred will leave the city this week. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 18)

THE LOCKOUT. - An Offer to Reinstate Their Men Made by One Firm.
Sohmer & Co., of New York, this morning, met a committee representing the men they have locked out and offered to reinstate their employes in their places if they would deny their connection with the union. All that was necessary for them to do in answer to the question : "Are you a union man?" would be to say "No," and those giving that answer would be taken back. the men reported the offer to the Executive Committee of the Piano Makers' Union, and were instructed to answer that they all were members of the union and would not desert their organization. The factory of Hazleton & Co., on University place, is in full blast although the firm is connected with the Piano Manufacturers' Association, but Mr. Hazleton, who is president of the organization, claims that out of the 120 men employed by the firm only about 10 are unionists and he will probably discharge all but the non-union men if instructed to do so at the manufacturers' meeting, which takes place this afternoon. It is estimated that taken altogether ther are about 250 non-union men employed in the factories of the firms that have joined in the lockout. Steinway & Sons have about 100 men busy at their Astoria factories on iron works and locks. Hale keeps about 200 boys or learners at work in his factory. Otherwise the condition of affairs remains about the same as yesterday. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 19)

The association of nineteen piano manufacturers of New York held a meeting yesterday and resolved to hold together as long as the strike continued. It was decided at the meeting to make no reply to the published manifesto of the Union. The meeting adjourned to April 2. The Union will hold another meeting at the National Assembly Rooms on Sunday. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 19, 1880)

The piano manufacturers say that there is a likelihood of their business being driven from New York by encroachments of the Union. The members of the latter, on the other hand, say that the lockout will force the ablest and best workmen to go elsewhere. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 20, 1880)

THE PIANO-MAKERS' STRIKE. - SOME OF THE SHOPS TO OPEN TO-MORROW, WITH SMALL LIKELIHOOD THAT WORK WILL BE DONE IN THEM.
Some new and interesting developments were made yesterday regarding the "lock-out" in the piano trade, and unless the workmen change their minds to-day, the first week of the "lock-out" will be the last so far as three of the manufacturers are concerned. Haines Brothers, Sohmer & Co., and Ernest Gabler have arranged with their "locked-out" men to return to work to-morrow morning. The story of the manner in which this was brought about as told by the workmen differs materially, however, from the story as told by the employers, and it is by no means certain that the "lock-out" in these three factories will terminate as satisfactorily as it appeared yesterday would be the case. The first to take action looking to a settlement of the troubles were Messrs. Haines Brothers, who met their men yesterday, and, as Mr. D. J. Haines says, got them to agree to go back to work to morrow on the following conditions:
1. That we will not combine against any man in this shop on the grounds that he is either a union or a non-union man.
2. That we will not hinder or interfere with any respectable man in good standing from pursuing his work in this shop.
3. That we will not by force or otherwise intimidate any man or boy now employed from filling his present position.
4. That we are not now and will not be controlled by any union whatever in regard to the affairs of this shop in the future, being fully competent and able to adjust our own affairs, and will not interfere with regard to apprentices.
5. That we do not desire or wish the trade of piano-making to be driven from this City.
6. That we are satisfied with the wages paid us at present, having confidence in our employers to do what is right in the future.
7. That we wish to have the same good feeling and harmony prevail between men and bosses as heretofore, and we will keep good faith with our employers just as long as they do the same by us.
It was stated by one manufacturer that in addition to this agreement, Messrs. Haines Brothers had a verbal understanding with their men that the latter would not strike for an advance in wages within three mongths at least. Mr. D. J. Haines, Jr., said to a TIMES reporter that this agreement was read slowly and carefully to the men, and the latter agreed to it unanimously. The workmen, however, reported to the union that they had arranged to go back to work unconditionally, and they assented to no such document as that given out to the other manufactueres by Mr. Haines. They will go back to-morrow, the said last night, but if they find any such agreement as that in force they will not stay. As soon as the Messrs. Haines's action becames known, Sohmer & Co., sent word to their men that they could return to-morrow "on the same conditions as those between Haines Brothers and their men." The men held a meeting and accepted the offer. Ernest Gabler made a similar proposition to his men, and they also agreed to accept the conditions and return Monday. Kranich & Back read the agreement to their "locked-out" men, and the latter at first assented. They immediately demanded, howeer, that the firm shold discharge one non-union man who had been working in the shop, and should tear up the paper containing the agreement. The firm, of course, refused to do anything of the kind, and the meetings ended without result. "We have made our conditions, said Mr. Kranich, "and if the men accept, all right, if not, then they can stay out." J. P. Hale's men resolved yesterday not to demand the 10 per cent. advance on Monday, but to insist, instead, upon the abolition of the contract system. Mr. Holmstrom, of James & Holmstrom, said that he had not seen his men yesterday, and he recognized no union committee through which he "must" communicate with them. If, he said, his men wanted to return to work on the terms agreed to by those returning in the other shops he would open his shop to them.
Mr. Albert Weber was out of town yesterday, but it was the general opinion of the other manufacturers that he would be opposed to taking his men back, even on such terms. All the manufacturers with whom the reporter talked seemed to be well pleased with the action started by Haines Brothers. The matter of wages, they say, is not at all an issue in the lock-out. The only question is that of dictation to the employers by their workmen, and this matter is fully covered, they think, by the terms of the above so-called agreement. The truth seems tp be that the firms are getting far too many orders for goods to allow them to keep their factories idle a moment longer than is absolutely necessary. "I think," said Mr. Haines, "that for the first time in a number of years we have a good understanding between ourselves and our men. But if we had not come to some reasonable understanding with them we would have driven them to the wall and made them desperate. When our settlements became known we were immediately visted by several other manufacturers, who came hurrying for news, saying they heard we had 'caved in.' After I explained the matter to them, they complimented us for what we had done." Mr. William Steinway said he approved of the arrangement made by the three firms. So far as the strike in his factory was concerned, it left matters just as they were : "It is my intention," said he, "so far as wages are concerned, to do what is right after my men return, but they must come to the shop first. I think the agreeement between the employers and their men shows that the working men's organization is not very strong, as the men agreed to return without asking the consent of the union." The German Republican Working Men's Association held a meeting last evening in the Germania Assembly Rooms, and arranged to take up subscriptions for the Piano makers' Union. The Socialistic Labor Party, together with other similar organizations, gave a ball at the same place, and gave half the receipts to the union. The piano-makers will have a mass-meeting to-day in Wendell's Hall, West Forty-fourth-street.
Messrs. Dunham & Sons deny the truth of the rumor that they have decided to employ hereafter none but union men. They say they never made such a statement, nor authorized it to be made. They do not care, they say. whether their men belong to the union or not so as they are good mechanics. (New York Times, March 21)

