Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-04-09

v1HTr 10 WILMINGTON OF THR PRESIDENT OF AN
INTERNATIONAL UNIoN"-A SUBORDINATE UNI
ON PROPOSED HERE
On Monday, 'John Fehrenbatch, Cleveland,
o." registered at the Clayton House. Learning
that this gentleman was President Of the Inter
national Union OF the Maehinists and Black
smiths of North America, . representative of the
COMMERCIAL was despatched to wait on him. In
response to our inquiries, he stated the substance
of the information given below. H
The main object of his visit Is to organize, or
rather to revive subordinate Union, among
the blacksmiths and machinists of this city.
Several years ago, there was such Union here,
but for some reason It went down. and it's 'char-
ter" was allowed to "lApse." The Union compile
without any, whatever, ever since.
On Monday evening, MIR. Fehrenbatch and
several maehinists and blRcksmiths OF this city
held q conference, when 1t was determined to
revive the old organization, and the initiatory
steps were taken 20 do Sc.
A copy OF the Constitution Of the information
al and subordinate Unions was shown us. Ii sets
forth their objects and the rules Of government.
Their purpose, 1t is stated is not to antagonize
employers and workingmen, and labor strikes
they deprecate, except as q last resort. They
seek to elevate the condition OF the laborer--to
improve his workmanship by impaTting skill
and the number Of apprentices which an employ
er shall work is not so much an object of their
AttSuttuu, DIS tue IuhllneE Vi HIS hpfhAnb theAh'
The International Union, we are assured. is a
very wide extended organization, and its subor-
dinate unions exist throughout the country.
Every city OF any magnitude in the Union has at
least one organization, and New York possesses
nine.
The present efforts OF the International
Union, we were informed, are being directed
towards an equalization OF the rate of wages
throughout the country. In New York, 1t Is
stated machinists and blacksmths obtain 1
Ia. ft,R md nfb rifi
receive but - and - % per day. Some time
ago. strike was threatened in New York,
where the highest rate of wages is paid,
but the International Union interposed and said,
may, gentlemen. not now. You are already re-
ceiving more wages than your fellow-workmen
in other cities let us first elevate their stand
ard OF wages, and then we will see what can be
done for you" When employers refuse to &C
cede to demands for increased wages, their plan
is not to strike but the Union pays out OF its
treasury the travelling expenses OF the dissatis-
fed workmen to some point where they have
obtained work for them. Mr.. Fehrenbatch as
serts he has constant demands upon him for
workmen, and no trouble is experienced IN ind
ing men thus circumstAnced situations elswhere.
These Unions are beneficial in their purposes
and in their practical workings. They
pay TO sick members five dollars per week
during sickness for period Of twenty-slS weeks,
and two dollars week thereafter, il the sick
ness continues. Besides this they have an III
surance plan by which the families of deceased
members are provided after death. The Unions
are organized into departments, and upon the
death Of any member insured in this depart
ment, which insurance may be effected by 6
simple conformity to the rules, each member Of
| the department Is required to pay one dollar in
to general fund for the benefit Of his widow Oh
others dependent upon him.
These are the main features OF the orgsniza
/ ton, as stated in the Constitution. What the
results of Mr.. Fehrenbatch's mission may be
i remains to be seen.