Evening star., 1869-07-12
The Apprenticeship Question.


"A. NJ. Clapp, Congressional Printer, to the
Bookbinders' Association, ian abstract of which
appeared in the STAR Of SLturday.) liz reply to
their letter Of the 7th instant, In regard 10 the
apprentices at the Government Printing Office:
OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL PRINTER, Wash.
ington. July 10, S69-GenVemen Some m on bs
since addressed a communication to your or
ganizaton on the subject of apprentices, with
infer, that you should repeal or amend tina
portion OF your constitution relating to the
number OF apprentices to be employed in the
Government Bindery, and have just received
your reply. This substantially ignores the
suggestions OF my communication, inasmu ch
as You seem disposed to make IL a matter OF
contest in words rather than OF action in the
direction l have indicated.
MY communica ion to your org lniz alton was
more out OF courtesy than from sense Of duty,
1or the simple reason that my judgment doe :
not recognize the right iu anv outside org anz l.
tlon OF men TO dictate TO the Go vern luent in any
oflfs departments who, or how many persons
shall be employed under its business nee ssi.
ties, and having, afLer much delay, received
Your response, L will astily consider its prop
CsitiOns.
regard the battle Of life open to every Amer.
lean citizen, whether old or young, white or
colored, under the broad American principle,
that "all men are created equal" / hold that
no man or set of men have any peculiar right
or patent relating to the general industries and
labors OF this free country, and tnat none, be.
cause they may hold the advantage OF q trade
have any immunity that justifies them In
closing the door Of industry aud craft against
others who may desire to pursue the same lth
in the journey OF life. Hence, consider your
attempt to dictate to this branch OF the Govern
ment service, or to any other relating to the
Industries OF the counry, as to the number of
ITS employees as clearly wrong and indefen-
SiSle % u under tne E,ost PLAIN and simple princi-
As TO the statements and propositions OF your
communication, feel justified in saying that,
under the best lights available to NV mind
tleV are Substantially fallacinus
ful examination Of your statements, in come :.
tion with facts that i gather from Legitimate
and reliable sources, lead me to firmer COM clu.
slors as to tae justice OF my VIEWS rather than
TO bring them IN harmony with yours on THIS
question. Your statements are to the number
OF men employed IN the Government bindsry
1or q serfs OF years past are not, L am con.
v,nced. sustained by the fac $ to It are revealed
by careful and close scru inv
find that the number Of men employed in
the Government Bindery for the year 1867 was
constant employment during the year. In the.
yer 1865 the whole number of men employed
in this bindery was no. Owing to the fact
that the second session Of the Fortleth Congress
Old not adjourn, except from time to time, un.
I'll late in the year, large quantity of work
(2ome $4,000 octave volumes in sheep and caIf
was necessarily reserved, and is now on hand
to be done. 4 ue average Mumper " men con-
the yess
time lost by men on their own account, which.
il included, would increase the average mum.
ber sfnployea constantly tQ stll larger figures.
Thus far during the year 1859 the humber OF
men employed in the Government Bndery is
lis, with fair prospect that the average
d Turing the entire year will be equally to these
+ CURES, unless the number Is reduced By the
action Of the binders themselves.
While these facts are not material to the main
question at issue, present them TO show that
your organization has fallen in error In an ef.
fort to justify Its attempt to shut the door
against such young men as may desire to be
in the arts OF this trade, and thus be
prepared for Obtaining an honest and respecta.
BILE livelihood in the Struggle of life. You seem
10 forget that Your organization is composed of
men, large proportion Of whom will, in all
human probability, come to the end of their
journey ere long, and how great would be the
calamity to the country il the art o. book olnd-
ing should pass away with them! It 10 to
should be not only permitted, but encouraged
to learn this trade, that its usefulness may be
and keep pace with the necessi.
ties and advancement Of the age.
What, let me ask, is to become OF the lads OF
this great country if they are to be excluded
from learning trades and are lett to buffet the
vicissitudes and temptations OF life without
some reliable resource for d livellhood-such,
for instance, as Is guaranteed through an ap-
premiership and proper education for prose-
cutting an honorable businessl Ths solu lion is
easy. If the boOkbinders are TO maintain their
restrictive position in regard to apprentices,
other trades may adopt like policy. This
will have direct tendency to fill every com.
munity with idlers and vagabonds, who might
have been saved ts respectability and useful.
ness il they had been psrmIttet to 10 lrn trades;
and, what is more, under such line of policy
the general industries OF the country will b.
greatly impaired, If they do not absolutely
lapguish and die out.
With these suggestions I feel constrained 20
admonish your organization most respectfully
that my duty In this caseis very clear. It 10 70
aid those who may desire 10 learn trad =, so far
as, In my Judgment public necessity may de-
mard, and my authority and ability may ex-
tend in that direction. holding myself respon-
am, with due respect. &c,
A. n. CLAPP, Congressional Printer.
To A. q. Hulett, President, John A. Perkins
ciation.