The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-02-13
Americas Needs.

One OF the most pressing needs Of this
country, to enable it to regain and main
tain It's mechanical reputation before the
world, is the establishment Of a regular.
thorough and efficient apprenticeship
system. In no other country in the world
ls such loose system employed in teach
ing boys trades as in the United States
Here We have no system whereby an ap-
prentice is guaranteed a finished nechan-
lcal education, but our American boys are
thrown promiscuously into our mechanical
callings and ground out fullfedged Journey
men in the remarkably short space Of one
and two years, and many don the garb Of
jOurneymen at the expiration Of six months
after commencing their apprenticeship.
The result is that all our mechanical call
lngs are overcrowded and cursed with A
grand army of inferior workmen, men who
are not only burden to themselves, but a
disgrace 70 our trades. Moreover, the
want Of some efficient systen has COM
pletely ruined many of our most import
ant trades For example, we will take
that OF a machinist or blacksmith, trades
that should rank foremost in the vocab-
ulary Of mechanical science, which in itself
the payment Of at least a decent recon-
pense for the labor of these men. But
what are the facts A first class machin-
lst or blacksmith to day can earn barely
sufficient to supply his children with the
commOnest raiment and coarsest food. In
addition thereto, they are compelled, in
consequence of the miserable low price re-
ceived for their labor, to actually force
their childrer into b@su~otkshop ere they
'havs vsRsansissa even the -aditaaats ST a
common school education. II has been
demonstrated beyond perao venture that
the wages of our really first lass artisans
are not regulated by the valu If their ser
vices, hut their compensation is gauged bv
the average skill and intelligence Of the en-
tire body. In many Of our shops there is
little or no distinction made between a
good mechanic and a confirmed botch. IL
is rare case indeed when the difference
in favor Of the former is more than twenty
five cents per day. Taking everything
into consideration there are scarcely any
inducements for a mechanic to perfect
himself in the science Of his trade, a. the
distinction made between the educated
and the uneducated mechanic, pecuniarily
speaking, is 50 slight that ii rarely pays
him to spend his scanty earnings for edu-
cational purposes. Before any material
or even any percettible change for the
better can be wrought our mechanics must
be educated as a class-the whole body
must be elevated and the only effectual
manner in which this can be brought about
will be to establish regular apprentice
ship system throughout the country. either
by law or common consent. Let it be
made obligatory upon every person who
wishes to pursue mechanical calling 10
enter into a contract with his employer
to serve length Of time sufficient to en-
able him TO acquire thorough knowledge
Of his trade-say not less than four years
and in return make it obligatory upon
the employer to give his apprentices an
opportunity OF learning their trades
Such a system we apprehend would tend
greatly to raise the educational standarl
Of American mechanics, and obviate the
necessity of employers sending into the
markets Of the old world for skilled labor.
We would be pleased to hear from the elm
ployers Of skilled labor, at the same time
we promise to co operate with them in for
wardlng any plan they may propose look
ing to the consummation Of a thorough
mechanical education for our appren-
tices-M d B. Journal