The daily critic., 1890-10-21
IMPROVED CONDITION OF W0RlIgGGEg.
BrainwOrkerS the Men Who Do Not
Demand Their Rights.
UPwABDlN OgBsRDI8 GoHpEaHoTTo
What Labor Editors Have to Say---The
Scriptures and Inordinate Hours
Of Labor -.- Strikes and
Other Matters.

According TO statements recently
made by the New York Sun. the actual
condition Of workingmeu who can get
work In New York city to-day is gen
orally better than ever They are
better fed and clothed and housed. and
have more holidays than ever before as
a body. They are more thoroughly
organized than ever, aud the work Of
perfecting their organization IS con-
siantly going on. The tendency is to
the decrease Of the Knights of Labor.
the local organizations of which were
largely made up Of men Of different
trades in one body. In place of the
KNIGHTS has grown up a powerful
body-the American Federation Of
Labor, organized each trade by itself.
AT the last report there were sixty two
national and International separate
trades, comprising $50 900 members.
belonging to the Federation Of which
Samuel Gompers is president In the
last six months about 300 local orpani.
ZatiOns have been added to the Fedora
ton. The plan Of keeping the affairs
OF each trade as much as possible In
the hands Of men belonging TO that
trade, which Is the peculiar feature of
the Federation, works we'll New
organizations are constantly springinr
up. Trades that were never before
organized are coming IN and getting the
benefit.
The building trades are practically
united. The carpenters work eight
hours and receive SO 80 a day. although
At this time Of the year many are out
OF work. Stone workers and masons
receive the best pay in the building
trades Marble iinishers receive s. to
50 a day. stone.cuttcrs aud cafvers
about 50, layers Of rough brick 81 50.
and front brick layers s. 80. Miners
In the State work about two.thirds of
the time and receive So a day. Plumb
cTs receive S3 10 81 day and have
steady work. Painters receive nom
inally $3.50 day; cabinet makers $t5
TO S2l a week; roofers $3.50 for eigh
hours he'd carriers, who are well or
CaniZCd, 81 so 10 S27j, day laborcrs
from 81 80 IN; stove makers from Slj
10 $50 q week by the piece; hattors
about 81 a day; clothing cutters from
s. 10 $50 a week bank note engrayers
from F2O tn 5000 a week; machinists
from S3 10 81 day.
AL tlaHats OF Wofkueu Keep up
steady pressure for shorter hours The
. various labor organizations In the city
city employ about 100 men to attend 10
The business of the unions, the rule
being that they receive pay for their
service at the rate they would earn n
busy al their trades.
-.
It is curious fact that the organized
labor Of the country is exclusively Of
the manual workers. "The numerous
classes Of brain.workers, SAYS the
C0mm0Rer and Glass Worker, In com.
menting on the apathetIc stand taken
by the clerical and kindred classes,
who are dependent like the manual
laboTeT on wages, such as clerks, book.
keepers, journalists. school, teachers,
etc. do not for the most part even know
that labor has any rights apart from the
viii OF the employer They regard Il
as perfectly legitimate for the capitalist
10 acquire a fortune from their labor
and 10 take advantage Of their neeessi-
ties 10 secure their ser does on the
lowest terms without regard 10 their
value. As for combining 10 secure a
measure Of justice to their class on pro.
tect any Of their number against oD.
preston, the thought never enters their
heads
There are exceptions, Of course. but
the great mass Of brain workers tamely
and passiYely accept the system by
which capitalism can dictate It's own
terms as inevitable, aud do not even
realize that the capital which confers
the power so often used uniuslly upon
Individuals IS the creation OF the labor |
OF The community. Organized
labor may make blunders, and its bcsl
considered plaHs may be defeated by
unforeseen circumstances or sheer In
sbiliiy 10 cope with a too powerful
enemy. But at least Il knows some
hing Of lis rights and Is keenly alive 10
he Injustice BY which il Is desp0iled 20
tuIich The mOnOpOlist. Ii Is not sunk
IN slayish apathy nor willing 10 be
iIampled on without resistance "A
f,Cl in revolt says Kossuth, Is in
tlilely wiser than philosopher forging
LEANED apology for his chains.
President samuel Gompers Of the
American Federation Of Labor has IS
sued a call to the trade and labor
unions Of the country 10 send represen-
tatiyes 10 the tenth annual convention
Of the organization 10 be held IN
Detroit Mich, December 6. Zach
union is urged 10 send It's fun quota Of
delegates. After alludiBg In the call
10 The past successes Of tue order in is
movements, AlF. Gnmpers says.
The recent movement begun t1 re-
duce the hours Of labor has been
crowned with such success. the whole
column Of organized labor has advanced
with such rapid strides for improved
conditions, and the trade unions have
received such an impetus from sur
rounding circumstances that the toilers
Of our country have become more and
more convinced Of the advisability aud
necessity OF gathering within the fold
OF our organizations.
ron The one baud the corporate aud
speculative classes have become more
arrogant IN their efforts 20 iutimidats
and crush oul the spirit Of the t1ilers by
methods hitherto uuheaTd Of Ia labor
ditlculies and on the other the demand
81 The wage workers % De larger sharers
ui The product Of their toll has become
50 loud and impressive that The forth
coming convention ut the American
Federation 90 Labor viii, without doubt
he Ihe most important gathering of
hICTs husIs within The annals III his
t0U- We can not allow any refr1Eres-
sion iu ihe natural development Of our