The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-09

Cal etfecs than the relief OF the Aoorer. Inc
circular requests the Legislature, however, to
enact laws restraining employers from re-
curing their employees 70 work in any case
more than thirteen hours day.
CORRESPONDENCE,
FROM NEW YORK.
Nsw Yokk, April ~, 1868.
10 the AdIter Of The WoRKmanAEs ApvooAn.
The return Of spring seems to have inius-
ed new life into the workingmen Of New
York city Many unions that we're supposed
70 be dead aud buried, have suddenly given
signs Of Re again, and what is more, have
also discovered that they are very made
quately paid for their labor. lis strange
that men should Just at this season discover
that union is Of some benefit, extolling il
to the highest pitch, and at the same time
calling on the few faithful workers that have
stood BY the organization all through the
year, to egain pull the chssnuts out Of the
fire, and raise their wages for them. THIS
was strikingly illustrated at q meeting Of the
carpenters the other night, when several Of
the speakers declared, in very plain terms,
that they did not intend to ipaugurate q
strike to raise the wages Of inferior work
men, who done nothing for the Union, except
&c disgrace it, and that henceforth they in
tended to confine their Union entirely to
good mechanics.
This 10 step in the right direction, and
one that every trade must sooner or later
adopt, If they hope TO keep up their organi-
nations. Why should mechanics who have
spent long years Of toll to perfect themselves
in their various trades, admit men who have
never spent day 10 learn business, aud
yet have the unblusb;ng effrontry to demand
the highest wages, and If the union doss not
procure them for them at once, they do not
scruple to denounce it - humbug. Now,
Mr.. Editor, none Of the learned professions
admit within their pale any one who has not
gone through probationary stage, fitted
themselves for their several occupations, and
then, after passing an examination, they are
admitted. Why should II be otherwise with
the Mechanic? Capital for its own selfish
ends, has shouted for Free Labor, and what
has it produced Why, fve-sixths OF our
mechanics, to-day, are inferior and unskilled
workmen. To such point has this reached,
that the pride and boast of Americas me-
chanical skill 10 heard no more but our
public press teens with such articles as this,
which l copy from leading daily Of this
city:
@Serious fears are expressed by many lest
the present efficiency of our mechanics may
decline, unless steps are taken to secure bet
ter tra;-ing for them Our apprenticeship
system has greatly degeneratsd, and COM
plants are common that workmen only half
learn their trades. The old plan Of serving
ones time 10 not enforced, aud apprentices
often begin TO work Is journeymen before
they are fitted to do 30. As result, many
Of them are incompetent, and want thorough
ness. IL we expect to retain cur present
mechanical superiority, . change must be
made. In every kind Of labor tina standard
Of efficiency is becoming higher, ahd no
amount Of aptitude viii replace the want Of
proper education. The cause Of the superb
oFity of continental over English workmen
in The Paris Exhibition, vas the better train
ing of the former. Schools for technical in
stFuction are common Ia every part of Eu-
rope, and TIE defeat OF the English wofkmen
was simply the triumph Of educated over un-
edmmaed industry. Unless We prefer to be
"a - IL L. ~ - k~k
ing By these examples, aud secure for our
mechanics the same advantages which their
foreign rivals enjoy"
This, think, will show eonclusively to
your readers the absolute necessity that ex-
lists for Trades Unions to be kept up In MI
their strength and usefulness. Aman's card
of membership in the union Of his trade,
should Be q passport 10 obtain him employ
msnt in preferences to ell others, exactly the
same 90 surgeons diploma is 20 him, the
bis abilities have been tested ana tried until
he becomes perfect. II predict that the time
win yet come, nstwithstAnding Ill the preju-
Dice that new exisu ssainst them. when
union man will find employment Ia prefer
snce 70 I'll others. Hints are already drown
out by the press. thai IL 10 desirable greater
unity should exist among our wofkingmen's
associations, % that general interests may
be consultsd. And, again, II organized trade
conferences were held they would be accept.
I'd a. the exponsnts Of the workingmen's A.
sociations, and a. such would receive more
attention than single association. This
u rather different iangusge 10 what we have
been used 10, and shows clearly that the
Unions are quietly and slowly making pro-
rress; but capital viii require some hard
knocks before it win yield single Inch.
Every step win have 70 be gained by hard
6Rht. boz IL We en- get the Unions recognix-
cd ana admitted 70 be necessity, great
pOint viii have been gained
The Coopsrs have been On strike now some
weeks. auad would have been successful long
nwo bot for the obstinscy Of one flrm,
AbHFKs.n who being man Of huge capital,
made oct Of the workingman, d now using
Id % crash him into slavery II possible. Sons
utsanRs storiss srstold of BID obtaining every
kind 81 refuse barrel that oan Be got, many
az thsm hsiAg I'M mott nlthy oondi tion5 %
that % servs III purposs b II not only try-
ihe = smrse ~ M, bat y also polsoning
lf5 oustonsrs, s4xht1xr pleasant thing Is
fhs fhmily brsaklhst tnhls f6f ns1ter fd1sj-
lsn 10 i1icw ~ Ne beaugEful hot rolls shs
Il safink ws4s maAe from 6our taken out Of
Y barrel half.fnll II nkggots. But no doubt
- wood relish eyea that b keep down
bss hozld mechAnics tiat ars slRs5s d..
msiszled WI 1hdr W1rc1. 80
knothIt 6 iEo3o Sssu ~ si1xklce Q