The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-11-23

Sound Advice from Q Sound Man.
We chip the following vsluabls sugess-
aons ON Strikes and the Apprenticeship
System, froen the annual address Of Mr..
John Fehrsnb@tch, delivered ut the last
ssssien of the Machinists and Blaeksmiths'
International Union:
4 s'bs srKIkRs.
| ] woald recommend the abolition Or
modification of the law governing 'strukss. 3"
The Law, ~ il nov stands, In At best but
an instrument Of destruction in the hands
OF cur enemies Rash and inconsidsrats
Unions too often take advantage of it, and
very often plunge the whole organisation
J into n state of excitement through precipi-
lated aud uncAlled for strikes. There
A6ald BE- some restrictions placed upon
ibordinate Unions. They should not bs
t4mtted to legislAte upon questions of y
E&tsrd character questions likely to in
VoFe the entire organization. As the
Law stands ut present, Subordinate Unions
are permitted, without even consulting
the international Union, to legialate upon
\ ques IONS Of q general character, such ~
the hours of labor, wages, apprentice sys-
ten, &C, when such question properly be-
long y the International Union. During
the last term We had six strikes, all of
which were brought about through the
rash ami inconslderate action Of Subordin-
ate UnlIns. AIN fully convinced that 20
long as subordinate Unions are permitted
to act independent of the international
Union, We will have trouble in keeping
down strikes and 81 long a. Unions are
permitted to strike against whatever they
may term grievance, we will not become
thoroughly organized" 1t should be
made unlawful for any Union to embark
IA strike ior any purpose except against
reduction Of wages or prescription Of
our member BY employers. Even then
1t should be made unlawful unless the
consent Of the International Union be
first obtained. II We can succeed in pro
tecting the organization against percipitat-
Cd and uncallod for strikes, " thorough
organization will be insured. You,
therefore, plainly soc that by the enact
ment Of wise and judicious legislation
upon this question, you will open 9
straight path that will lead US unobstruct-
ed to consummaiion Of thr objects enun
clated in the platform II our ursanization.
Having other questions IL brin. before
you, and believing that your intelligence
will suggest some wise Legislation upun the
question Of &" strikes" l think further
comment unnecessary.
The next question To which | wish to
call your attention is the establishment of
a regular
APPRENTICE sYsrRA.
This is another Of the Vexed questions
which not unfrequently causes Disagree
ments between the employers and the
journeymen. do not propose that the
evil produced through the absence Of
regular apprentice system should be eradi-
Gated by arbitrary neasurrs. Not by any
means Yuu have it within your power to
remedy the evil in manner that will be
satisfactory t. the employers As well ~ to
the members Of our organization. Under
Onr present SYSTEM Ot teaching boys .
trade, the employer has Ro guarantees that
the apprentice will stay long enough to
repay hun for the trouble and expense Of
teaching him a trade but ia nine cases
out Of ten the apprentice leaves his mas
ter before he has acquired the first rudi-
ments of trade, and not only injuries
himself by So doing, but injuries the trade
which he has but imperfectly learned.
Here Is q vast field presented to you for
Improvement. You nov have An oppor-
tunity presented to you Of lifting our
trades from the low and dilapidated con
dition into which they have fallen, by
establishing an apprestice system or inau-
gurating reform in the manner Of teach
IUu fVaat nd hnua u.auN
least to their further degeneration.
Something must be done, and by you, to
lesson the grand army Of botch or inferior
workmen that to-day curses our trades in
every section of our country, and brings
disgrace upon the mechanics Of America
We vauntingly boast of the superiority
of the American mechanic, VIXEN we have
the worst system in the world Of teaching
boys our trsdts In fact, We have no
system. The result ID that few, indeed,
are taught branch thoroughly The
consequence is that few positions Of res
possibility, requiring a thorough mechani-
cal knowledge, are filled by American
mechanics. Yet, IN the face Of these
facts, we find some of the leading news
papers Of the land advocating the pernicious
doctrine Of - teaching every boy trade ="
Throw the shop doors open wide, ="
without regard to the consequences. There
is limit to all things, and when that
limit Is Overstepped evil ID surs to follow
50 it is with an apprentice system. There
must be limit to the number Of appren-
tices. If we wish to maintain y mechani-
cal reputation before the world, and
preserve our trades from further degenera-
ton, we must commence the establishment
of a regular apprentice system throughout
the country. You are expected to lay the
foundation for this great work before the
adjournment Of the present Convention.
| hope, therefore, you will not, when you
return to your respective homes, be met
by disappointed constituencies, but that
You will grspple fearlessly with this gigAn-
tic undertaking.
| 1t In found from experience that the
extreme limit Of the number Of appren-
tices should not exceed one to every ive
jOurneymen. Whenever that limit ia
Overstepped the apprentices chances "
acquire u thorough mechanical knowledge
are lessoned to Whatever degree the rule
has been violated. Experience teaches u.
that il is absolutely impossible TO turn out
good mechanics wherever the proportion
Of apprentices is larger than the rule
have named IL feel confident, from my
intercourse with numerous employer,
throughout the country during the past
eight years, that the establishment Of q
system limiting the number Of appren
ticea to one for every i've iourneymen
and compelling eli who wish TO be instruct
ed in the art aud mysteries Of our trade,