Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-06-11
DAILY DEMOCRAT.
Journey men and A Apprentices.


from the f1llAGefNnlh ENentDy ElnE-
One Of the principal differences between
the various mechanic strikers ard their
employers, is the subjec. of apprentices.
The bcs, bticklayer. oil this city, at .
meeting hell day or two sines, adopted
resolution setting forth The sound truth
that they deemed i, best for the employer
and employee that boy should ssrvea reg
uiar apprenticeship, aud that their rot
being properly ind sntured Is detrimental
- TIE interests OF all concerned We
think that no one who has given this sub
jsci even g passing consideration vii! fail
~ agree with the views set forth in this
resol u,ion The abolishing Of the old ap
premiership systsa has resulted. not
merely in serious dsmags to the different
branches Of mechanical pursuits, but to the
positive injury Of the boys themselves The
system that is now generally pursued, OF
allowing boys to come and So at pleasure,
must, in the course of time, necessarily
work complete revolution in nearly all
industrial pursuits. Even now a very
large proportion of our skilled workmen
are from foreign lands. and the numbers Of
these are continually increasing. The
ress n is very evident There are CON-
plfa,iveiy few bows nowadays who a'e
regularly spprentced. Occasionally we
find boy who has Sufficient spirit and
ambition To commence aud learn n trade
and perseverc until he accompllshcs his
purpose. But such cases are rare. They
are they exceptions, not the rulc. Where
one boy maplfests and carries into practical
effect this praise worthy determination,
scores act differently, and as natural con-
sequence employers are compelled. in or
der to maintain their reputation for turn
ing out workmanlike goods. to secure the
services Of thoroughly skilled workmen.
In most European countries, and more cs-
pecially in the German States, the impor-
tance Of thoroughness in the skilled pro-
LESSONS is fully appreciated. Parents
there are ready and willing to pay literally
for the privilege Of having their sons made
master workmsn. II the same system were
adopted here, We should hear Of fewer
complaints and fewer strikes among jour
neymen mechanics. Under our present
system, boy Of ordinary skill and tact, il
he possesses sufficient physical strength,
will, in very short time b able to compete
IS . workman with . majority Of those who
are called iourneymsn. The claim to the
title of journeymen 10 not, Is formerly,
based upon the fact that the claimant had
served regular apprenticeship, but that
he has reached the age Of twenty -onc. In
some Of the trades unions, at least, this
is the price requisite to admission, ability
to perform the duties Of . jeurneymsn
not being called into question. We have
not spacs to enlarge upon this subject now,
but it must DO evident TO every thinking
person that radical reformation Of our
American apprenticeship system 10 de-
Esnded.
TINS agony is over. The McGrsgor and
Sioux City Railroad Company has accepted
the land grant. and the stockholders Of
tho Milwaukee and St. Paul Company
meet at Milwaukee on Monday for the slec.
ton Of officers, when it is expected . line
Of policy with regard to the construction
of the road under the grant will be adopt
ed, and the road Immediately commenced
and pushed forward vigorously. That
company must see that their interests lie
in making speedy connections with the
Valley Road and the Cedar River
-TMcCIregor (Iowa)ueWs