The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-16
RADICAL REFORM.
Letter No. 2.

~
Letter No. 2.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Capital maintains itself In its coufict with the
masses by superiority in its powers OF concert.
Like political despoism its force lies In the unity
Of its direction and the resulting compactness OF
its strength. Labor, like political liberty, Is, on
the other hand, defective in cohesiveness In its
capacity for acting with sngleness OF plan and
power The trades unions have done much to
group the masses Of labor Their failure in sup
plying thorough organization Is, however, put in
proof by the impotence Of that highest exercise OF
their energtes-the "strike." The tnferiority OF
labor In It's conflict with capital still remains ana
demands, as preliminary to equality OF the two,
some form OF elimination, and that form propose
to supply BY conterring on the associations Of
trades that capacity Tor consolidated strength
which can be obtained but by CO. operation OF law.
The advanced forms Of labor approach more nearly
to capital in their adaptation to concerted effort
Unskiled labor being reserved for the proper time
IN the work OF organization, that work should be-
gin with the higher class Of handicraits.
The man who has spent several years in the ser.
vttude OF apprenticeship has paid q price in
"denlal" for his art. That which he has Just
acquired constitutes. in fact ana principle, q
vested right which covers all the conditions OF
moments thought constitutes q property to
patentee, If few years. Of study constitute q
property to . physician, to q lawyer, on what
grounds OF Justice and reason can 1t be held that
handicraft does not constitute property to q
graduated apprentice The property OF the author
is protected by copyrights the property OF the IN.
ventor is protected by patent; the right OF the
doctor in his calling is protected BY diploma, Of
professions Is under government OF It's own
holding in the management OF Its affairs powers
TONS Is there any reason in the nature things,
az reason rs ~ RIos poS why society shall deny
wealth, those guarantees OF PROPERTY which it it
gives to authors, inventors, physicians, lawyersP
The handicrafts were not always, as they are to
Rome they were fenced In as distinct interests
under the PROTECTION OF special laws. In medieval
ganzed bodies resisting the rapacity OF the MOBILES
behind barriers OF privilege. In Germany ana in
rights and immunities granted BY royal charters.
Guilds !, OF trade enjoyed not very long ago. full
rig1ts OF sen government as handcrsts. Regu-
standards OF their work, they exercised the pow.
ers OF chartered companies. The golosmtbs, the
remnants OF ancient guilds whose charters are
operative still In their possession OF landed Estates
sa sr basis those
broken down by demands for freedom or produc.
ton. The trades carried BY reaction subsequently
day, open to oil corners. properties outside the
protectlon OF the laws OF trespass. propose that
guilds. Avoiding the wrong which broke down
these bodies In the past suggest that every trade
charter 10 meet obection that may be oerea
on the ground OF public policy, an effective restraint
should be set upon the exclusive spirit likely to
or standard OF qualification Tor membership, the
proof OF compliance with that test or standard,
whether IN the form OF fulfilled indenture or
other evidence Of sufficient service in acquisition
OF the craft. should be declared to constitute a
right of membership, as stock certificate does in
other corporations, subject to enforcement by the
courts.
The rights Of the public protected in the guild
charters those laws should next protect the rights
OF the craftsmen They should give them powers
OF selfgovernment under bylaws, rules and regnla-
ton by majority OF the whole. As necessary
complement OF these powers the guild should re-
celve authority to ne any one Of the guildary or to
however, to his right OF appeal to the Courts. And
the chartnrs should. give each OF those assocla-
porate interests the enjoyment OF the common
property--.the craft-under the guarantee OF PEN
altles on trespassers. Tie guild should hold, IKE
other corporations the power to set a price
upon tne use Of It's property.its craft The right
PC 10 or a wth the
the schedule Of the guild from individual violations.
While protecting the trade from depreciation OF
save the dignity OF the State and OF the craftsmen
from the only remedy lett in such cases now
vlOleuCo. Anu no uuuBeI vi extraordinary increase
In the cost OF production may be apprehended
from this increase In the power of trade societies:
for after oil the limit OF wages lies not In the will
OF those societies but in the equilibrium OF indie
pendent forces.
The soidity Of capital concurs with the looseness
OF power Is one OF The best guarantees among men
for that respect which underies harmony the
authority OF the guild IN questions OF wage once
made absolute among the members, Its decisions
could but lead to, At worst, peaceable trial or
endurance. That trial deciding, after q time, the
n al hnr
test can maintain ITSELF will, 1t may be hoped nut
stop ultimately to strikes. The ancient guild
took It's name from tine fact that IL possessed
common fund into which each member
being maintained under the charters suggested.
large amount OF money may be accumulated in
the treasury OF each body by even the saving
erected IN the waste incident to strikes By lend.
Ing judciously this 10 worthy members, associated
for purposes OF cooperation, the guilds may be
all the handicraits towards that complete solution
OF the conflict OF labor with capita-the unity OF
the two IN the same body.
Legal organization win give the trades much OF
the vigor and weight OF great corporations With
the resulting increase OF their influence they Will
represent in the public life OF the State vital,
q commanding force. Grouping around them
as the ab0litlonists did, great masses or
external power they will go on under a simple de-
votion to their own principles and purposes to an
on dangerous accumulations OF wealth and to the
condign punishment OF those consplrators against
society VINO plumber the public through vanle5
or daily occurrence In legislation, trade and
finance.
Intending to present in my next letter some sug-
e s sJrT ME nv
NEW YORK, MAY q 1874