Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-10-12
BENEFITS OF TRADE UNIONS.

In these days Of strike, aud trades,
unions winch are matters IF coacera and
interest to many Of our people, our at
tention has been called to an address re-
Gently delivered before a trade union
Congress in London, b. Mr. Frederick
Harrison. Mr.. IIarrisou is one Of the
leadl1g and most aggressive thinkers Of
modern times A. youOeer man he,
like most other, independent young
thiakcrs, INDUCED good deal in theory,
and his concentrations were not always
based on facts, but like all earnest men
he has Of late years pursued the true
scientific method. and bases all bis con-
illusions on statistics aud fact
In this address he gave some re-
markao!e statistics OF the strength and
work of the trade unions Of England.
The most common idea Of trade union
in this country is that it is an organiza-
ton Of workmen designed chiefly to
give them seaport in strikes against
their employers Mr. Harrison shows
that, so far az English unions are con-
cerned, this in an error They have
more than doubled their numbers and
incomes during the past sixteen years.
Five of the principal unions Which did
not in 1867 number in all 60, 00O menu
bcrs now have an aggregate mtmber-
ship of l25 900 During the same
period they have doubled their incomes
ana reserve fuads Trade in Eng -
suffered severe depression during tbes
years, and the strain upon the union'
was very great. Seven of them spen
within six years nearly $40, 900, O0C il
support Of men out Of work and for 9th
or charitable purposes, drawing upor
their reserve funds for nearly 81 900,
0on, YET now they have an aggregat,
balance on hand Of 81 SOC, 600 Gu
of the tota! expenditure of 10,0OO,0 0C
in six years, only 500, 900, wal
spent in settling strikes and trade dis
putes Of all kinds.
These figures show that the unions
have grown into great provident sOcle-
les, which are as great a benefit to the
Jateas they are to the workmen. Nc
)ne can dispute Nj Iarrison's assertion
hat it is vulgar error to say that or
carnations which devote 50 per cent.
i their resources to charitable purposes
md only | per cent. to the settlement of
disputes, exist mainly for the purpose
f encouraging and sustaining quarrels
between the laborcrs and their EN-
'ioyors
One Of the most important things
,hown By Mr. Harrison's figures is that
,trlkcs are growing less frequent every
7car. As the unions increase il power
'nd wealth the number Of disputes be-
ween employers and laborers diminishes.
or tho strength of the unions not only
makes employees more cautions about
provoking them. but has a restraining in-
lucncc upon the unions themselves
They have more to risk and are in con-
less inclined to risk it. Their
arge reserve fund represents the labor
nd self-denial of many years. and they
viii hesitate long before riskipg its sac
'itoe IN what may be an unsuccessful
strike
The trade, unions Of the United States
nave, unfortunately, little in common
with those Of England Here they are
shelly combinations for the purpose
If affecting wages and isting in strikes
lnd have few Of the b4nefceht 'bjsc''
which are so commendable in the In
,llsh societies Vet it is fact tina;
strikes are becoming less frequent IN
his country every year. The failure ol
til, iron workers strike, in Pennsylvania
aud ,he West last year. and of the tele'
graph operators this year, has undoul {
edlY had much to do with making tire
workmen more reasonable in their dc
mands. BY charging the scope oil
their organizations and modelling then
after the English pattern, the American
Cuionist would be certain to achieve thu
the same happy results which have beer
obtained in England