Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-27
CAPITAL AND LABOR.
Trades Unions as a Means of Concili-
ating Divergent Interests.
OBJECTS OF ORGANIZED LABOR,
How to Secure the Highest Possible Rates
Of Wages.
BENEFITS OF EIGHT-HOUR SYSTEM
rwR1rrEN FOE THE D1spArcH.l


Probably there is no question of more i'm
portance to the wealth-producing classes o
this country than that of trades unionism
Trades unions have now become such sig
nificant factor in the daily transactions o
capital and labor that their policy and aim
are of the very greatest i'm portance to almos
every citizen in the land. Nowadays trade
unions are SO numerous and so infuentia
that they can do an exceeding amount o
good or considerable amount of harm
This latter statement needs no verifcatlon
stances where these unions have brough
about results exactly the opposite of what
was intended. However, that was no fault
OF the principle of unionism, but entirely
the fault OF those who put that principle
into operation and applied it under the cir
cumstances just referred to-.
The object of trades unions, is, generally
speaking, all right, but there is such fear.
ful Misunderstanding existing as to what a
trades union can and cannot do, that day
after day we read Of the most serious and
expensive blunders being made by the con-
certed action of workmen. Trade is so dis
rupted that the entire community become
the sufferers, the employers and employees
coming in for the larger share. It is neces-
sary then that the true principles of trades
unionism should be clearly understood,
particularly by those who constitute the
rank and file of the unions.
Now, in this short article shall endeaYor
to point out the true economic functions of a
trades union; what it is destined to accom-
| plish. There are principles which limit the
action Of trades union just as inexorable
| as the PRINCIPLES of prayitation
THE ORIGIN OF TRADES UNIONS.
First let me give brief sketch concern
ing the origin of trades unions. Or course,
when using the name trades unions in this
article, mean all organizations of workmen
that deal with wages. There has been
long and bitter fight for the right of free
labor, and trades unions have evolved from
the victory gained by the masses in that
light. The liberty of labor was not recog-
nized by either the Greeks or the Romans.
English and other European kingly powers
denied that liberty, but the right of free
labor and of trades unions has finally been
conceded by power that cannot be with
stood, viz: public opinion. Trades unions
had their origin in the old town guilds of
the middle ages. These guilds or crafts,
were composed of both employers and
employed, but the numbers were extremely
fancy then. But these guilds were for the
benefit and protection OF the members of those
who composed them, and capital and labor,
if the term can be used, lived together in
harmony. The great object of those guilds
was to protect their particular crafts against
the expressions of the lawless barons. Au-
thorities tell us that these town guilds did
many and noble and self-sacriticing deeds
until they had achieved their freedom; but
afterward they sank into habit of harsh
exclusiveness toward their interiors. They
oppressed craftsmen and formed themselves
into guilds, which, after struggle of GEN.
the rule out of their hands, and governed
the towns in their place for many genera
tions.
In these early times very little capital
was required for production, SO that there
was hardly any distinction between the
capitalist employer and the hired laborer
Changes and inventions were few, and every
thing went along smoothly. The craft
guilds fostered honesty of work and broth
erly kindness, they defended the oppressed
and relieved the distress of the unfortunate.
But as time passed on a gigantic trans
formation was in process. Trade became
more complex, and employers became richer.
As their riches increased they ceased to |
work with their hands and to associate with |
their workmen.
SOCIAL SEPARATION
was the result, and it may safely be said |
that that separation, which still exists to-
day, has cost the world an amount of wealth
that cannot be estimated. The inventions
of the last 100 years have given a yery
great impulse to this separation. Speak
ing on this point, Sir Thomas Brassey
said: "When we take into view the great
changes which have been brought about In
the industrial organizations of the world
during the present century-the substitution
Of steam for manual power and OF machinery
for hand labor, and remember that the re-
sources of machinery can be most fully de-
veloped only when applied on large scale,
the reasons why workmen have gathered
together in recent times in numbers so vast
around our industrial centers, are not far to
seek. When operatives have thus been as
sembled together in great numbers under
the same roof, tending the same machine and
working at the same table, is it not natural
may reasonable-that they should confer
and take action together on all questions OF
mutual interest? In this most legitimate
manner trades unions have had their
,rigin."
This, then, is a very brief sketch as to the
,rigin of trades unions. George Howell, in
MS very able book, "The Conflicts of Capt.
al and Labor" has defined that a union is
IN association of workmen, and that its
objects are (D to procure for its
members the best return for their labor in
he shape of higher wages, shorter hours of
abor, and the enforcement of certain re-
trictions as to the conditions of employ
nent which could not be accomplished
Except by means of combination; (2) to
provide mutual assurance for the members
~ means of pecuniary assistance in case of
ickness, accident. death, out OF work, su-
when disabled BY old age,
oss of tools by fire. and emigration. These
bjects are such that no fair-minded man |
an or will object to; but, as have already
very often the wrong means are
Ised to obtain these objects.
OBJECTS OF TRADES UNIONS.
The great object of trades unions has
lways been to secure the highest wages
,ossible Ofcourse there are other objects,
ut this almost at all times seems to be the
eading feature. Now it is the mistaken
otion that thousands of workmen have
bout the power of trades unions as regards
RACES that has caused endless trouble and ]
normous cost. There has ever been, and is
D an alarming extent to-day, pervading s
pirit among trades union to ignore the in
crest of the employers. This antagonism, for
uchit is, to capital is contrary to the spirit of
-ades' unionism as it was first understood. q
nd has done much to retard the progress of c
ldustrial combination. A trades union '
ill not empower man to put his hand in Z
is pocket and get money when none is t
here; but it will certainly enable that man, r
men, to get fair share of what is actually t