The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-23

New York Times.

New York Times
Do American boys learn trades now
One would suppose not, if the multitude
of purposeless, aimless young men out
of employment is any indication. There
was time when the master mechanic
had his house filled with hearty young
apprentices, and when his journeymen
went from under his roof to set up in
life for themselves. To men in middle
life the recollections of those far off
times when the master, his men and boys,
formed strong productive industrial
group, seem like the memory OF prim-
tive age. Sons of rich and educated
men did not think it beneath them to
swing the broadax in the ship yard or
the sledge hammer at the anvil. Or
they went to sea before the mast, and
climbed to the quarter deck from the
forecastle. In large family of boys one
would be sent to college, one might pos
sibly go into mercagtile pursuits, and
the others would choose their trades,
after many anxious but CHEEKY family
councils. Nowadays the young lads
shrink from the irksome confinement of
the mechanics shop. If they cannot go
to college and SO while away their youth,
they must GO into store "-anything
but work. We do not belittle the voca-
ton of clerk or salesman when we say
that to be in either one or the other of
these callings appears to young men the
most comfortable thing. OF all the pur
suits which men follow, this seems to re-
quire the least preparation. Atany rate,
the men who are willing to make them
selves generally useful more naturally
turn TO the shop of the retail dealer
than to any other source of employment
They have never learned a trade. They
like to wear good clothes and keep their
hands white and soft. If they cannot
stand behind counter or desk, or Sc
cure political influence sufficient to push
them into an Office of some sort, they
drift aimlessly about, looking for en-
ployment which never comes.
False ideas of living and extravagant
notions are responsible for great deal
of this hopeless misery. Young lads
are brought up to consider manual labor
degrading, and fond, foolish parents
sometimes seem to prefer that their
children should go out into the world
helpless iather than they should learn a
trade. But the selfishness of the me-
chanics and the outrageous tyranny of
their unions, have had hand in bringing
to pass the present state of things.
About twenty-five years ago there began
a series of experiments In trades unions
which has resulted disastrously. The
times were good, work plenty and wages
fair. To obtain monopoly of these,
associations of mechanics began to limit
the number of apprentices which might
be employed in shop factory, or COM
pany of workingmen. Men who had
sons to equip for life actully voted to
shut the trade against their offspring.
The consequence was that the supply of
skilled workmen did not keep up with
the expansion of the country, and with
the legitimate demand. Employers were
obliged to send abroad for workmen and
it came to pass that grown men from
foreign parts took the places in Ameri-
can workshops for which American boys
should have been educated. Where now
are those neglected, cheated boys
Some of them are in jails and aims
houses. Some will be found lounging on
the benches in the public parks, vainly
waiting for something to turn up.
Others, willing enough, are advertising
Cor situations where they can make them
selves generally useful.