The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-16

It is difficult to obtain full statistics Of all
the workingmen's societies in the United
States, as in many cases they have never been
collected. even by the members themselves. :.
American trade unionists are mostly united
in favor Of the eight hour principle. which,
briefly stated, claims that every mechanic
should receive ten hours pay for eight hours
work. Secondly, they are in favor OF co-opera.
ton, whenever the principle can be applied
go as to make the laborer share IN the profits
OF the capitalist. They are strongly opposed
to the convict labor system, which they con
ceiye allows unjust competition in favor OF the
contractor for such labor. The Knights OF st.
Crispin refuse to admit any one who has served
q term in any penal institution into their order.
and other trades are equally rigid in their op-
position to the prison taught mechanics.
Strikes, while theoretically discountenenced
by some trades, are practiced By al, an d are
held to be the most powerful agents which the
workingmen can employ to gain their ENDS.
Lastly, all unionists believe in trade unions
subjects-such as arbitration. apprenticeship,
piece versus day work, and immigration-ln
which they are interested, but no definite
views have as yat been promulgated upon any
Of them BY the macs Of workingmen, AMI s1
they are Of less Importance at present.
The leaders OF the workingmen may be di
vided into two classes: The first is composed
OF actual mechanics who have always worked
at their trades, and who have tive interests of
their associates at heart. They are mostly
native Americans and men Of intelligence and
character. Their homes are comfortable, and
will be found to contain books, pictures and
other proofs Of intelligence and taste. We're
their influence equal to their merits we might
have much greater hopes Tor the future We!-
faro Of our worklngmen, but unfortunately II
cannot compare to that Of the second class OF
leaders. These are the charlatans and dena-
ooeues most OF whom properly belong to no
trade at all, but aim to make the labor move
ment a. steppings.one for political advance
ment.
Strikes are favorite resource OF working
men, yet in but few cases have they accomp-
lished any desirable results. They ten6 to
produce bad feeling between employers and
men, and in number or instances have falled
utterly. Wherever they have been successful
1t has been at the outset, but in almost every
case where they have been protracted the
Workmen have had to yield. This was to be
expected in view o. the suoericr power OF en-.
durance of capital to labor, the unionlsts
usually having but little means to support
themselves in id'eness. while the employer
has ALWAYS some investment to depend upon.
The bricklayers' strike in 1868 lasted fourteen
weeks in the busiest season, and cost the
workingmen alone, in the shape OF reliet
money and lost wages, 500 600. The prin,,
ters' strike last year lasted eleven weeks and
cost $50, 900. The first proved total failure,
while the latter had to be compromised, after
20 be sent to other places, some os which has
never returned. Summing up all the strikes
which have occurred since 1867 alone, they
have led to the loss Of fully EalP million dol
lars by the men engaged in them, while the
employers have lost probably doable as much.