Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-17
Judge Wyifc and the Apprenticeship
Question:


Question.
To the Editor OF THE EVENING STAR:
The recent reiterated declaration of Judge
Wylie from the bench, as reported in the press
of this city, that owing to the proscrptive meas
ures of trades unions it was almost impossible
for boy to acquire trade outside the walls of
penal institution has given rise to considers
bic discussion among uniOnists and elected sew
eral Communications In THE STAR and other
papers; but it appears to my understanding
that none of these rejoinders have fully met the
issue presented by the judge and controverted
his assertion. The mere dicta Of this honorable
gentleman (whO perhaps has never entered q
workshop except as a visitor. and whose oppor-
tunities for acquiring information as to all the
influences controlling the apprenticeship ques-
ton appear to be limited to conclusions drawn
from recitals of s0-called oppression in which
important facts are suppressed and the trades
unionist painted in hideOus colOrs) should not
be accepted by the general public without inves-
tgation, for dicta. in case Of this kind unless
supported by incontrOvertible evidence, carries
no more weight than prma facie evidence of a
mans guilt of crime before the testimony is
heard.
1t is true many trades unions now limit the
number of apprentices. Time was when they
did not. After the decay of the indenture sys-
TEN. and when most mechanics were employed
by the week on full time the apprentice having
no legal restraint upon his movements, when he
thought himself competent to perform the du-
ties OF journcyman. the incentive being higher
wages. through the connivance of another mas
ter mechanic would leave his instructor and en-
ter another shop, thereby defrauding his legit-
mate master OF the fruit of the training bestowed
upon him in the early days of his apprentice
ship. But mark! master mechanic aided and
Allotted the desertOn-nOt the iOurneymen, for
they could not give him employment.
Experience of this nature naturally rendered
the master mechanics who had thus suffered
dissatisfied. and remedies were sought to cor
rect tae evil which was a growing one, affect
ing likewise the interests of jOurneymen and
fetarding the progress of honorable apprentices
The earlier laws on the subject simply provided
for the exclusion from fellowship in the unions
of apprentices who failed to serve the required
period with their legitimate masters. Unions in
those DAYS being more of a social and beneficial
character than the pictured exacting tyrants of
to-day, this mild legislation bore but modicum
OF the fruit the planting of the tree gave hope
for, because disrcputable employers still contin-
ued their piracy On willing captiveS.
More stringent measures were next reSOrted
to. The number of apprentices was limited in
each establishment; and at this time many
unions declare that If an apprentice leaves his
employer without his written consent the men,
bers of the union will exclude him from every
other establishment so far as lays in their power
by refusing to work with him. And further If
all employer dismsses an apprentice without
good and sufficient cause the vacancy thus occa-
stoned must not be filled until he releases his
control. so far as the union is concerned, over
tine dismissed apprentice.
The Justice of limiting the number of apDren-
tees, admit is open to debate and smacks of
prOscriptive selfs'lness; but when viewed in the
light OF certain facts l Opine even Judge Wylie
will admit that the Devil (the trades-uniOnist)
is not SO vile as he has painted him. A glance
at the newspapers for few years back will de-
monstrate that thousands of workmen (from
the lack Of employment brought about by fnan-
cial depression as the result of the legalized
gambling in stocks and breadStuffS) struggled
for bare existence for themselves and families,
exchanging the tools of the skilled mechanic for
the implements of untutOred labor, and even
apprentices, with their trades not half acquired.
were thrown upon their own resources by en-
ployers who could not or would not sustain
them in idleness-ignOring the moral obligation
involved because not restricted by the legal obi
cation of indenture
As oil observers are aware. a majority Of me-
chanics can work but portion of the year
notably, brickayers. piasterers house carpenters
painters, skaters. &c.-while othersdepend largely
upon the business activity of the country g.,
BOOK and job printers irOn-mOlders, puddlers,
machinlsts. DC. In times of depression the ap-
prentice suffers with the jOurneyman and it is
OF common occurrence for him to be furlOughed
without pay. Were the number of apprentices
unlimited this wrong would be proportonatey
extended. Is it not reasonable to assert that il
an employer finds it necessary to fllrlOugh two
out of four apprentices, if he had ten he would
furlOugh eighth
While l do not indOrse the dicta of Judge
Wylle in the sense he desires. yet am willing
TO admit that in large number of instances it
IS almost impossible for boy to acquire trade
and for the very good reason that there is no
one to teach him and he is necesstated to ''pick
it up as best he can. But the trades-uniOnist
is not responsible for this Iamentabe state of
affairs why? Because the jOurneymen work
ny the piece. and every moment zen to in
structlng the apprentice is so much money loss
without any corresponding compensation. If
employers working hands by the piece desire to
give to the world workmen who will reflect
credit on their craft and the establishments from
which they graduate. it Is time they were realiz-
Ing the necessity of constant supervision of ap-
prenticeS by an experienced workman.
The unionist does not fear the competent
workman. On the contrary, he halls him with
pleasure and is proud of his association; but he
does fear the incompetent, and seeks to improve
his condition by pointing out his defects and en-
deav0ring to correct them. When to incompe-
tency is added moral insensibility then he is
summed The true unionist is not an enemy to
apprentices but he is bitterly opposed to the
prevaIilng loose apprentice system. BY legal
enactment, if only as an experiment, make it
compulsory to enter into indentures of appren-
ticeshp in this District, and if the EMPLOYERS do
not prove the stumbling-bock to an unlimited
number | venture to assert that the trades
unonsts will not
There are many points for discussion involved
in Judge Wylie's remarks l would be pleased to
notice at this time-mechancal schools, prison
instruction in trades, contrast of the trades
unionsts and the professions. &c.-but will re-
serve the subject for another occasion owing to
the length to which my pen has run.
ONE Who WAS INDENTURED
stories BY An Iowa Minister.
From Our Continent
An Iowa minister sends us the following