The Clifton clarion., 1888-05-09
Chinese Guilds.

Our munster to Cnlna, MT. Charles Denby, has submitted in his report to the government some very curious and interesting facts relative to the guilds of China. He says that in every city in China there are guilds controlling arbi- trarily every branch of business. Boycotting exists in the most op- pressive manner. In the great cities there are numerous trades unions who regulate hours of labor, strikes and prices on the most approved American plan. These guilds have existed time out of mind. In most cities each province has it's own guild. The guild protects its members against sectional prejudice, prevents litiga- tion and performs the usual func tions of a chamber of commerce. Though despotic, these guilds are not altogether harmful. They are held amenable to law and are ordinarily reasonable in their dealings for foreigners. They administer justice and compel their members to act honestly. Trades unions are very numerous, and some of them are very wealthy. The Ningpo Fishmongers' Union has a reserve fund of $700,000, which is loaned to members at very low rate of interest. There are unions for blacksmiths, car penters, wire drawers, silk weav- CTS, millers, postal companies and barbers. The trades unions are noted for their truculency. At Soochow, not long ago, one of the gold-leaf craft violated the rules which forbade an employer from taking more than one apprentice at a time. He suffered the penalty of his crime by being bitten to death. One hundred and twenty three men had a bite at him be- fore he expired.
 Provincial compatriot guilds have two main objects ia view protection against sectional preju- dice, and for the prevention of litigation among it's members. Members having occasion to go to law to obtain redress for a real grievance and their resources in adequate to carry on the suit, the guild undertakes to pay half the expense; but if it is discovered that the plaintiff has an unworthy case, or that his trouble originates from gambling or dissolute life, all claims to assistance will be dis mismissed. These guilds are local affairs and their membership sell dom exceeds 30. Funds for their support are raised by self-imposed tax on commodities sold by the members. The books of each establishment or house are exam ined every month. the examination being made by the clerks of the firms in rotation. In no other land would business men submit to such inquisitorial proceedings. Punishment is provided for against any false rendering of amount of sales. The penalty is expulsion and the withholding of all intercourse with the offending member forever after, and "any member discovered to have had dealings with either from sym pathy or friendship shall pay a fine of 100 taels." Each guild has it's rules regulating sales by credit; cereals and the like sold on 40 days time; beancake and miscellaneous articles 50. Infraction of this rule subjects the seller and pur- chaser alike, each to the fine of the expense of a theatrical per formance and two tables of liquors and viands, entertainments that entail an expense of about $25 to each delinquent. Each guild pro- vides it's own weights and meas ures, as there is no common stand ard. A Chicago spectator would not know how to do business in China. Fictitious buying and selling being illegal, Chinese leg islation provides against every species of monopoly.