LABOR TROUBLES. - The Lockout of the Piano Manufacturers Breaking Up.
The most interesting feature of the difficulty between the piano makers and their employers in New York, yesterday, was the unconditional promise by Haines Brothers to reopen their factory on Monday next, and restore their seventy-five or more locked out men to their places. The Executing Committee of the Piano Makers' Union, which is constantlyu in session at the Teutonia Assembly Rooms, look upon this as a certain indication that all the other manufacturers will follow the example of the firm named within a few days, thus virtually [ending the lockout.]
The three men who returned to work in Sohmer's factory were yesterday induced to desert their places by their locked out brethren. Gabler has offered to reinstate all his men, if they will promise to refrain from subscribing to the support of Steinway's strikers. The propoisition was being considered by the Executive Committee at the time of writing. The firm of J. & C. Fischer yesterday met their men and informed them that they could return to their places on Monday if they would renounce the Union. The offer was, of course, rejected. A communication received by the Union from St. Louis yesterday offers pecuniary assistance from all the trades of that city if it is needed.
Hormann's five hundred striking cabinet makers and varnishers look upon his last offer with suspicion. They positively assert that they will not return to work unless they are given an advance of fifteen per cent., in addition to the increase of ten per cent. they received last Fall. Mr. Hermann's offer, they say, would be of no benefit to them, and is a trick on his part to make it appear that he is giving them more than they ask for, while the truth of the matter, they say, is that they will actially receive much less than they have asked for. There is very little possibility of an early settlement of the difficulty.
Gabler & Co. have notified their men that they can return to work unconditionally to-morrow.
The locked out workingmen of the factory of Steck & Co. have announced that if they are not taken back by to-morrow they will only return on an increase of ten per cent. in their wages.
Yesterday afternoon Sohmer & Co. sent the following letter to the Executive Committee of the workingmen :
NEW YORK, March 20, 1880.
This is to certify that we ask our men to return to work on exactly the same terms that have been accepted by the men heretofore employed by the Messrs. Haines Brothers. SOHMER & CO.
Billings & Co.'s men met yesterday, and resolved that if the firm did not open the factory to them by noon to-morrow, they would not return, except at ten per cent. advance of what they had been getting, and that they would only treat with Billings & Co. through their Executive Committee.
The 250 men lately employed in the factory of J. P. Hale, at a meeeting held yesterday, resolved that if the factory was not open to them by to-morrow, they would only go back on condition that the present contract system be abolished. J. C. WInter, of 510 Ninth avenue, in a letter to the Executive Committee yesterday, stated that he was willing to board any four of the locked out men who were in need, and that if the lock out should last, he knew of other parties in his neighbornorhood who would also board some of the men.
G. W. Curtis, of Brooklyn, has contributed $10 to the piano makers' fund. The collector of Stein & Co., brewers, has contributed the same amount.
A long letter advising the piano makers to keep together and stand out against their employers was received from a memeber of the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the State of Missouri.
Sohmer & Co. sent $10 to their men for refreshments, which money the men turned over to the fund.
It was reported yesterday that Brewster & Co., carriage makers, have, unasked, raised the wages of their men 10 per cent. The following dispatch was sent out by Messrs. Haines Brothers of New York:
NEW YORK, March 20.
We had a conference with a large number of our workmen this morning at the manufactory, which resulted in their deciding to return to work on Monday upon the terms proposed by us." (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 22)

