New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-09-17
WANTED-A CLERKS PROvIDENT ASS0-
CITATION.

To the Editor Of Then. Y Tribune
SIR: However much the practice of association
NAV be abused by some, the grand principle remsns
the ssme-a backbone TO the greatest projects OF our
sce-the true mode OF welding together strength and
weakness. It's benefits, applied to trades unions,
assurances, and other kindred amalgama.ions, must
strike even the most superficial observer Yet with
ell the talent displayed by practical reformers, the
advancing systems Of clanships common to mechani-
cal tradee and the examples get by other countries,
New-York falls very far behind her sister cities In
Europe in provisions Of social order for en- important
clara of citizens, common 10 all emporums OF com.
perce as a moiority,) her men depending on a liked
salary. As whole, the clerks, statesmen and book
ke4pers embody much Of the intellect, segacity and
refinement essential to progress and CIVILIZATION.
Beside this, viewing them as distinct class, they
form also the focus Of changes the most sud
den ard unforeseen. The surges OF mercan-
tile storms too often dash them suddenly
from actual employment, while partnership changes
ard a thousand kindred causes as frequently
rltbe ssly destroy the Just reward of faithful labor
and years of honest toll But the giant EVIL IN their
manifold experiences is the visitation of sickness and
accident consuming the scanty savings OF months,
desolating homes, with DO rear guard 70 fall back
upon. All such heavy sorro9s, with the numerous
evils attendant upon dependence upon any one thing,
arise from the fact that year after year this sron,
th King, practical body know OF no plural-they ie-
ect the strong re for the isolated solitary l. In 1879
several Heath Associations made spasmodc
NOV. ment ending Ill signal failure. But their action
was in the right direction and their vital importance
WAS proved by the rush Of subscribers to their fala
cous rotten and IL cases rogutsh plans. There
was DO mystery in This sudden bankruptcy. for with
ont ngle exception these health assurances be- an
and ended OH wrong principles bad dlreetorship,
rperceAary motives, and 80 quietly died. But wnie
strange leharey exists in respect OF forming pure
ly "proy ideDt association there IA middle course
open and the thinking man worthy the name OF hus-
band and father soon fnds it outthe secret society
Co. .lrnrTa ut fnn I'm n
and harmless as the safe benefit club The religious
world universally denounce the act but taIl 10 pro-
ydpp the semblauce OF au an,id0te; and II mistake
not. although less noisily, the majority generally
out stion the wisdom of fostering combinations power
fu for HARM well good, liable To abuse, ana per-
haps Indirectly affecting momentous interests al re-
mote PERIODS of national history
Now comes the question. Our clerks certainly 90
need hep-they are q very important class III cur
midst they have very unequal salaues-out now Is IL
10 be done? This is the style, when addressed on mat
ters of practical and unobtusive reform, the very men
WI would move heaven and earth in wild, glarng
schemes talk in. The question hinges on the princi-
niles of mutual obligations and viewed IN this lght II
i easily solved. What gave the Clerks Mercantile
" Iitrary"-,his altar OF the ReubeIites to tower
foryer as a BOUNDARY line between the sef and en-
plovee2 The same blending of strength and wealth
with personal effort is all that required 10 be prac'
teal in this matter, without uuduly trespasslns on
YOUR space i propose that the Young Men Assocls-
lion canvass this question at their meetings or take
such steps as would insure beginning; In the mean
time PERHAPS you will allow OF the class Later
esed 10 follow up these Introductory remarks IN your
columns. hespcuuHy, "