The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1893-06-08
American Boys and American La
Dor.

Dor
From the Century
Shall American boys be permitted to
learn trades, and, having learned them,
shall they be permitted to work at
them These are apparently simple
questions, and the answering of them is
an apparently simple matter. Most per
sons thus Intercepted would reply at
once Certainly they should. Why 90
you ask such unnecessary questions p
We ask them because under the present
conditions of trade instruction and en-
ployment in this country the American
boy has no rights which organized labor
is bound to respect. He is denied in
struction as an apprentice, and if he be
taught his trade ia a trad school, he is
refused admission to nearly all the trade
unions, and is boycotted if he attempts
to work as q non>Union man. The ques-
ton of his character and skill enter into
the matter only to discriminate against
him. All the trades-unions of the coun-
try are controlled by foreigners, who
comprise the great majority of their
members. While they refuse admission
to the trained American boy, they admit
all foreign applicants with little or no
regard to their training or skill. In fact,
the doors of organized labor in America,
which are closed and barred against
American boys, swing open, wide and
free, to AL foreign corners. Labor in
free America is free to all save the sons
of Americans.
These are neither idle nor axaggerat-
ed statements. They are sober, solemn
truths, expressed with studied modera-
ton. So-called American labor to-day
is complete misnonler, SO far as the
trades are concerned. How has it come
about that tina United States, alone
among the nations of the earth, has not
merely surrendered possession of her
field of mechanical labor to foreigners
but acquiesces when the foreign possess
The Century has been so strongly inns
pressed with the evils of this anomalous
situation, unjust to American boys and
fraught with danger to the nationtal
welfare, that it has instituted thorough
inquiry into the causes which have pro-
dnced it. The results Of this inquiry will
be set forth in subsequent articles, each
devoted to particular phase of the
question. 1t will be shown that the two
great causes have been the passing
away Of the old apprentice system, and
the enormous immigration to this coun-
try from all parts of Europe. 1t will
show that all the trade-unions of this
country are controlled by men of foreign
birth; that nearly all them have such
rules against the employing of appren-
in any of the large cities of the country
learn a trade by working in shops with
journeymen; that snch boys as learn
trades in trade schools are refused ad
mission to the Unions not because they
are not well taught, but because they
have not served apprenticeship accord
ing to Union rules, and are boycottet
and prosecuted if they attempt to
work as Non- Union men.
1t will be shown also that while IL =.
Unions combined in this effective con
spiracy against American boys, they ad-
NIT freely to their organizations foreign
workmen who have not served full APP
prenticeships, and who have only {
slight knowledge of their crafts, and IN
struct them to fnller knowledge .whjlt
ol,& 20 f,,n
men. 1t will be shown also that tEt
bulk of foreign laborers who come IL
America are the poorest of their traces
in Europe, the best workmen aiway
finding abundant work and satisfactory
pay at home; that in addition to being
Indifferent workmen, they are in mary
instances men OF inferior moral training
and instincts, frequently OF turbulent
and anti social proclivities and prac
tees. and are often without sympathy
for American institutions, and have NJ
regard whatever for the country's wei
fare. 1t will be shown also that in ad-
dition to the foreign laborers who take
ptheir abode here and possess the field,
there are many thousands of Others who
come here in every busy season, worl
while that season lasts, and return te
their homes when it is ended. 1t will
be shown that while these "harvesters.
as they are called, are admitted to The
Unions and are given work on equal
terms with Union members, the Union
authorities refuse the American boys az
apprentices and journeymen on the
ground that the labor-market is crowd.
ed, and the interests of labor will be
harmed if Americans are allowed to
come in.