The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-27
ship. that about sl25 is all the expense

bHlps tIlht aUout PiAo 10 oii 1nO oAPOAAoo
tnat the English govern ment was put to
in educating each ofthe workmen who
have passed through her technical
scheme of education. and that $125 per
annum represents the technically edu-
Gated workman over an unskilled man.
If this be true in England it would be
true, to a larger extent, here.
From my personal experience and
observation Of workmen in various em-
ployments, / believe there is no hope
for meeting the actual effect upon the
minds of workmen except in that kind
Of education whidk win give them q
species of int ellectual interest and curl.
osity in the work they are performing,
which can only be derived by at least an
elementary knowledge of the sciences
employed in their business, and that by
that means the irresistible consequences
ofthe introduction of machinery in de-
grading the mind and character of the
working classes may be met.
aMr. Stetson, in work on technical
education, published in 1874, said (; Let
America take note that it is the educated
skilled labor. and not pauper labor, as so
many believe, which she has good reason
to fear and against which she can defend
herself only by educating her working
men equally we'll. !"
Joseph Medill, editorlof the Chicago
Tribune, page 9s7, volume II, says:
mo, our American boys have no
chance at present to acquire the manual
arts, and it is the duty Of the state gov
ernments, if not of the federal govern
ment, to assist in the institution of IN
dustrial schools, where mechanism will
be taught, and where natural philosophy,
electricity, mlneralogY and chemistry
will be taugh practically.
aThere is altogether too much time
wasted on Greek and Latin and the
higher mathematics in the schools, and
not enough time devoted to art. applied
science, and practical chemistry. There
is hardly place in the United States
to-day where could send son to learn
trade, except to force him into some
shop where he would BE unwelcome to
the trades union, and where he would be
kicked and cuffed about pretty roughly,
and to get rid of him they would try to
break him down and discourage him by
all sorts of tricks and meaness."
Mr.. Stelnway, piano manufacturer,
New York, page 1,0S9, says: .T
Having gone through the panics of
1851, 1857 and 1873, know that skilled
artisans are independent of bad times,fo
a skilled workman will always find en-
ployment. found that all the skilled
piano manufacturers and those in the
wood working trades readily retained
and found employment at remunerative
wages whereas, the half-skilled men,
who knew only one branch of a trade,
were thrown out of employment. Do
away with the curse of American me-
chanics-young men learning only one
portion of skilled trade, and being then
absolutely dependent upon that because
they do not know anything else"
Page 1897: Question. Is there any
overstock of skilled labor in Europe p
Answer. I think there is. @. Is not
the cheaper labor in Europe than here
due to that fact "A think not. The
wages are handed down from year to
year, the way the people live there and
the cheapness of living makes labor
cheaper. @. You think then that the
training of our people In industrial
schools will not produce an oyerstock of
labor in this country, and reduce wages 2
A. think twill not. / think the
country is taking such strides in popu-
lation and wealth that the addition of
the skilled laborer, who would become
such by the addition of apprentice laws
and industrial schools, would simply go
on without making any perceptlble
effect. But the principal thing is that
our American boys as they grow up
ought to be taught to learn profession
or trade and be Independent. @. You
think the demand forthat sort of labor
in this country will keep up with the
supply?-A., Undoubtedly
Charles Seidler, member of the firm
of P. Lorillard & Co., New York, page
1,156, says:
"I am heartily in favor of industrial
schools. The technical school founded
by Peter Cooper in my opinion has been
one of the greatest blessings that has
ever been conferred upon the youth of
both sexes who canIavail themselves of
the benefits and privileges. Industrial
schools for the purpose of imparting
knowledge relating to the various indus
tries and sciences would be among the
very best aids and helps that our young
people could have. We are suffering in
this country from a lack of proper slim.
ulus to the youth to oinduce them to enter
the mechanical arts. They prefer to go
into offices or salesrooms, or engage in
some light, cleanlY occupation which
seems advantageous in their eyes. The
establishment of industrial schools
would not interfere with the working