The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-17
OUR INDUSTRIAL PURSUITS.
How Best to Advance Them.

This was the question: discussed by Rev. A.
Dalton last evening before the Mechanics AS
ISOLATION, in their building. The leading
points were:
First, That our active, intelligent, moral
and well-to-do middle class is essential to the
prosperity and stability of the state. Imperial
Rome had no such class. Hence the constant
conflict between the two extremes of society,
leading to the utter profigacy of the upper,
and the brutalizing of the lower classes, end
ing in the fall of the Empire.
Russia has no middle class. Hence the same
conflict is renewed there, eliminating in the
assassination of the Emperor. Athens had
such class, and SO had Florence Hence their
prosperity and glory.
We have such class, and must not only per
petuate, but elevate it still higher. How can
we do this? Evidently by improving the quail
ity of our work, and this end can be reached
only by improving the skill and intensifying
the ambition of our workmen
The second point then is how to secure these
ends. The general reply is, by improved
methods of education and apprenticeship for
our youth, and by system which will secure
more ample remuneration to the industrious
and capable workman. AT present our schools
are not sufficiently practical, at least for such
as desire to become skillful mechanics. Book
learning must be pursued in connection with
trade learning But can this be done? 1t has
been done, and the system is in successful op
GRAFTON in the centres of European civilization
In Paris, there are twenty such schools for ap-
prentices, one for each reimbursement. Paris
is the headquarters of skilled labor, producing
the finest work of any city in Europe or Am
erica.
In the United States Boston is leading off in
the same direction, as witness the magnificent
Mechanics building, opened only yesterday,
part OF which will be devoted to this purpose
Sooner or later, Portland must follow, and the
sooner the better. Up to this time we have
sent our rough lumber to Massachusetts,, and
had it returned to us wrought into useful and
ornamental articles which we have paid others
for fabricating. Why is this?
Third. But good as is technical education, it
is not enough. Skilled labor must be reward
ed, and adequately rewarded Men act from
motives, and the motive to work is good pay
All over the world the workman has been dis
satisfied with his pay, first as insufficient to
support himself and family suitably, and
second, as an utterly dsproportionate part of
the profits which accrue to skilled labor
Hence. again, the conflict of classes, the con.
flict between capital and labor, which will not
cease till justice is done, and fair principle of
distributing the rewards of labor be agreed on.
In the opinion of the lecturer, the principle
of allowing the workman to share the net
profits OF business is the true One best for both
parties the employer and the employe. This
principle admits of many notifications, but
one of the safest forms of it is to pay regular
wages as of old and then divide certain per-
centage OF the net profits at the close of each
year-say ten per cent.
The effect of this on the workmen will be
found favorable in all respects. 1t will i'm
prove his habits, stimulate his ambition, give
him direct personal interest in the success of
the firm and insure far greater fidelity and ac-
tivity. These results will react on the inter
ests of the employer, greatly increasing the
| profits OF his BUSINESSMAN increase which will
exceed the profits of former years over the old
| methods more than one-third. This result to
him will be great increase of his wealth, and
to his employees proportionate enlargement
| OF their means, and corresponding mental and
moral Improvement Thus both parties will
| be benefited, and the tone of general society
improved in all respects Above all, the war
| OF classes will cease by removing the causes OF
strife Interests now divided will be united.
| Another principle Of the same kind to be
| applied in the same fraternal spirit is that Of
mutual insurance, which may take the form
OF an annuity to be given on reaching GER
tain age, as fifty or sixty, or paid in the case of
disabling accidents and sickness
Finally, in England, cooperative stores have
been tried and become very popular, and
might be here if carried on with the same
! safeguards.
1t will be admitted that all this looks we'll on
paper, but will such theories work when re-
d1ced to practice? Many doubt, and others
wholly dsbelieve, the practicabllity OF the
scheme. Mr.. Dalton's reply to such is that it
has been tested and proved successful beyond
the most sanguine anticipations of its first pro-
jectors. The most striking and gratifying ex-
ample of success is to be found in the city of
| Paris today, where nearly one thousand work.
men have constant employment, regular wages
and ten per cent of the net profits OF the larg-
| est house decorating establishment in the
world. The capital of the firm is 10000,
half OF which belongs to the workmen. They
an annuity of 5000 to each workman on reach
| ing the age OF fifty years; also an annuity OF
! 500 if disabled before this age and 800 a
year to the widow IN case of his death.
Besides this, there are now fifty similar es-
adjustments in France, nearly as many in
Germany and Switzerland, and half that num-
berlin England, where the cooperative store
plan has membership numbering hundreds of
thousands, and is doing annually cash bust
ness amounting to millions, putting the profits
into the pockets of the members.
No formal argument is needed to show how
much or in how many ways these principles,
successfully applied. must add to the material
and moral welfare of all classes. If such a
system were established here in Portland it
would soon attract both workmen and work of
the best description, and in very few years
would double the wealth and population of the
city. Best of all, it would furnish sufficient
employments and inducements to retain here
our young men of promise who now quit us
to enrich other communities.
Lecture at the Free Baptist Church.
Rev. J. J. Hall will lecture this evening at
the Free Baptist church, corner Casco and
Cumberland streets. Subject London
MIR. Hill is an eloquent speaker and his long
residence in London emnently qualities him
to deal with his subject. He happily combines
and presents the most desirable information.
This lecture wherever given has elected un-
qualified praise Mr.. Hall was announced for
last Thursday evening, but accident prevented
his being present. No postponement of the
lecture on account of the weather.