Collapse of the New York Lockout.
A great many of old established customs have suffered reversal of late and the rule which has heretofore appeared to govern the relations of employers and workingmen has been turned upside down. The EAGLE, in discussing the lockout desclared by the piano manufacturers of New York, endeavored to point out the great mistake which the association had made in retaliating upon the Pianomakers' Union by locking out all who belonged to it. The lockout was sufficiently general to cause a temporary paralysis to the industry in New York and was actually unjustifiably. The result so far has been to prove that the interests of capital are just as sensitve as those of labor, and that neither side can suffer injury without affecting the other. The agreement between the employers to break down the union by locking out 3,000 workmen because a limited number only had struck for higher wages, with some show of reason, has proved to be less binding than the union obligation. Several firms have already drawn out of the association, and have unconditionally surrendered. Others have begun to make terms which are significantly moderate, but which the union declines to accept. The workmen, apparently, have it in their own hands to bring these employers to terms, and the lesson thus taught seems to be quite salutary. The lock out in the first place was incomplete. The firms that remained out of it took advantage fo the present activity of business and continued to fill orders which had come pouring in with almost unprecedented frequency. The advantage was so great that their competitors, finding their own orders unfilled, began to feel alarm and quickly succombed. They say that their own law would not apply and that they could not by any combination fix wages at a lower figure than the market made. It is, therefore, evidently a question of time only when the others give way and the employes acquire what they demanded. These disagreements between labor and capital are always to be deplored, for their results are invariably disastrous to both sides. It is surely possible to devise some system of arbitration which will render strikes impossible. It is to be regretted that the law of force should be relied upon to adjust wages, and that the first move should come from the employer only when a reduction is to be made, and from the employe when the question of an advance is considered. The law of supply and demand, which teaches that after a long and exhausting struggle between the two branches of industry, a joint loss will readjust the relation, must obviously be a false guide, especially since in addition to wasting money and labor, it is likely to breed chronic discontent and violence. There is, necessarily, a higher law if both parties would bestir themselves to look for it. Why, one inquires, are there no strikes among Mayor Howell's employes? Mainly because mutual confidence exists that each is acting honestly by the other and doing the best he can for the other compatible with his own interests ; that interests apply in a much larger sense than the temporary squeezing by one side out of the other of all it can, with a certainty that by and by the other side will retaliate and do the best for itself and the worst for its opponent that the opportunity offers. In a great majority of cases the theory prevails that the employer and the workman must, by the very conditions of their relation, be in a state of bitter antagonism, and too often such is the fact. The moment the chance for reducing wages arrives the employer cuts down rather than bear any share in the loss from a falling market. On the other hand, when business revives and an opportunity offers to inflict a serious blow upon the employer by striking, the workman demands an increase, sometimes before circumstances warrant an advance. And so a contest is kept up, each party striving to strengthen itself against the other, and each refusing to make a concession except under duress.
For this state of things there can be no excuse. If proper confidence exists between employer and employe, the former will not desire to make an unreasonable profit at the expense of the employe's misery, while the workman will be just as unwilling to injure his employer's interest by demanding a higher rate than the state of trade can afford. The co-operative principle should be allowed to regulate the matter, and if the workman is willing to suffer reduction in hard times, the capitalist should take the initiative in restoring wages in seasons of prosperity. A little incident that occurred some time ago illustrates the advantage to both sides of dealing with men as men, and not as money grubbing machines. Wages had fallen in the glass manufacturing industry, as in others, and presently came a brisker market. One firm, noted for the good feeling existing between its workmen and their employers, took the initiative and, without solicitation, put wages up 7 per cent. This action enraged competing firms, who denounced it. Shortly afterward the whole trade struck for a raise of 10 per cent. and, after the usual struggle, succeeding in obtaining it. The single exception was in the premises of the firm that made the voluntary advance. Its workmen were so well satisfied with the treatment they had received that they made no effort for another increase. The consequence is that the owners were doing full work at the time, while their competitors closed, and in addition to that, made a clear saving of 3 per cent. on the payrolls. We commend this example to other employers. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 23)

