, 1873-11-02
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Why Trades Unions Were Organ
.fzcd, and How Strikes
HIVE 1scsu1tetl.
Tho Antag0rism Of Labor to Capltal...
What VIII DO tile Result Of
That Fceling2


onorgy and a determination to 1iao In tho world.
have offered to work cheaper by the piece thsn O
competent workman could do with Justice to
hinsolf. A n,an who wants to hiro pioeo Of
work performed naturally ondeavors to obtain
tho most for his money, and usually, ignorant Of
the difference betwoon skilled and unekillol H.
bor, be gfvea his work to tic lowest bli1lor.
Tho 1osost bidder Is, from tho very CON-
uaoncemcnt,
In tho first place, lo represents himself aa q
good workman; and his employer, not knowing
or not caring, 30 that lis work is doue for tho
ioast amount Of money, hsron him On bis own
representation. In tho second place, ho takos
tho work at such low figures that no honest,
conscientious skilled workman can compote with
him; and, III tho third place, he calculates aud
cont1iyes how much he can docelvo and chest
Lis employer, in order to cave hfmaolf.
THE SKILLED AnT1sANH,
finding that they are constantly undcrhid by
these moh, aud thai thoy must work ut their
prices or starvo, were obliged to aucoumb to tho
pressure brought upon them; but, bong men Of
intelligence, they began to cast about for
refnody for this owl, which waB fast bringing
them down to . level with tho most ignorant
laborora. In doing 80, they became awaro TINT
tho unBkillod Wor1men were greatly In oxeosa Of
thom that all wero prauticiug, but mono loarn-
ing, the various trado8 Az Hoon Us q man could
snw board atrnight and shove plano, ho was
carpenter; as Boon aB a man cau lay one brick
upon another, ho is a mason and brickayer;
as soon 81 man learns to bold paint-brush
md draw 1t evenly over tho surface, ho Is q
painter !; and those men can command ns good
wages as those who have had years Of experience
in tho yarioua trades, nud tnoy must cone down
to the 1eVel OF those wonld-bo-artisau unless d
moans wna devised to prevent It. This fact,
which was continually Btaring thom In the face.
lod to tho formation OF
rnADEs-uN1oNs.
Meetings wero called and members enrolled,
speeches wero mado, aud, in time, papers wero
issued. These mootiugs were woll attended, and
tho papers wero oxtcnslyoy read and the effect
WIS to rouse d determination in tho minds OF
the mon to better their condition.
Unfortunately, thoy committed
4 GREAT MISTAKE
ut the very outset OF thoir organization they
| received every .nlan, irrespective Of hiu Conf
posenoy, who made application for admission
labor now, by yirtuo OF their organization, stood
upon tho same plane. Tho incompetent work.
| man c!amorel Tor tho Same amount Of pay as
the competent, but tho cmployser, understanding
fused to pay it, Hore, thon, was dilemma !;
how Should thoy moot iii? by QUO Of tvo ways !:
tho skilled laboror would bo obliged to como
down to tho level of tho botch workman, md bo
aas ] 5 ~th IT, ns nnR Ra ID ns fsssyf e M 5 Or n ns
demand for him the satne amount Of pay due tho
competent workman. The latter course was
adopted, md Ill order PASSED that no innn work
for lose than stated price; and, it tho employ
er refused to giyo it. they must strife and tlo
work must coaso
But hero
4 NEW DIFFICULTY AROSE.
This ordor prevented many from uniting with
them, and many who had united refused to re-
without work. We havo fauilics, and We cannot
SEQ them suffer. We must havo work, ut al1y
price, to keep the wolf from the door,"
Yon naty work aa bard as you like" was the
reply, and you cannot keep tho wolf from the
door, u,lloas your alroady ovorworkcd wife help
to bring in money to the faMily-exonoquof.
This thing has to DO fought out sooner or Inter.
and tho sooner the battle takag place, tho easlor
and less destructive it will be-"
II care nothing about that. I'm not going to
see my family suffer IS long as haye hands to
work; 80 count mo out"
But tho meu counted out watched the society
Their aynpathes wore with il, il thoy wole not
outwardly displayed. These mon, too. remenl-
ber how thoy were appealed to during tho War
by demagogues who told them that, it they did
not 20 to fight the battle Of Freedom, they, too,
would bo enalavcd and they vol recollect how
they volunteered by hundreds and thousands
to protect themselves and children from slavery; ;
and that war III the bohalf Of Freedom has had
su influence. as yot nnueen, but which will hc,
nevertheless, powerful In it's effects.
In conversation with number OF wording
mon short timo before tho Great Tire, tho
question Was asked, Can you support your
family on your Wages7"
"No, cannot replied ono, II generally man.
"po your children 60 to school ~
"No, caut Bond them. l can't out OF my
wages buy them decent clothes to go in.",.
"DoeB your family ever attend church,"
| "a fiuo spectacle we'd make in ono OF our
grand churches wo nnvor think Of such thug
NJ going to church."
III you can only just support your family dur
ing tha sum1nor, what do you expect to do III the
"I don't know; perhaps may get .. Job some
| whore, aud perhaps not Sometimes so South
aud set work there; but, il don't get any, the
city will have to take caro- Of me and my family.
"Dut suppose tho city won't tako caro- Of youa''
| III will never sec my wife mud childron eishcr
atarve or freeze as long al thoro Ia plenty OF
food and coal In tile country" he rep1ca with
| flashing eyes.
xn sRs % Ss;ss {ss psvsF expect better times than
"Ho, NEVER LOOK ron ANYTHING ANY BETTER.
I've always worked hard, aud always expect to
do So"
"Tho gentleman for whom you arc working is
ElGA NAL Ao NV %AA 3oA - ycA Nlo 40 "aAs ~
! tho winter"
He cares no mora for mo than II were dog.
All he wants Of mo ia to got all the work out Of
ma be can TOR the least money He don't care
whether have enough to cut Or not. Tho slaves
| down South worc Great doal better OF III
slavery than tho poor white man is il tho North
today. When tloy wero slok, or too old TO
work, they we're taken caro- Of but, whoa am
aio Or too old to work. thors Is no ono to takeoare
Of mo; and, out Of tho little pay got. with five
childron to provide for' am r., unable PIC, to lay
remember tiiat robbery that was committed on
tho bank 1ast week. That CLERK is . frienh Of
niue, I know where lle is, but DO you suppose
amount .rhoy kept him thoro, tempting him
avory day will the sight Of lotn Of money, while
they paid him only $40 month, 7 toll You, II
had nj good cbance to got pile aa ho did, I
should lako It; aud, Il thoy grind ~ down much
| more they will laYo to got moro policemen thaa
thoy hayo now, to protect
wnAg THEY HAVE STOLEN FROM VI.
80 It III TINT the poorest, most Ignorant Of our
/ worlsingmen are undergoing a process OF eslu-
catlon whereby thoy arc being educated into tho