Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-07-14
4TRADEs UNIONs.r

"TRlDES UNiONS.r
The editor of the Washington GA.
sctte gives the following rs his expert
cncc upon the question under consid.
GRAFTON;
When the trades union movement Grsi started,
we were In sympathy with Il, and thought that 1t
would bei eft the ab9rng men v carried on in the
right spirit, and wo are still Of the same opinion
but isn't Il about time that there should be some
NOV cement to restore the youth Of the country the
rights of which they have been robbed by mon
who justify their theft by narrow aud selfish
claims Of personal protectioni No matter what
the theory of the trade union is In practice II Il
simply tyrnnnical denial TO young men aspiring
to arisanship Of the ability which its members
possess to earn their bread and secure compe-
tcncy. 1t is a criminal Withholding of an inherent
privilege whose exercise Is feared lost the labor
market get oyerstoeked, and the pay aud place OF
members suffer by honest competition. There IL
nothing in liberal spirit of sci-proicction nor In
the principle of equitable seli-proiectiye leagues
that justlies this theit Of youhful rights-this
discrimination against the generations that come
among us. Tho right to limit the number Of ap-
prcnices to any trade carries with !, tho right to
confer an age of ignorance upon all the remain
ing apirants 10 that trade. 1t Is certainly better
that the prcseat generation should suffer the dis
comforts likely to arise from competition
can arise-than that seal Of disqualification
should be set by II upon those coming alter.
We have no moral right to disqnalify postcrity
for the race Of lifc Present and future good is
sure to cnsue from u restoration of the apprentice
system, and guarantee of It's uses to boys seek
ing trades. Mechanics and the arts, skilled labor
of every kind will quicken and thrive by tie
competition that must follow. Society will feel
the good effects Of the reform for her morality is
but another name for her industry, just a. her
crime is but another namo for her illoness and
Ignorance The facts that supply the motive for
legal remedies In the premises are Startling. In
many populous sections of tho country children
arc forbidden to learn trades at all by the dca Of
the unions. Parents are even prevented from
teaching their children the arts of o calling by
which they secured sustenancc. Foreign skilled
labor comes in to supply the demands created by
deaths aud new Developments, while our native
children are forced into a market already glutted
by starving clerks, supernumerary hookkeepers,
and ~aiters-for something to-tnrn Rim general.
II is time there should be a surge backward We
make no cry Of "down" with the trades unions ;
nor do We coniravene the right of any man to bis
honest earningsi but we do say freedom for Amer
lean youth Let thcm have the chances their
fathers had
Had he editor in question gone n
little farther and elaborated the evils
entailcd upon society by the Boards Of
Trade, Exchanges, etc, then he would
have told the whole story of our com
mcrcial wrongs. Trades unions and
boards Of trade are the parcnts-the
father and mother-of our disturbed
business relations, and while these or
ganizations increase In our midst the
evils visible on every hand will multi
ply. These selfish and artificial modes
of promoting the industry and happi-
ness of a nation constitute one of the
worst evils that can befal it. They
jointly disturb the public peace and
produce concord nowhere, and are as
effective in establishing what they
claim as the uindoo is in spreading
the gospel. Trades unions breed bad
workmen and drones for society to
support, and boards of trade and ex-
changes foster loafers and attempt to
bolster up men without capital and
spendthriits. who would soon be left
by the waysidc if this artificial busi.
ness prop were removed. We say
down with all these madam now -c,n.