Page:The Economic Journal Volume 1.djvu/190

 168 clothing, 14; nail trade, 10. For the State of New York alone there were 59 boycotts, a large proportion of the above total.

In 1886 the use of the system largely extended; for the State of New York 163 boycotts were recorded. Of these 19 were successful, 13 were unsuccessful, 11 were doubtful, 3 were pending, and there were no replies as to the remainder. Of those settled the duration varied from one week to two-and-a-half years, the average duration of 22 cases in which the time was ascertained being slightly under four months. The 'remarks' column in the table of boycotts contains a few hints as to the effect of some of these attacks upon the business of offending capitalists. One employer admits a 'slight decrease in receipts.' Another states 'business and proprietor ruined.' Several acknowledge a 'loss of customers.' One very dednitely puts the loss at 'twenty-five dollars a day in saloons.' Another is 'injured ten dollars a week.' Many admit 'injury to trade,' and several 'stop business altogether.' On the other hand may be quoted such remarks as 'no harm done;' 'increased business;' 'no injury;' 'immensely increased business while boycott lasted;' and finally, 'forty-seven men indicted.'

This last quotation is here intended to mark a new departure in the boycott movement. During the year preceding 'a wave of labour disturbance had passed over the country.' Labour organizations increased their activity, and the boycott was imposed with a frequency and rigour which excited popular feeling and indignation against those making what was considered an arbitrary and offensive use of the system. This sympathy with some of the victims of the boycott accounts for the remark 'immensely increased business while the boycott lasted' and for the quotation 'forty-seven men indicted.'

It would appear from the facts presented by the report of 1886 that the merely neutral or 'let alone' form of the boycott had given way to a more aggressive mode of procedure, which in time brought those who practised it within the reach of the law.

A noted case is that in which an organization called the 'Carl Sahm Club' directed a boycott against a Mr. Theiss, proprietor of a music-hall on the ground that he employed non-union musicians. The Waiters Union and the Bartenders Union also had a grievance against Mr. Theiss. These bodies all made common cause and commenced a joint boycott of the music-hall. Pickets posted in the locality of the hall distributed circulars setting forth the grievances of the men and appealing to the public to boycott Mr. Theiss. These pickets were on duty two weeks. They even