New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-21
APPRENTICESHIP.

Among the changes affecting trades and in-
dustries, none seems Of more Importance than
that relating to apprenticeship. Formerly.
Young men learned trades by a regular and
well-estabshed system, but within 20 or 30
years this has been wholly abandoned, and it
is difficult to say now in what manner n
trade can be learned at least, there is no rule.
In many, if not in most trades, j0uIneymen
object to apprentices, and at tho best they
permit only limited number 10 work among
them, for the reason, as they allege that their
labor is competition. and tends to lower the
rate of wages; and we have now this singular
state of things in our country that where labor
produces wealth and prosperity, obstacles op-
bose It's incfe6se. 'tS'>r'l-l * g. ...- y 80
For the good of our country at large, and
for the honor of industry itself. every facility
ought to be afforded our young men TO Learn
trades We do not say that we should return
to the old system under which service was re-
quired by law for a gi.yea number of years,
and made obligatory by legal articles, nor do
we say that modification of this sys-
TEN might not be desirable but We urge
that some plan shall Be devised by which
any young man who wishes cab enter upon o
trade and be welcomed by the craft, instead of
being considered an intruder. This is a sub
ject of general concern, and one which too
much affects human progress and the wei
fare of society to be controlled by journey
men who have no other interest at stake than
their own wages. Whether wages would be
reduced if there were many more mechanics
may well be questioned In the thickly Dopu-
lated countries Of the Old World mechanics are
r 4 A. a.. 4.
sderation Of the poverty, and consequently of
the limited wants of the people; but with us
condition altogether different prevails and we
venture to say that no addition which we could
make to the number of mechanics within fifty
years would diminish wages or demand for
their services We say this, not of cities, and
least of all of New-YOrk, but of the whole
country. We have large sections of country
newly settled, every year thousands of farms
are reclaimed from the prairie and forest, an
immense number of towns, and villages, and
cities are building, and are to be built new and
thriving families are established, and there is
no work which a mechanic can do, and no
product for his hands which is not, and which
will not be, in demand. Even grant that wages
and prices decline-for there is no pursuit and
no interest which does not fuctuate-yet in our
vast and growing country this can only be tenn
pOrary, and new demands will quickly arise,
and to an extent unknown in any other part
of the world, or at any former period of time.
But should the rewards of skilled industry be
less comparatively, than at present, they must
always exceed those of the day labOrer, and
we are free to say of the average received in
the professions, while the individual will re-
ceive immense benefit in being, by reason of
his trade, independent, and less liable to fall
into vicious habits, while he Is thereby nude
better husband father, and citizen,
u course we shall he told that there are
mechanics enough already, that Employers OPP
press, that only by strikes and holding out
can living wages be obtained and that to in
crease the number Of mechanics by making an
entrance to the trades easy will only add to
the difficulties now almost insurmountable.
We repeat, however, that there is work for
all. Man has the power Of locomoton; work
has not; therefore it is to be sought where it
can be found. When mechanics cling to cities,
insisting upon terms, and disregard calls where
they are needed, or forget that there are many
places where, so to speak, work can be built
up, if they are on hand, we cannot expect
that young men will be welcome. We say
that leading mechanics, and those
who have influence in Trades Unions, should |
look on the wants Of ON Young men with more |