Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-09-28
Tyrannic Organizations.
From The Albany Morning Times.

From The Albany Morning Times.
We never would oppose, but on the con-
trary would encourage, organizations among
workmen for their mutual benefit, advance
ment, and protection. But such organize
tons should be literally what they pretend,
and should not, under the guise Of useful
ness, strike at the liberty of thought and
action nor should they be of that despotism
which would destroy the usefulness, and de-
prive Of their labor those who, from inclina-
ton or other causes, 10 not belong To them.
or belonging dare act outside of their de-
crces. The recent strike of the Builders in
England, has brought to light some startling
facts. The number unemployed is so great,
that 100000 week is required 10 be dis
trbuted, and this affords but thirty cents a
day to each man. The suffering. of course
great. could be no further relieved, for so
deSpotc are the rules, that those in and out
of the Unions are not allowed to work until
the demands on employers are acceded to-
Then. too, even when employed, the rules
governing the members and outsiders, are
Of the most infamous and paral wing char
;.ctcr.
The London Builders Union interdcts
hrirklayerS. under the Seyercst penalties, from
working with both Lands at once, and from
LAYING as many bricks - they can within u
given time. 1t is standing order OF the
trade. that the bricklaycr must never, for a
moment, put the trowel out Of his right hand.
even though it prevents his getting on with
his work. An average workmen, it is said,
can easily lay a thousand bricks in a day it
he were allowed to put down or take up his
trowcl AT his own discretion, but the Union
restricts him to laying 10 more than four or
five hundred. La ike manner i: ~ decrecd
that no more than twelve bricks shall ever
be packed into bod at one and the same
time. though the bod would well hold from
sixteen IL twenty. Piece work is prohibited;
overtime is viewed with the utmost jealousy,
and only tolerated under very special and
stringent conditions. Such laws as these are
enacted, and actually submitted to by work
men in u FREQ country like England. And
they are at this moment suffering the pangs of
hunger and witnessing, with stOicisnl, the
misery OF their families, in order to sustain
system 50 utterly at variance with common
sense and common morality.
1t is first principle with those who
manage the organization of industry IN
the building line, that Il man shall not work
his best. He must keep his trowel In his
hand, when it is hIndrance instead of an
Md lie must use only one hand. when hr
might do double the labor with two lie
must stop work, tho he would like to 80 on
for an extra hour. and earn an extra hours
pay lie must not take any piece work,
tl,n,rh ha haS tln ar nth and al ill
do two ordinary days labor in one. In a
employer and himself II nature has gifted
him with any extraordinary force, dexterity,
or patience, he mas; not profit by the adyan-
tage. BY this barbarous code, the best and
strongest workmrn must do no more than the
worst and the weakest Industry and idle
ness are forcihly put and kept on the same
dead level Of dawd!ing mcdiocrty.
Can any tyranny be conceived of which Is
more crushing to the workinsmcn and more
disastrous u the mutual interests oi employ
ers and employees! IL is said that other
| mons of other branches in England are
equally rs despotc and suicidal i'll the rules
governing the men No wonder that We
hear of the suitrrings of the working classes
there; and though it may be argued that the
employers seek Ia pay Iust rs little as they
can yet do they not find their justification
in the fact that just as little rs can be, il
given. and that they are hampcr"d and re-
strained III extending their business, because
nf the full activity Of Labor they are deprived
Of, and have to employ two men 10 do what
one might accomplish. With mch Unions,
the sympathics Of intelligent ana honest men
have nothing TO do.
"A LOVE- OF BoNNEr. "-Thursday in
New York was the opening day for exhibit
ing the Fall fashions. and the millinery shops