A special meeting of the piano manufacturers' Society was held at the Union Square Hotel yesterday afternoon. Haines Brothers were called upon for an explanation of their action, and Mr. Haines, Sr., stated positively and without qualification that before he opened the door of his factory to his employes he read to them, more than once, the agreement drawn up on Saturday, and that they accepted it without reservation. He said that before he would surrender to the men the factory might go to pieces. Resolutions were unanimously adopted to the effect that the closing of the factories was not agreed upon and enforced for the purpose of compelling the men to accept less than fair and renumerative wages for their labor, but simply to establish and emphasize the right of each employer to maintain absolute control over the management of his business. It was further resolved that each member of the society is at liberty to employ what workmen he pleases, provided the latter agree not to attempt to dictate to their employers whom they shall or shall not employ, whom they shall or shall not appoint as foreman or what apprentices they shall keep. Haines Brothers, J. & C. Fischer and Mr. Gabler agreed to close their factories to-day, unless the men accepted the terms. Hazelton Brothers, whose factory has not yet been closed, agreed to join the lockout movement this morning, unless their men assented to the proposed agreement, waving all rights to dictation. It was promised that all the piano manufacturers would abide by this decision. The piano makers were greatly incensed when they heard this, and they said they would never return to work under any conditions. The Executive Committee received funds from several sources yesterday and a number of letters assuring the union of support. The Amalgamated Labor Union, which represents twenty different trades and 10,000 workmen, will hold a mass meeting at Cooper Institute this week, to condemn the lockout, and the United Order of American Carpenters will hold a meeting for the same purpose. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 23)

THE LOCKOUT - Unconditional Surrender of Some of the Piano Manufacturers.
The piano manufacturing firms of Behning & Son, C. D. Pease & Co., Kanich & Bach, Haines & Co., Gabler & Co., Decker & Sons and J. & C. Fischer & Co., New York, have reopened their factories to their lockedout workmen. Several of the firms named made an unconditional surrender yesterday, and the others began operations this morning. Decker & Sons addressed the following note to their men:
To the Committee:
GENTLEMEN - Our shop is now open for you to return upon the same conditions and under the same status as when you left. Yours respectfully,
DECKER & SON.
Taken altogether about 750 men have resumed work through the decision of the seven firms named to again open their factories. Hazelton Brothers have had their factory, in University place open during all the trouble, and it is said that the members of that firm and another manufacturer, were bitterly reproached at the meeting of the manufacturers yesterday afternoon, for their evident efforts to [evage locking out their men,] and their failures to adopt the same course as the other members of the organization in the matter. Sohmer & Co., say they intend to keep their promises to the association, but don't propose to be the last to resume, and have the other manufacturers capture all the best men. It is probable that this firm will throw open the doors of their factory within a day or two. Albert Weber has withdrawn from the manufacturer's union, it is understood, and this morning his representative said that Mr. Weber is thoroughly disgusted with the whole matter, and will no doubt invite his men to return before the end of the week, by which time it is probable that all the factories except Steinway's will again be in full blast, and the lockout will have resulted in the miserable failure to force Steinway's strikers to return to work without the advance demanded. The headquarters of the Union Executive Committee, on Third avenue, was crowded with pianomakers this morning, and they were jubilant over the turn affairs had taken.
None of Hermann's five hundred striking cabinet workers in New York accepted his offer, published in the morning papers to-day. They refuse to accept any offer made through the newspapers, but are perfectly willing to confer with Mr. Hermann, if he will request them to do so, but he says they must come to him if they want to return to work ; and so the matter stands at present, with no prospect of an early settlement of the difficulty. Mr. Hermann has advertised for men to take the places of the strikers, and to-day a representative of Boston cabinet makers visited the city to make terms, but returned as soon as he was informed of the true state of affairs, after telegraphing to those who had sent him here not to come (Brooklyn Eagle, March 24)

