The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-20

THE APPRENTICESHIP LAW.
A chronic growler, BY the name 81 p. W.
Gates, man who has long enjoyed the IN
enviable reputation IF beisg the lIost malig-
nant and INSCRIPTIONS enemy Of Trades
Unions In he Northwes., has recently inl-
mortalized himself by long vinded bung-
ling attack on The Apprenticeship Bill, nov
before the House Of Representatives. Like
everything else, however that emaoates FROM
his pen, il allows the head OF the snake
to peer above the grass, and beusys the
nal which be vainly struggles to conceal
After yentilating bis puny spleen against
Labor Organizations, and those whom be 8
pleased TO style the = leaders Of the move
ment," who have had the temerity to claim
an equal voice with the employer in deter
mining how many apprentices shall be en-
pIoyed, be says:
II cannot be 70 secure better class of me.
ch-.d3s and thus raise the standard Of All
classes Of manufactured work IN this country.
fir the bin proposes to take boys fourteen years
old, and limit their SCI vices 10 four ears. Who
so blind not to see that boy from fourteen
to eighteen cannot become a workman Initial
time although he may be faithful and do the
best he can.
Well, let Us see though to arrive at
correct conclusion, we must commence al
the beginning. Il will be conceded even by
p. W., that with the development Of our
immense resources, Illinois is destined 10
become the great manufacturing centre for
the Northwest; and that in order to com
pete successfully with the Eastern States,
we must have what we now deplorably las k
educated, skilled mechanics. Our present
apprenticeship system being virtually dead
letter, and consequently unable to produce
such a result, it becomes a necessity that a
simple, effective. law should take its place
and with that end in view the present bill
was framed.
Now let US examine into the merits of the
fret objection raised.
Section expressly provides thar the con
sent Of all minors over fifteen shall be
required to make the contract binding. IL
is well known that many Of our botches or
runsways have been indentured to trades
for which they not only had no preference
but positive dislike, while there is every
reason to believe that had different course
been adopted-had their tastes or prefer
ences been studied-lhey would have be-
come ornaments to their profession.
Tbs we hold to be step in the right d.
rection, one, which If followed, will 90 more
to correct the evils complained Of than any
other measure with which We are acquainted
Section 2 reads as follows
Such agreement or indenture shall. under any
end all circumstances, contain the following
provisions; First Said minor persons shall be
bound 70 serve their employers for a period ot
not less than three nor more than Eve years,
according 20 the nature 81 the business 70 which
said 'ainofs arc engaged.
Now, with all due Difference to the propri-
elor Of the Eagle Manufacturing Company
we insist that an intelligent apprentice in
dentured at fifteen years for term OF fiys
years can become a proficient mechanic in
that time yet for one boy who IL indentured
at that age there are dozec who are linden
tured between the ages Of sixteen and seven
teen years, while with the superior advan-
tages Of our labor saving machinery, m ap
premiership OF Ave wears in 1859 Is worth |
more than = servituds Of twice that length |
fty years ago.
The claim put forth by the same party |
that our foreign born mechanics are by far |
the best ia the country and that we're our |
national reputation dependent on the produc-
tons of = 1eucan born artisans, we should |
cut sorry figure, is rather incoI sistant
with the TACT that IN many Of those depart
ments in which British and Gsrman me-
che cs hold an Acknowledged pre-emi.ence,
Ame. "A has successfully competed for the
prize. And while we have no desire 10 dis
parage the mechanical skill Of our adopted
citizens, we think IL is very strange that q
simple passage across the Atlanta should
eoable these very men to outstrip their own
in the Contest for the superb
ority.
But for the sake Of argument, let NJ admit
the force Of this mans reasoning. What
then Z The castle no builds With the one
hand, be dsmoIishss with the other. He
admits thas American mechanics