The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-02-25
The Origin of Trade Unions.

MI r ID. ferkS naS made an interesting
synopsis Of DIR. Lujo Brcntano's work on
tke Genealogy Of Trade Unions. Dr. Bren-
tano Is Bavarian, and his book Il entitled
The History Of Guilds. He contends
that the trade unions OF the present day
as organized in England and America. were
the successors Of the craft guilds" +" or
trade organizations, of the middle ages.
These again succeeded to an older and diff
ferent sort Of bodies, namely, the town
gllds, OF gllds' merchant, which we're local
rather than professional, and included the
commercial rather than the producing cllss.
These were preceded Oy yet more an
clent sort OF allds-the religious or social
gllds for hey were mingled Of both char
acters and before these came the orlgi-
-ssi -5i1 u ri.I ia. y
Saxons; wnIcn seems to have been associa-
tes Of neighbors for mutual help and de-
fense.
The craft-gllds were organizations Of free
craftsmen, for objects very like those of the
glld-merchants, and which the latter refused
to the craftsmen. The weavers were the
richest and most influential OF the craftsmen;
and the weavers' gilds were, accordingly,
the Oldest and most powerful, some of them
dating back to the eleventh century AS
the bond handicrattsmen became emancipat-
ed, they enlisted in these gilds and the
giIds, pursuing the law Of their development,
on one band contended with the patricians
of the old gild-merchant, and on the other
prohibited the exercise Of their craft to all
except members. As they gradually got
the upper hand Of the gild-merchants, they
succeeded them to some extent in the local
government, though the political authority
was by this time concentrating in the hands
Of the kings or mobiles but the election Of
their own wardens and other officers, and
the management Of their own craft concerns
remained in their own hands, usually in
consideration Of the payment of some tax
to the king
v 1t was within the craft glds that the in
stitutiOn of apprenticeship grew up, being
simply the requirement of proper term of
training. and of a proper moral character,
from whoever was admitted as a member of
the craft-gild. This institution, now Gn
this country at least) almost entirely dis
used, was then accompanied with much for
mality, az indeed was appropriate for it
was not merely the introduction to busi-
ness, but to citizenship. DIR. Brrntano
adds many curious particular about the in
ternal organization OF the craft gilds, then
religious side, their insurance and mutual
aid features, the position Of Journeymen
the ancient way Of fixing wages BY law
some ancient "strikes" five hundred year.
ago, and 50 forth.
The craft-gilds gradually contracted Va
rious abuses, not like the gid- merchants
ii political directions, but rather as monop
oles Of employmcnts, and societies OF gree
dy capitalist. The French Revolution
broke them up ln France in Germany
/ 'the last remnants were destroyed BY th,
: North German Industrial Code Of 1869 :
in England they withered 50 to speak, be
! fore the growth Of be modern vast lndust
rial esJabls bment and what remains 0
q them, as for instance the hShmonger's com
e panies, Of London, consists almost entlrel
! Of a periodical meeting to eat and drink
Last comes the trade unions The firth
q gilds we're formed for common aid again.
/ evil-doers the religious gilds for the pre-
motion Of common good ends the gid
J. merchants for help in business and proto
!, ton against external violence hr craf
4 Lid- for defense against the monopoly an
! oppression Of the patrlclanS, wIo rcprcocn
! cd thc rild-mrrchaDf> The trade union