The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-28

The Anglo-Saxons are entitled to the
distinction OF having originated the
modern labor movement. Traces can
be found so far back as 1850. in a
Uook-binders' strike in the city of
London, England, for a reduction OF
the hours OF labor OF one per day. The
strike was quickly ended by sending
the leaders TO Newgate jail, where one
of them died. According to Chambers
encyclopedia, the sailors struck in 1901,
in the city of New York, which was
ended in English fashion-by sending
the lenders to Jail The right to or
ganize was unlawful in the early part
of this century. both in England and
the United States.
With the introduction Of machinery
in England, the condition of the work
ing classes got from bad to worse. In
1Sl1-l2 stocking and lace frames were
introduced in Nottingham. With no
means of defense-the right to organ
lie being prohibited by law-the work.
ing people rushed into the houses and
shops and broke the frames. Parlia-
ment quickly passed an act fixing the
punishment Of death for breaking a
frame. Shortly after this, eleven men
were condemned TO die on the gallows
for breaking frames. Under such con-
ditions, it was not surprising that
England was honeycombed with Sc
cret societies, and political dissatis-
faction was coupled with social dis
content. The country was on the eve
OF revolution. Parliament passed an
act in 1924 repeating the combination
laws, which allowed the workingmen
10 organize in trades unions. For
many years subsequently, the judiciary
refused to recognize the act, and pun
jshed workingmen under the common
law.
With the introduction of improved
machinery, another serious evil man
tfested itself. The employment Of
Ehildren and young persons increased
from year to year, which had a an
dency TO reduce wages TO starvation
point. The British government ap-
pointed a commission, in 1880, to in
Quire into the condition of factory
children. The report said:
From the whole of the evidence
laid before US, we find; First, that the
children employed in all the principal
branches of manufacture throughout
the kingdom, work during the same
time as adults In some instances
children begin TO work at the age OF .
years. 1t is not uncommon to md
them at 8 years; many are under q;
still more under s. but the greater ma
3ority are under {"
The trades unions Of England,
though few in number at that time,
started an agitation against the en-
ployment of children in factories, and
demanded a ten-hour day for young
persons and women. a law 70 this
effect was passed by the British par
lament in 1S47.
A similar agitation was carried on
sn the United States. In 1882 there was
2 trades union demonstration COM
posed of 1000 men, on Independence
Day, in the city of Boston, Mass, de-
manding a ten-Lour day for factory
operatives and all classes of mechan-
les. The agitation for a ten-hour day
spread over the New England states,
7Iew York and Pennsylvania. In 1910,
President Van Buren, issued procla-
nation making ten hours days work
in the navy yards and all government
shops. But the law TO restrict the en-
;-nloyment of women and children dld
not pass till 1874, in the state OF
Massachusetts. 1t took an agitation
of thirty-nine years TO place this act
on the statute books. Other states
Followed subsequently.
1t is an interesting fact that, until
1S45 the entire labor movement or the
civilized world did not exceed IN num-
Der 200, 900. At present the membership
comes up close to 100000 1t is most
numerous IN NIredL DIlld4Hs meat III
line is the United States; then comes
France, Germany. etc
The most powerful unions are those
whose members pay the highest dues,
and receive strike, out-of-Xorks tray
cling. sick and death benefits. Up TIL
1887 nineteen unions in Great Britain,
composed of 225, 900 members, paid in
benefits over S4l, 100000. This is the
reason why the trades union move
nent Is much more successful in
England than in the United States.
With the revival of the labor move
snent, which is now in progress, II
should be the duty Of every union man
10 do his utmost to build up the union
of his craft upon a solid foundation.
strong enough to resist the encroach-
1nents of the employers, ana 10 pre-
pare for the next financial and indus
trial panic. which is bound to reach
us between 1901 and 1903.
A STRAUSSER.
New York City. April. 1895.