The New York herald., 1874-06-01
The Origin of Trade Unions and
Strikes.
FREE TRADE CONTESTS.
The DutyOf G0vernments-A Novel
Standard Of Wages.
Trade and Capital i'm Part
nership.

II fs only when the supply OF labor keeps equal
PACE with the separate demands OF the agricul-
sural and manufacturing interests that q Just
equilibrium be maintained In the labor mar
ket. But statistics OF immigration show that
while the increase OF skilled labor connected with
our growing manufactures has been greatly In
excess OF what Is needed, the supply OF help to
tke agricultural portions OF the country Is far
below thai which could be probably employed.
Somehow or other people seem to shrink from
she healthy and remunerative pursuit OF agricul-
sure, and prefer to hang about the large cities.
IN hopes OF becoming suddenly rich by some lucky
turn of fortunes fckle wheel, rather than TO dash
out boldly to the forest or prairie ana carve for
themselves an independent home from the ma
oonal domain II is easier for emigrants To reach
cur shores from the manufacturing than from the
agricultural aistricts OF Europe. For this reason
We have a surplus OF tradesmen and not enough
Of farmers. The looseness OF American trade regu-
lAtions has been eagerly laid hold OF, both by
native and foreigner, as o fortunate circumstance
which enables the lazy laborer to become, without
any previous apprenticeship, o machnst, shoe
maker, carpenter blacksmith and jeweller
AT HIS OWN GOOD PLEASURE.
This has occa2oned an undue drawing on or Yse-
ful hands from agriculture ana q consequent
crowding OF finexperr operatives INTO the mecnan-
ical branches OF industry. When the crash came
last year, thousands OF ineficient tradesmen were
thrown out OF work, while those who knew their
business we'll remained employed the whole time
The past panic developed under form or
another. number Of important questions between
the Opposicg interests OF capital and labor. EN-
poyers thought the occasion . good to
profit by and compel return to the old ten hours
rule of labor, while the workingmen, recognizing
the disadvantage at which they were taken, still
resolved to fight the struggle out. cry was
raised against trade unions, and their opponents
md not hesitate to intimate that society men
little else than Communists Internationalists in
disgulse. In retaliation the friends Of the unions
ohanted their old slogans against 'bloated capital
ists," "upstart aristocrats" and Oppressive
monopolstsn At this writing the trade
unionsts have rather the better Of the battle with
their employers.
The best contested struggle last winter was the
capmakers strike, which terminated in a
promise that was highly favorable to the trades
men. Although the cigar makers strike, which
soon followed, may be looked upon as drawn
battle, still in many shops the operatives got their
prices, and those OF them who refused to again
work at old rates succeeded IN establishing a CO
operative factory which is reported doing well.
The DOCK and other laborers on the Erie. Pennsyl-
vania and Pennsylvania Central railroads COM
pletely failed in their efforts to keep up the old
rates Of wages that had prevailed until last Novem
ber- Want OF organization among themselves was
the cause Of their defeat. Encouraged by this sig
nal failure OF the workingmen the building and
some other trades represented by employers who
are aniliated with the Mechanics and Traders, Ex-
change of this city resolved, on the 7tn Of last
month, 10 return TO the ten hour rule and alter
tho 4th inst.
THIS WAS THE ALARM NOTE
for the society men, and they showed such a
anited and determined front that the contractors
and others who had signed the resolution were
nnable TO enforce II, and continue now, much
against their Inclination, TO accept eight hOurs'
tine as days work
As the question or labor Is one OF the most i'm
portant that can engage public attention, and
must be CT especial interest to- the political econo-
mist and the Legislator, 1t may be worth while for
the readers OF the HERALD to retrace at this time
some OF the antecedents andunost Notable doings
Of trade unions, as well as tos glance over num-
Der OF remarkable facts come tied with few well
remembered labor strikes.
The question OF labor is in anately connected
with that OF the tariff. Now, English protection
lists say that free trade brings ue price of wheat
down to zero and ruins the prohts OF cultivation.
Artisans think that cheap foreign manu-
factures mean less labor ance lower wages,
and complain that they ire driven to
the wall BY free importath tn OF foreign
goods. Nevertheless, long as he fountains Of
calamity which can seriously retar,t the progress
of population, diminish its numt ere, especially
among the working classes During the twenty
two years between 1892 and 1s15.t upwards OF
1000 900 of Frenchmen alone died iLr campaign,
st the population OF France, which IN 1889 was
,lO0000, reached IS 500, 600 in 1916. Insthe same
giod the census OF England showed ana advance
Ia, 4Oy0 600 to 18 700, 900. The reason for this
ounding result is that the destruction OF full
% fr- IN Nr In
nd condiuon OF society by the enha. uced i'm
e experienced In the labor market ten
% WORK can be done By three q rise sin the
of labor follows
HIGH WAGES INDUCES MARRIAGES
the working classes, and their improved
ION and more comfortable circumst ances
them prolific In proportion to the ia
change in their condition Du ring the
rtion OF protracted war the Number OF
men may decrease, but the mn mber OF
win not IL was, therefore, the Eirst Ma
inability TO recruit his armies which, more
other cause, contributed 10 his fall; yet
Der Of cnndren born during his wars
OF the first French Republic was such
population or France increased from
In 1889 to 80, 900 IN 1887. TINT, Of
only happen IN healthy state OF iocf-
America mad to wait to receive her
from the laps Of New Engla nd
u looms forges and factories would
supplied. When such a drain on rhe
takes place In a declining condition OF
there is dminution in the demand
med to a decreased vigor Ia the minds
OF men, quite different aspect or
ented.
and transportation questions havs
relations 10 each otaer and TO the
ome Americans, in all shades or poll
rec trade, while neiari0us system
,opolies, by nnreasonably high rates
On, practically render Western agri-
neratire the farmer, who Is un-
produce IN a foreign market un-
pays railroad companies or abb
nts. Free trade by dRcouraging
Tes retards immigration. and by
employment TO foreign workmen
and improving their condition
the increase OF population and
uent or our vast labor fields all
I II decreases the earn |
ard Professions and pre- |
Tease The repeal OF the
n tha