The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-16
THE APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM.
A Letter From the Venerable Thur
low weed on n Most Interesting
and Important Subject.

Thurlow Weed writes to the New York
Tribune as follows, relative to the very
important apprenticeship question;
1t IS not alone to express my deep sense
of gratitude to the legislature of Pennsyl-
vania for its passage Of benefcent law
that l again ask the use of your columns.
The passage of law extending to the
boys of Pennsylvania the right to learn
mechanical trades is a boon and a blessing
the more gratifying for being unexpected.
l have repeatedly but unavailingly endeav-
ored to awaken and direct legislative at
tention to the despOtism of trade unions,
especially in reference to the question of
apprenticeship. l knew, of course, the
embarrassment of members representing
cities and villages, and while did not ex-
pect much / hoped for something. The
''unions" form constitutions and adopt by
laws, to which they attach all the solem-
nifty of legal enactments. Article 22 in the
pamphlet printed by the Hatters' trade
association relating to apprentices reads
as follows:
"Number of Apprentices That shops
employing Ave or more journeymen for one
year be entitled to two apprentices; shops
employing less than five journeymen for
one year be entitled to one apprentice and
shops not having any journeymen employ
ed, not to be allowed an apprentice"
In another section of this article it is pro-
yided that when apprentices want to leave
shops "declared fouP they must obtain the
consent of the Association" Still an
other section declares, that in no case shall
an employer have more than three ap-
prentices. 1t is worse than idle to talk
about freedom in any form while one of the
great industries of the country is subjected
to such despotism.
Pennsylvania has set noble example.
Let other States follow, and we may hope
to see a generation of boys rescued from
idleness and vice, and after graduating from
the shoe-makers' hatters', tailors', tanners,
carpenters, cabinetmakers', masons', ma
chinists, bakers, and other shops and fac
tories, become eminent alike as representa-
tives and rulers. Every intelligent boy
learns during his apprenticeship how many
mechanics have risen not only to great
wealth but to high positions in their mu-
nicipal, state, and national governments.
The knowledge animates, cheers and en-
courages him. In what apprentice to the
cart preservative of all arts" did the knowl-
edge that Benjamin Franklin was an ap-
prentice fail to inspire desire and a de-
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amples of industry, sobriety, study and
virtue that enabled him to rise to positions
of usefulness and eminence, and to trans
nit to posterity name that adorns the
history of his country Shoemakers' ap-
prentices read with pride that Roger Sher-
man of Connecticut, one of the signers OF
the Declaration Of Independence, learned
their trade, and that Henry Wilson, Vice
president of the United States, was working
as a journeyman shoemaker when first
elected to the legislature of Massachusetts.
Millard Fillmore, late vice-president and
President of the United States, was an ap
prentice in a country clothiers establish
ment. Andrew johnson, another late vice
president and president of the United
States, learned and worked at the tailor,
trade, Simon Cameron, formerly secretary
of war, and now United States senator
was originally printer. David X. Carter
formerly member of congress from Ohio
now chief justice of the court in the dis
trict of Columbia, was my apprentice a
Rochester. Several mechanics have beer
mayors of the city of New York, prom
inent among whom were Stephen Allen
Gideon Lee and James Harper. DAME
Cady, for more than thirty years one o
the most distinguished lawyers our stat,
ever produced, served his apprenticeship
and worked as journeyman shoemaker
until he was twenty-four years old.