New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-21

WHAT LABOR UNIONS ARE DOING.

the almost uncomfortable condition OF the people. and
which have become a leading factor in the social
disturbances which convulse that island The
facts that now arousinG apprehension in Sicily
are. he says. of two categories. two absolutely diff
ferent Phenomena having common origin in the
deplorab bic political. economical and moral state OF
Italy. To the ore category belong the Easel or
labor unions 10 the other. brigan1age. All the
Italian Islands are In sadly neglected condition.
almost II they did not belong to the continent
Of Italy: but Sicily will example. In
that island there still territories without
roads. and this is one OF the principal local cir
cumstances that favor brigandage. glance at the
map OF Italy will show the Partially OF the govern
ments In this particular. Piedmont and I~ombardy
looking like spiders web with the quantity OF
roads marked while Sicily has almost none.
1t Is only lately that popular banks began to be
instituted in Sicily. but they few In number
that usury is boldly exercised large scale.
Agricultural and Industrial laborers earn very
small wages-scarcely sufficient to support l!fc
They have no education. and live like beasts. most
OF them not recognizing any social duties and void
of idea Of law and Of the State. The riches Of
the island absorbed by the large propretors
and bankers. remains Of the medieval feudal time;
and far too often the holdings OF the small farmers
fail prey to the voraciousness OF his creditor and
landlord. The signori. who prefer TO live In the
capital and amus themselves. let their land to the
gabellotti who subdivde Il among sub gabellottl.
and these in their let their portions In parcels
10 the peasants a contract system which enables
them. little by little to suppress all the independ
ent peasants. When cultlvating corn tle peasant
does the sowing. hoeing reapng. threshng and
other operations at his own expense. keeping the
fourth part of the produce for himself and giving
IN" other three parts his landlord ON this fourth
part the peasant still pays four or more kinds OF
taxes. The laborers. who cannot work when 1t
rains. and in summer Obliged to work only half
l.,,- tp.l for
the work OF twelve hours. that is. FIVE centImes
0ess than hafrenny) an hour. They are almost
always paid their wages In kind In very bad bread
and wine. and when they out OF work they
borrow from the landlord. who charges &c per
cent interest every six months.
The larger the property. the greater the dii'i-
Guilty Of any meeting between proprietor and peas
ant. thus preventing any friendly relations. This Is
the principal condition that justifes the BATH"
OF classes. The same thing. worse happens
IN the Industrial department ~ labor. the laborers
being kept Ike machines slaves The conse-
quonce Of all this Is crime IN all its manifestations.
from the least 10 the most ferocious. And there
fore the penal statistics are worst IN Sicily. The
extreme of brutality "a reached In the in
famous labor % the carus. or mine boys. The
carus boys from eight to twelve years OF age.
who carry the sulphur % the mines TO the
surface. climbing with their burdens up more than
800 feet Of narrow steep gangways. The picconeri
Each engages one moro boys by means OF ad-
vancng the parents a quantity Of -four or corn
worth from ino 20 10 francs 50 the BOYS become
the slaves = tho picconieri lorg their parents
are in debt. and are ma'reatel by their fathers.
who cannot pay and by heir masters. who may
even Kill them without risk. Not long ago one
Of these boys was Killed by eleh, stroke. with a
pick and another died In consequence Of Kick
In the stomach. ~ one denounced the mon. and
the authorities pronounced the deaths - b. From
natural causes" The backs ~ these mine-boys are
al bruised and rel and marked by oil wounds.
The boys are pale. sicLly and STOPPING they ar"
rickety and weakened by suffering and fatigue"
They work twclv. hours a day ana sleep In the
mines they live on bread and onions and when
they want 10 drink are obliged TO take long walk
before finding fresh water. Military statistics prove
that almost all conscrpis who have been min"boys
are Incapable 81 service account OF physical de-
fccis or sickness WHEN misery reaches such "A
mitch that fathers cell their own children AMI even
see them Killed without daring TO denounce N"
murderer IL means that population has reached
the limit Of endurance.
The result Of all this misfortune IL brIgnnlagc
One fact which proves that iis revival IL owing -
the want Of economic equilibrium Is that besides
the brlganls who bear manifest signs OF their
degradation on their faces there many brigands
who look like homes, men. The famous Abate looks
llke gentleman. and II 70 known that there are
youths in many baris - br.gands who have once
been Industrious an honest. and have served their
military term lut IN" Increasing Misery mas
led 20 thu awakening Of the people. who be-
gin to inquire why they suffer. and to fight
for better thing AMI the labor unions Of
Sicily have arisen. The ahorers want 10 have
their labor Justly recompcnsed: they desire TO
enjoy the right 10 live They long for a broihery
union that Will unite them all. and on which they
rest their reasonable hopes. The poor SicIlian
peasant. IL asked what ne wants. Will say he
hfrs nd rs ron He
say that at IS unjust that a and wife who have
five children should be condemned to i've In n
single small ROOM while there people who have
ten twelve rooms. or whole palace. at their
disposal When a working man or woman. for the
women OF Sicily have become the soul Of the move
meni begins to think thus. II shows he has be
come conscious OF his own Individuality and that
the fuiur, Is his.
The object Of the Easel IL just and humane. and
the methods they the best. most just and
most touching that can be imagined. There are
now in Sicily 100 labor unions. without reckoning the
MANY that now being formed. In all the Island
the members number about :C0cO. the movement
having the greatest extension In the province ~
Palermo. The first unions were founded By Giuseppe
De T"lcc Glunrida during STRIFE OF communal aI-
mlnistration. but little by little they changed their
charactar and now all ne m"nbrrS ar. disciples %,
the names OF Marx ana Ingels arr cnllertlviSts
houses and land. Each union possesses IA password.
which each head Of a Fascio passes 10 the single
the roads and streets. that. in the twinkl!ng or
an eye all the members receive message.
Each union has It's police. who inform the mem
beers of all that IS being done against them by the
Government police. and presidents are kept ready
10 supply the place of those who may be arrested.
Each member subscribcs ! frame 20 centlmcs "A
wear in postage stamps which he buys when H. can.
and pasics into his book. II a member IL sick. or
has an accident. loses OF his property. by fire
or otherwise. his companions are bound To help
him.
Most unions have a relief fund out OF which men
iucaDabc Of work the families of deceased mem
hers are assisted Each union has It's own red flag
and band OF music Their hymn IN the Hymn OF
the Laborers." They are now striving TO institute
coopcrative societies by which they may break the
'ca mora" Of the large tradesmen. All the mem
hers of the unions receive medical Attendance for
Themselves and family gratis and can buy medicine
! M n reduced price. They have also a mutual life
Insurance fund Members who are tailors. bakers.
grocers shoemakers. etc. work for the brethren at
reduced prices In the new life which the Sicians
| are preIaring more for their children than FOR
| themselves may lie the germ OF "A future society
something like that described by M Belamy In
| HE 81 noking backward" The Scilian Easel have
| nst,hiIshcd schools for children ana schools Tor
aduIts I'm whicu last is taught the value or money
me d,itlcs and rights Of workingmen me means
nT e,vIng themselves from usurers ana the proper
,neanIny az Socialism and Collectivism The stu
dnr,s Iiscriss these questions with warmth and
INJECTION TIL. women. particularly the peasant
cinss ,o 10 hear the lessons and lectures given by
49,, I,rlato and others, and are most ardent