Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-07-23
THE RIGHTS ANDwRONGs OF TRADE
INU0NS

THE RIGHTS AND WRONGS OF TRADE
UNIONS.
The contest between the New York brick
lSyers and their employers has grown to pro-
portions causing II to attract wide attention.
1t Il stated that twenty thousand mechanics
and labOrers are now out of employment in
New York city IN consequences of the strike;
and that work has been suspended on two
hundred and thirty buildings. The master
masOns declare that they do not objecl to
the wsges demanded 80 much rs to the regu-
lsticns OF the journPymen governing the EN-.
Ployment of apprentices, and forbidding bosses
IRON working unless they telong to the Unions.
The latter. in case they join the associ-
anon, must stop work at such time as
the journeymen may designate, and no
master mason is allowed to employ NOR.
than two apprentices, In brief, they al
iege that the arbitrary interference OF the
Unions an the business affairs of the employ.
ers hiss reached a point wnere the latter must,
IN seif-defence, make a stand.
THIS conflict brings up for discussion the
question OF the legitimacy aud healthfuIness
of Trade unions. They consist of workmen
banded together IN large numbers TO pro-
mote their common interests; they claim
20 represent the feelings and wishes of the
artisans IN each trade: they posses. large
resources, and have used their power with
such effect that while they proclaim higher
wages, lighter labor, and increased infiu.
euce, as fruits Of their exertions, they are
denounced by numerous opponents As lille.
gal societies, using intimidation to coerce
men and masters, and as ipjuring commerce,
without permanent benefit even TO their mem.
oers. The unions, II is asserted by their oppo-
nents, do not, and cannot raise wages
the wsges-fund, or capital out OF which the
worKmen are to be pald. nor do they diminish
the number of the recipients, though they NAV
prevent the increase Of that number by arbi-
tFarily limiting the number OF apprentices
BY e. GLIDING competition, they may ralse their
own wages, but this exclusion constitutes 8
tyrsnnous monopoly which ought not to be
permitted; and even this monopoly can never
raise the wages Of workingmen as a whole 1t
Is argued further in opposition to the unions
that they are injurious 10 the country at large,
and their existence Is irreconcilable with public
policy that they injure the quality of all
articles produced, by diminishing competition
among artisans; that they limit the quantity of
wealth produced, by limiting the number of
producers; and that in these and other WAYS
without benefit TO themselves, they Danish
trade. and increase the cost Of produce to con.
suners.
To tins the members of the unions reply that
they Acre raised wages, and their EMPLOYERS
know IL, and this Is one reason WHY thew
a-e hostile to unions. Not only. they assert.
have the unions raised wsges, but by the estab
iIshment of working rules, by the collection of
information As to the want and excess of labor
an different localities, by the selection OF good
sad exclusion OF bad workmen they have
benefited both thel- employers and the con.
sumerS OF the wealth they produce. By the
establishment of organized bodies with whom
employers can treat and argue, the number of
strikes have been diminished and arbitration
facilitated further, that the unions supervise
the conduct OF their members. and have notabiv
raised the social position Of the artisan They
contend, also, tha; they no more injure trade
by refusing TO work for less than 8 given sum
per week, than a capitalist injuries trade by re-
1using 10 invest his money for less than q n ven
per cent That trade must be unsound. they
say, which requires for its success that the
workmen shall be quasi paupers! Is there any
reason they ask, why combinations of capitaI-
lists should be permitted 10 fix the rate OF inter-
est al which they will invest their money, ana
combinations of workmen forbidden TO ix
the rate at which they viii sell their labor,
The object OF the unions IN limiting appren-
tees is OF course To keep up wages by prevent
ing competition. II is defended by various ar
guments, such as that the men bargain to work,
and not to teach apprentices, that not being an
essential part Of their business Another ar
gument is that if no limitation were imposed
wages would fall so rapidly that really the
benefit to those admitted into the trade would
vanish. and that the union Is acting kindly in
preventing lads from embarking in a trade in
farh M mi arS "A
ever earning comfortable livelihood. These
arguments have considerable force, but the
real cause for the limitation of apprentices is
admittedly because of the powerful means II
affords OF raising wages. That the direction
70 teaching apprentices Is nor a real one, is
shown by the fact that the members Of trades
unions refuse, not only 10 teach apprentices
beyond the number authorized by their reyu-
lations, but also 10 work in establishments
where an over number rs employed. In the
unions this is the rule. That
tue number OF apprentices should be restrict
ed Is inanifestly proper, but the limitation
should mol IN the interests OF the entire
community, be carried 10 an extent 10 create a
monopoly for privileged few, regardless of
the needs Of the large number seeking TO learn
= trade and earn an honest livelihood. IL
might be proper 10 apply tests of fitness for tn.
trade; or educational restrictions might be per
United analogous TO those which fence around
most OF the learned professions. These re-
strlctions do limit competition, but they do MOI
simply select who shall. and who shall no; n.
Tree to enter these professions.
The strike Of the New York bricklayers was
based originally on the demand for eight hour.
10 constitute the days labor On this issue They
occupy tenable positioo- BY refusing to WORK
more than eight hours per day man may mn
MS employer 10 some Inconvenience. he may
msAe less money than II he worked ten or
twelve hours Per day. but certainly # he
can by working eight hours each Gay
gain as much money a. he needs, society ha.
no night TO ask him 10 work longer. and when
ne bargains with his master that he shall M,
De made 10 work longer, this condition. 50 far
from being directly injurious 10 any third
party, Is beneficial TO his fellow workmen.
since more Of them will b. employed than !,
he worked sixteen hours each day Its bet
Ter for the men and better for the country ras,
4 larger number OF men should be employed
tor the smaller number of hours Right or
wrong, however, the working people OF the
country have undertaken 10 establish eiyh,
hours Tor the legal days work, and the drift OF
vents shows that they Will certainly succeed.
he employers and he employed will In TINS
Ind other matters NJ issue ind a. necessa 90
,ome 10 an understanding for their mutual
'enrht. The employers complain with
eason against sudden strikes that crIp-
,le fne., .tr.aax -.