Nearly all the piano factories were open yesterday, and the lockout is virtually at an end. Albert Weber's resignation from the manufacturers' society and his subsequent notification to his workmen to return broke the lockout. He explained his resignation on the ground that one boss was better than a dozen. He has notified his men that they can go to work without conditions and he has reserved his right to do as he pleases about an advance of wages. The Steinways are little affected, they claim, by the stoppage of the lockout. The firm stands where it did in the beginning on the question of dictation. The refusal of Hazelton Brothers and F. G. Smith to close their factories weakened the lockout from the first. The men of six factories are still out. the Executive Committee of the men's Union expect a struggle with Albert Weber and J. P. Hale. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 24)

THE LOCKOUT
The unconditional surrender this morning, of E. Wheelock & Co., New York, to their men's demand for ten per cent. increase in their pay, left only three piano manufacturing firms still at loggerheads with their employes; these are Steinway & Sons, Hale & Co. and Albert Weber, and each of them are negotiating for the return of their men, and it is probable that by Monday next the piano makers' strike and lockout will be a thing of the past, and the members of the union will look back upon it as having resulted in a grand victory for labor against capital. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 26)

Steinway & Son yesterday surrendered to the demands of their employes, and on Monday the factory will be open as usual. They will give ten per cent. advance, and it is understood that this will be made an excuse by the manufacturers for raising the price o fpianos. The only manufacturers who have not consented to the advance are Albert Weber and J. P. Hale. The cabinet makers employed by Hermann, the furniture manufacturer, have returned to work, and , while their wages have been increased, the firm are determined to enforce new shop regulations, on of which is that the men shall not indulge in beer drinking during working hours. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 26)

THE LOCK OUT. - Only two piano manufacturing firms have thus far refused to make concession to their men, Albert Weber and Hale & Co. To-morrow meetings will be held by the successful strikers, to celegrate their victory. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 28)

The striking piano makers of New York held a meeting yesterday and canvassed the results of the recent lockout. Several other labor organizations held meetings and considered the propriety for a demand for an increase of wages. (Brooklyn Eagle, Mar 29)

No terms have been made with the striking workmen of Albert Weber and Joseph P. Hale, piano manufacturers of New York. All of the other piano factories whose men were out are open. The cabinet makers of Henry Herrman's furniture manufactory are still finding fault and the men quit work and held a meeting in the afternoon. (Brooklyn Eagle, March 30)

The piano makers employed by Mr. Albert Weber returned to work this morning, he having granted the increase of ten per cent. demanded. Mr. Weber is now paying three and four per cent. more for labor than any other manufacturer. Mr. Hale has not opened his factory, and has informed his late employes that he prefers closing his factory indefinitely to acceding to their demands, which are the abolition of the contract system and higher wages. (Brooklyn Eagle, April 1)

Cost of a Single Strike
The striking piano makers have returned to work after accomplishing their purpose and obtaining an advance of wages. The piano manufacturers have resumed business after being compelled to surrender to the demands of their employees. It must not be supposed, however, that either side has been the gainer. As Von Moltke said a few days ago, even a victorious was is a great national calamity, and even a successful strike is liable to be a great popular disaster. In the present instance the sufferers are the successful strikers, the piano manufacturers and the general public. The Sun of this morning calculated the losses of the two active participants in the late struggle, and its figures are undoubtedly correct. According to these data Messrs. Steinway & Sons lost by the strike about $40,000 through rent of unproductive property, inability to fill orders and other consequences of the strike. Albert Weber lost $10,000, and the other members of the association who joined in the futile lockout, some $30,000 in the aggregate. The strikers lost in six weeks' pay the sum of $105,000. This loss was partially distributed though the country in the form of contributions from various labor association. The workmen will slowly recover their lost ground by reason of the advance in wages ; the manufactures will even more tardily regain their advantage because every order which their action turned over to some competing firm in a nother city will serve to strengthen competition. The public loss the amount of increase paid to the strikers, which will be added to every piano sold in New York. At all events, here is a loss of something like $200,000 caused by the failure of the employer and employe to come to terms of a rational basis. The law of supply and demand which the capitalist worships evidently needs a strike before it will determine values. It must be evident to anybody who can read that a principle so damaging to all parties must be radically defective. Striking and locking out are relics of barbarism. In their places co-operation, or at least arbitration, might reasonably be substituted. Idleness is apt to breed not only misery, but crime. (Brooklyn Eagle, April 2)

Mr. Joseph P. Hale, the piano manufacturer, yesterday followed the example of his fellow manufacturers of New York and accorded to his employes the ten per cent. demanded. (Brooklyn Eagle, April 6)

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