The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1870-12-02
Skilled Labor.
RON Ms UvIca Herald. - . 2 % y

From he Ulled Herald.
There is a great lack, in this country,
of thoroughly skilled labor. We have
plenty OF artizans and mechanics, but few
Droticients in any of the trades. There
ure too many in the ranks OF the skilled
laborers who have no business there-too
many who lack the elements OF progress,
and are content to plod along in the we'll
worn paths of routinism. They clog the
wheels Of business, increase the cost Of
production, and stand In the why Of bet
ier men, who would take "OmmGndable
pride in cxcelling and making improve
mcnts upon old methods. The result Is,
that not only Is there no progress, but
many trades are actually dCteriOrating.
Inferior wOrkmen stand IN places that
ought to be filled by superior workmen,
and demand the prices that should be
paid only to better men. Employers are
perplexed and compelled to exercise extra
supervision, either personally or by hiring
oyerseers. Unnecessary expense is in.
CURED, profits arc reduced, prices 10 the
consumer are increased, employers are
cross and imperious, wOrkmen arc down
on" their "bosses," everything hitches
and iangles, everybody is dissatisfied,
"strikes" arc contemplated and frequently
resorted to, and failures in business are
not unirequently the end oil for the
want of competent Workmen, who can
always get employment and good wages,
and seldom have occasion to complain OF
i'll or ungencrous treatment 1850
One.hNlf OF the troubles between skill.
ed laborers and their employers grow, d.
rectly or indirectly out Ofthe ihcoinpe.
tencv of wOrknen. One.halt OF tbs
rood TINT might be achieved by tradee
Unions is neutralized by the encourage.
ment and support they give to the medi.
ocre and incompetent labor. The least
profitable and most disagreeable members
Of tho craft are put on par with those
who are proficient and gentlemanly. In
tellipence, Jfaithlulness and morality are
qualities tOa great extent ignored, and
vet they should be encouraged every.
where, and, other things being equal,
their possessor should 5lave the prefer.
ence, The veriest slouch and slOven,
s,eeped in tobacco and picked in whisky,
finds no trouble in gaining admission to a
trades union, so long rs he has served his
regular apprenticeship and Is willing TO
conform 10 the rules and regulations OF
the society. Decent men are thus put on
par with the stupid dot or brutal sot, so
fur rs the trade organization ls concerned,
and no provision is made for reform or I'M
provement, sf55t, : ,
All this may be very brotheFly and
democratic, in d low sense, but 1t Is fatal
TO progress in the trades, and To mental
and moral improvement in their respcc.
tive members. Wages are not the only
consideration worth having, Good asso'
Citations and opportunities for advance
ment are worth something, Nobody
should be content to drudge and grovel
all his davs, nor should he encourage
others in this course Of life. 1t is de-
grading and unworthy the consent ot IN
lelligent beings, Tho aim and effort OF
every one should be to rise and TO awaken
a spirit Of emulation in others. Our
trades unions should, rs much as possible,
avoid confirming workmen in evil habits,
or permitting them to remain non'progres'
sive. They should positively encourage
and not discourage, MS they now do, the
highest degree OF skill and proficiency.
Let them provide for the mutual improve.
ment Of their members, mentally and
morally, and in their respective occup3'
tions. incompetency should not be tol'
srated, much less forced upon employers
whether they are willing ornot. Compe'
tent and intelligent workmen DO them
selves as well as employers great wrong
by lending themselves to combinations
for such n purpose. The only true way
is to throw the trades open to free com
petition and let the best man win. The
incoL petents, in this way, will in time be
driven out, and their places will be filled
by better men, Unions then will tend to
elevate and ennoble their members,
whereas now, in many cases, they sustain
bad wOrkmcn in bad habits, and drag the
intelligent and moral down to the level
with the ignorant, selEcOnceted and vi;
The present order of things will in
time be changed, and the worklngmen
will change It themselves. tits essentially
bad, as many arc beginning 10 see, and
circumstances will force change. 1fit
capnnt br fnne In and through the (ln-