Evening star., 1897-02-01
aoMrERs AND THE woRKrNeMEx
skilled and Unskilled Labor-Address
to tho Federation Of Labor.

Skilled and UnskiIled Labor-Address
to tho Federation Of Labor.
The executive council of the American
Federation of Labor has prepared an ad-
dress to the members Of the organization
which will be printed in the Federationist
the official organ of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor, for next month, and is as
follows:
During the coming year greater effort
should be put forth than ever before for
the organization Of our fellow workers,
ana particularly those who are employed
al what is generally known as unskilled
labor. There is unquestionably a wrongful
opinion as to what constitutes the dividing
hne between skilled and unskilled labor
we nave IN mind number of trades in
winch only decade ago a regular series
VI years were required to serve an appren-
t1ceship in order to qualify a worker to be-
come )ourneyman, an effective trades
man, yet within brief period these men
nave round that their entire early training
STUDY ana practice acquired at their trade
become absolutely useless to them ma
chine or series of machines were invent
ed, rendering their skill superfiuous since
any one with ordinary intelligence and
apllty could apply himself to operate the
machlne Again, in numerous instances
scarcely more than physical power and or
ulnary application were necessary.
Thus we notice trade after trade being
encroached upon by the daily introduction
OF machinery and improved TOOLS The
sklied worker of yesterday becomes the
unskllled laborer of today and tomorrow
we, therefore,, view with increasing in
terest the growth of the organizatio of
the unskilled workers The necessity for
the extension of the beneficent influences
OF unlonism to labor cannot now be ques-
toned by any one who is a real observer
and student of past and current industrial
affairs.
Organization has accomplished this much
ior the workers. 1t has not only secured
higher wages, shorter hours and better
conditions of employment, but it has also
instilled degree of independence and man.
hood and intelligence, resulting from the
changed conditions, that none should re-
main outside of its ranks.
we often find that the workers en-
ployed in some of the unskilled trades are
receiving higher wages and working less
hours, and have better conditions than do
some of our other so-calIed skilled fellow
workers. While we have every apprecia-
ton and desire that the wage earners shall
acquire as much skill in the performance of
their labor as is possible, yet all history
demonstrates that it is not so much the
question Of skill in labor as it is the part
of that skill devoted to an appreciation OF
existing economic and social conditions
that is, the recognition of the necessity of
organization, which is the real means by
winch wages, homes and conditions of en-
ployment are permanently improved.
The year in which we live should be one
and onward march of the labor moveme Mt
There is constant danger of encroac chmant
upon the domain and interests of the one
upon the other. The unemployed skilled
workman becomes competitor for the en-
pioyment of the unskil!ed workman and
the unemployed skilled and unskilled work
ers become menace to the empoym ant
wages and conditions of all; SO that in the
first instance, as well as in the last degree
the interests of all labor are Identical
These interests are therefore fostered pro-
tected and advanced by the organiZatio
of all.
Let us all perform our du-y to ourselves
and our fellow workers. Let us bend every
energy to secure a better and more thor
ough organization of the lnskiled workers
of our country, and assisting them to a
recognition of their duties, which will GER
tainly lead 20 a realization of their rights
and every advance step made by them can
only tend to raise the entire economic
social and moral position of the wage earn
ers. and hence the entire people,