The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-07-04


corporate money power, not only to inti CT
but to perpetuate the wrong.
SKILLED LABOR vs.. BOTCHWORK.
We opened the Herald Of Health the other
d ~, and the 6rst article that attracted our
attention commenced with these words at
$ a common experience in this country that
skilled labor, IN almost every branch of in
dustry, is very rare and is daily becoming
rarer and dearer to purchase, Bltehwork
vas never more plentiful, nor it, too, more
costly--6rst, in wages, and then IN comfort,
and beauty, and property diminished or des-
troyed" When we bad read thus tar, we
settled ourselves for rare treat; we thought
here is something worth reading. This il
no fancy article just skimming the Surface,
but it is going to inform US shy these things
are so, and as we had long been wishing for
information upon this very subject, we felt
pleased that we had invested years sub
scription in the magazine. As this article
alone was going to repay Us amply for our
money. When we had read the article
through; we must confess to feeling Of dis
appointment, at the same time, We fully and
freely admit, il was a good article, viewed
from the writer's standpoint, for we think
he has no practical knowledge Of the work
iDgs Of the mechanical world. We thank
,r ha If Oh
servations and thought, we thank him be-
cause we think il is time this question was
agitated, and we hope to thank him for the
replies it may eli-t. Mechanics rank next
to farmers in supplying our material wants.
and, as be has justly observed, ''COmrar
lively speaking, there are none learning, but
all are practicing the trades whose impor-
lance is greatest in supplying our material
wants." He says further, "What is worse,
the imperfect workman, the bunglers and
daubers, determine the price of labor with
out fear either Of competition or refusal. ("
Here be seems to have hit upon the cause,
and a little more investigation will show him
its practical workings, and the bearing it
has upon the supply Of skilled labor. 1t is
because the bunglers and daubers determine
the price of labor that skilled mechanics are
rare. What a skilled mechanic stand upon
the same plane as bnngler and dauber !;
and get it is too true.
Go through our towns and cities. Look
down their streets. Observe that public
building. What magnificent edlfce; so
true in all its proportions Note the art
and skill that must have been employed be-
fore that could have been erected. Mark
again the evidences of taste and skill in
that handsome residence. A large number
of men Of different degrees Of mechanical
talent and ingenuity, were employed upon
those buildings; yet the one who brought to
bis work just enough tao to enable him
to use the plane and the broadaxe
received the same amount of pay as be who
brought talent, taste, and artistic finish TO
his. The one receiving the amount justly
doe his work, the other giving to his en-
ployer, bis superior knowledge, skill, and
experience, without receiving an equivalent,
or, in other words, his employer takes 1. ON
him his superior workmanship, for which he
pays nothing, and in consequence Of mon.
payment, to which he has no right. And
just here lies the main difficulty, and, we
must either look il in the face, must meet it
and apply the remedy, or, still cry with
grief, rage, and disappointment, "Bosch
work"
The writer further Gays: "But in mast
kinds Of manual labor, the American me-
chaDic yields the palm TO the foreigner who
completes With him on Tho spot--at the same
bench or in the same street." Alas alas
have our mechanics fallen SO low as not TO
De able to compete with the poor, unskillfai
workmen Of the old countries. We speak
meaningly when We say poor, unsklilful, for
we have lived years in England, and We have
spent years in this country, and We know OF
What We write- Talent and skill are appre-
GATED in the British Isles. competent
mechanic can command almost any prlce.
and Journeymen are pad according TO tfeir
ability. Occasionally, good English me
chanie finds bis wsy 10 our shores, but liz
stay is not long. lie is soon on his way
back to where he 10 appreciated, and where
be can support bis family much m ire com
fortabiy than be can here, besides securing
q competency il he is careful and prudent.
But We make great nistske il We imagine
there is no mechanical skill among our na-
1--WE citizcas, and We make q still greater
If We supposesour skilled merchan-
les possess neither intellect nor reason. A
lakes . man with large amount of brain,
and thss Of good quality, too, 70 make
good mechanic. He must haye executive
LESS, large perceptives, casualty, construct
Iveness, Id. ality, imitsliOn, calculation, and
order, with good physical constitution, to
make good mechanic.
Let a. suppose young man, Of supesior
mechanical ability, thinking himself best
tilted for carpenter, applies himself asst
auously and becomes master IT this branch |
ot industry. He looks forward with the
hopeful, bnOyAnt spirit Of . nsa juss enksr- |
Ing upon the active duties Of lie ma ~
Iurs looms up before hin bright NH risions
II happiness, wealth, snd fAms. OF. IL
does our hearts good 10 sss tkese aT11rfne
young men, gloryine in tkefr ~ I3< I