New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-07-14
WORK AND WAGES.
THE CHINESE-OUR WORKINGMEN.
HOW THE woRKMEN WHO SUCCEEDED IN LIFE
WORKED.
30 AZ Edftor 81 mo TrfbNne.


SIR in years past, when labor like capital,
was left to its resources and was in way
neced with strikes and trades unions" the wealth
lest and most honOred rule sprang from the working
classes. Clerks became princely merchants from the
humbest apprentices useful trades were developed the
successful mechanic and manufacturer But the class OF
thus schooed in industry is rapidly passing away
Now, uncomfortable antagonism between the employer
and employed prevents the RISE from the classes Of work
ingmen, OF successful merchants and manufacturers
The wOrkugman consents to he permanently
cassed dependent, for he places his personality anu
his fortune in the control Of trades unions ana assoca
tons thus putting between himself and the cap'aS'
wide separation detrimental alike 70 eaeh ana "noiy
impolitic and unnecessary.
A year OF ago there were in Ne"-horA '"o rcIre
sentative men, of marked personal appeauhoe "HoSe
names are famous in the business ana literary circles o
the nation We alude TO James Harper senior member
and founder Of the firm Of Harper Brothers, and Thur
low Weed so long identified and st connected with the
ress and noltcs of country In recalling these men,
40 superior in the practical character of their minds
while taking AT glance the triumphs Of their matired
life we forget that their youthful days, these noble
specimens Of American development were tradesmens
apprences and attained the knowledge and experience
that laid the foundation Of their greatness, working
lads" 1t my fortune to enjoy the conversation Of
the waning hours of the last evening Mr. James Harper
spent in his house We had been invited 10 see him,
that we might aid him in carrying out philanthropc
Mr. Harper pleasantly turned his conversation upon the
trials struggles Of the abOrng classes OF the present
day. His interest in those who live by daily toll OF
the broades kind, and inspired by sympathy almost
such the intelligent parent has for his children. He
deprecated aAnstrucons that nculcated the idea that
the master and the wOrkmen antagonistic in
interest His idea Of achieving founded upon
Christian hOpefuness, strict temperance, economy with
out meanneSs and the most self-sacricng industry.
in life in his opinion, most likely to be
reached through hard work. and if relaxation came at
ALL it to be realized in such reading and study
would improve the mind.
Probably without the slightest suspicion OF the resem
blance Mr. Harper, this interesting occasion, seemed
be inspired with the spirit of old Ben Franklin
Perhaps his mind sympathetic with the great prae
cal philosopher, from pursuing the same business of
printing and having nearly the years Of expert
He clothed his thoughts in the simplest and
most expressive words and gave utterance TO similar
broad phlanthropc, and practical ideas Abiding to
the antagonsm that is universal between the
employer and the employed, he said:
1.-THE old story Of the good apprentice boy marrying
his masters daughter has meaning now The strug
gle seems rather to be to create discussions between
people, whose interests being mutual, should be the
best Of friends Apprentices after the OldfashiOned
kind have passed away, and the majority OF working
instead of spending their evenings at home reading
or at place dedicated to the Improvement Of the
mind squander precious time in attending trades unions
and arranging strikes. Labor is the workingman's
capital everything that inereres with its freedom
is an evil So long as people differ in dispositions,
natural smartness and habits of industry so long they
will differ in the capacity for work and for acquiring
money and any attempt by association or other means,
TO reduce all the level unjust and oppressive
Then after his favOre method Of illustrating an idea,
he said Thurlow Weed and were apprentice boys to-
gether We worked year after year. at the same press
Sometimes ThuTlOw would want to quit work earlier
than thought necessary but used to persuade him to
accomplish extra tasks this not only kept out of
mischief hut put money in our pockets This was our
style when boys, and odfashoned as the notion
may be, il is good style yet"
MI Harper then enlarged upon the general advantages
OF industry and kept up the conversation until was
ready TO depart. With cordial shake of the hand, he
gave what may be justly termed statement of the
experience of his whole life Ono laboring man ever
achieved a competency by working eight hours day,
and it not best TO he studying how little we can work.
but how much
BY the will Of an inscrutabe providence these words
became the will and testament of James Harper TO
the woIkingmen of the city he so much loved. As a
youth, he entered the metropolis with no fortune but
upright intentions and the determination by untiring
industry TO succeed The apprentice boy in time became
ourneyman; master workman; the chief magistrate
OF New-York; the head Of of the largest printing
and publishing establishments in the world.
met MI ThurOw Weed day or two since in the office
of Of leading papers, and L alluded to Mr.
James Harper, and mentioned his views as to the way
for a nottingham to acquire independence. Mr.. Weed
reflected moment and replied: Ii was most emphatic
ally the rule Of James Harper's whole life TO study, not
how little he could work, but how much. Mr.. Harper
and learned trade than 80 years ago. OF Mr.
Seymour then the leading printer Of the city He was
our master and of the best men God ever made
He resided No. 4G JOhn-st and lived directly opposite
his place business. James and were partners. The
advantage Of having good partner where You worked
after month together at the press must be
apparent. Often after had done good days work.
James Harper would say Thurlow let's break the back
Of another okenust break its back" would generally
reluctantly consent Just to break back of the token,
but James would begue me, laugh at my complaints,
and never let Off until the token completed fair
and square II custom with us in Summer to do
fair half days work before the other boys and men got
their breakfast sJames and would meet by appoint
ment in the gray the morning and 60 down to John
st. We got the key OF the Office by tapping the win
dow and Mr. Seymour would take il from under his pillow
and hand TO OF through opening III the blind.
presSmau" continued Mr.. Weed, "who could do 20
per cent work than usual always sure
OF a situation. James Harper Tom Kennedy Gong since
dead and made largest bills IN the city We often
earned "a much as $14 each per week-lberal wages
when you remember that good board could he obtained
for $40 per month"
As Mr. Weed uttered these words his eyes lit up with
the fires that umned them in his youth and there
that expression moment about his face that showed he
was for an instant living again what probably
the peasantes days Of his varied and successful life
In abiding to these giants among us" let us ask:
Docs the modern system of labor under the supposed
ameliOraOns Of eghthOur laws trades unions and con
slant strikes promise bring up any representatives
from the ranks of the toiling millions, like the legitimate
fruits OF the old industries represented by Thurow
Weed James Harper and their cOequas and associates,
'elfmade men 2" Contrast 1.-THE bitter spirit of antago
pism that now prevails between the employer and the
employed with Thurlow Weeds utterance, with deep
emotion in voice, speaking of his MASTER who has