New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-01-16

AosnHlAIlOn
Ist those who are interested in the Eman-
.;0stion of Labor and the Progress OF Socl-
.,v ponder the facts here presented
The Association Of File Makers
1.-The Association Of Working File Maker. Son.s
bs prpeipe Of Liberty Equality aud favsrn9
Sreptly and in order sbish perpetual $3.50 ~
sEsTEcT ought always 70 TsI and Se most cordial
rnOst complete JUSTICE IN our eq.lIs, ~ ~
AFFECTION in our reciprocal J'"S'"S' ,.
uTbese words which we copy from document
Drawn m discussed and adopted by the Workmen
themselves, fully characterize the Association we
are about TO describe and mark the degree OF
esteem and sympatby it deserves in every re-
,Dect They are from the preamble of the rules and
-eonIs,;ons placardsd in the different workshops
Of the establishment.
"Tbe fabrication Of files sets in motion business
whose value ranges as we are assured, at from
ten 10 eleven millions Of francs ayear, and occu'
pies from two TO three thousand workmen In the
principal manufacturing cities of the country. AT
Paris. where there are engaged in it five or SIX
extensive houses and some fifty small master
yorkmen who labor With their own hands assist
ed by one or two journeymen or apprentices, the
number of workers rises to about two hundred.
This trade is not exposed TO regular periodic
cessations of employment 1t Is active or slow
according to the greater or less activity OF the
other trades to which it furnishes Of the most
useful instruments. The wages paid by employ
ere has not varied for long time it is a francs
for those who work by the day. Those who work
by the piece as is more usual, earn on the aver
sge 90 francs a week.
"The idea at work in this trade was less the
gaining higher wages than that independence, that
moral and intellectual restoration by which the
hired aborer may hope to rise to the level OF other
citizens. Many projects, conceived with this pur
pose, had long been agitated among the work
men, who are men OF sense as well as Of heart,
when the law Of July ;, ls4s, in favor of work
ingmens associations, was passed. Then four
teen workmen, who had among them materials
worth $50 francs, and about 500 francs in money,
agreed to form an association, which was organ
lied August %, 1913, under the title OF Frater
nal Association of Working Filemakers Soon
after. they obtained a Government subsidy Of
10000 f. sncs, which was paid half on Nov q, and
half on Jan. 81, following.
"One of the first ficulties these Associations
meet with is to find demand for their products
In the trades and professions connected with the
privileged classes and exposed to systematic an
tpathIes and hostilities this difficulty is very
great la this respect the File Makers were
again lucky Working for workers of other
trades, they found at once set of customers,
naturally sympathizing with them, and sufficient,
in case of need, to keep them occupied in making
Gles of assorted kinds. After two months spent
in fitting up the workshops and setting business
:. L. -. H. .oto rva1
for nothing the establishment was opened to
buyers The repairs of old files brought in
enough during the first half Of December to pay
something more than 30 francs to each associate.
The good quality of their products, evinced by an
honorary medal obtained at the Exhibition of Ma.
tional Industry in ls49, gave the establishment
favorable reputation. The sales for Paris soon
became remarkably active, and orders began to
be filed for the Departments.
"The proof of their success may be found in the
progressive augmentation of the number of asso
ciates and of supplementary workmen that is to
say, of workmen who are not associates. Though
the admission of new members il performed inthis
association with remarkable prudence, the utmost
care being taken in every respect, there were at
the end of ls49 seventeen associates and thirteen
supplementary workmen; about the beginning OF
last October the number OF the first was twenty
three and of the second sixteen. At present.
owing to a heavy contract Just taken, the Assocla
ton is rapidly increasing 1t just now counts
forty.two associate and supplementary workmen,
and will count many more rs soon as room has
been provided for them to work in.
"Just as in the world, we meet with individuals
having the traits common to all men and particu-
lar characteristics which distinguish Them so these
Associations, which are collective individuals, are
similar in their principles and their purposes, but
are marked by dominant features, which they owe
without doubt to the instincts or tendencies other
founders What has struck us among the file
makers, is sagacity in business and management.
In this point of view their Association is worthy
of most careful observation.
"The Association is formed for thirty years as
partnership. The investment of the members is
limited to 300 francs each, to be furnished in mon
ey or tools. The admission Of members is prece.
ded by rigorous inquiry as to the character and
skill of the applicants
zone of the principal arguments of those who
speak Of the Associations only to decry them is
this Because these associated groups do not
admit Unfortunately all who apply, and because
they employ workmen on wages, they are in re-
spect to the latter, no better than ordinary en-
ployers.
"Nothing is more unjust than this accusation Of
selfishness Exposed 30 a rude competition, the
Associations well know thatth chief condition Of
their existence is rapid sale Of their products.
They can only increase their numbers as their
market enlsrges. The helpers they call in when
work presses are not positively admitted till it is
certain that they can be made steadily useful.
Beside there is radical difference between
Association and the old system OF labor. An en-