Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-09-07


From the statue in the Luxembourg by
Boucher
the actual producer the foundation of
civilization.
Let us take a glance at the nineteenth
century history of labor. In this brief
review l shall from choice confine my
self to the records of organized labor,
for until labor began to form its pro.
tectlve organizations it had no history
within the scope of this article.
Before the opening of the century
labor had begun to organize in GER
tain crafts in England. These UNI
ions were very unpopular with the
capitalists of that day, as unions are
unpopular with certain capitalists to-
day, and repressive laws We're enacted
and enforced against the unions. The
conditions of labor existing in England
were not so bad as in some other
countries, but they were bad enough,
heaven knows, and the "agitators" and
walking delegates" of that time were
Just as persistent as their descendants
in the year 1899, and their task was
much more difficult. In England
skilled mechanics worked - hours
day in 1900, and their daily wage was
barely sufficient to purchase the sim
plest food and raiment. 1t was under
these conditions that the trade union
movement of Great Britain, which later
spread to this country and which in
both countries has become one of the
most remarkable facts of modern times,
| first firmly rooted itself. AS has been
said, severe laws against the unions
were passed from time to time. Not
withstanding the legislative edicts the
unions continued to exist and, though
they were absolutely secret organiza-
tions exercised some influence. But
at this time they were more of hope
than an active working force.
In July, 1900. parliament passed an
other labor law. This act was vir-
tual outlawing of the trades unions, as
1t forbade any agreement among the
workers for the purpose of attempting
to raise wages or to shorten the work
| day Not only were unions forbidden,
but meetings Of the workers in any
trade and the contribution of money
for such purposes were especially pro-
hibted. Punishment for violation Of
this law was Imprisonment at hard la
Dor, and the person furnishing the in
formation leading to conviction was re-
warded with the funds of the union
betrayed or denounced
Probably the New York judge who
recently issued an injunction forbid
ding members of the Cigar Makers UNI
ion from contributing funds to support
some of their members on strike gets
his law from the parliament of 1900.
The unions of England would not be
snuffed out by law. On the contrary,
they increased after the passage of the
law just referred to at a greater rate
than previously, but they pulled the
mantle of secrecy still more closely
about themselves, and their policy OF
retaliation became fiercer than ever
In a few years 1t became evident tc
the more intelligent of the capitalists
that they could not destroy the unions
and that attempts to enforce theil
cruel and unjust laws only made the
matter worse, as it imblttered the un
ionists and made them less regardfu
of the rights of others. The laws were
repealed in 1924 and the unions be
came open organizations to a great eX
tent. The progress Of the labor move
ment, though it has met with setback!
at various times, has been upward II
England since that year.
The history of the trade union move
ment in the United States is similar t.
that in England. While the labor stat
utes have not been so severe upon tn,
unions, it is probable that the decisions
and rulings of the courts have equaleC
In severity the practices In Great Brit
ain during the period referred to. u
to within the last decade majority o
the people, outside of the worker
themselves, denied that labor had tn
right to organize for the purpose o
regulating trade matters. Today tn
man who holds to that view is the ex
ception. This change is due to severa
causes, among which are the increase,
knowledge acquired by the unionist
. and the increasing intimacy of the ger
eral public with the objects and mett
, DDS of the unions. But probably tn
greatest of all causes making for TIL
, change in sentiment is the recent in
{ petus to organization and combinatio
3 taken on by the employers Of labo
= Thinking persons now say, If capita
l has the right to organize to protect II
3 interests, why has not labor the sam
l right2 Sure enough, why not?
4 Labor in the United States has bee
s slowly but surely forging ahead du
4 ing the century just closing, the grea
i er part of its progress being the wor
a of the last dozen years or so. An
s what l want to impress right here
( that the advancement has been aluOb