The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-15
in THE FIELDS OF LABOR
THE APPRENTICESHIP QUESTION
ONE OF PARAMOUNT INTEREST.
Many Labor Unions Seek to Reduce
the Number - Local and
General News.


necessity for skilled mechanics in almost
every craft The machine unseating the
tradesn,an on one hand and the apprentice
becoming proficient in his trade on the
other has swelled the ranks Of skilled Ia
boring men until the supply is exceeding
the demand. The solution Of this perpsex-
ing problem has been before the labor
leaders Of the country for several years,
and trades unions have taken up the mat
ter in nearly every branch. The movement
now is TO reduce the number of appren-
tees.
When the apprentice began to be con-
sidered by the trades unions a system was
adopted limiting the number of appren-
tices. Gradually the limitations narrowed
until now some unions seek to abolish the
apprenticeship system entirely for a num-
Der OF years until there is a greater de-
man for their particular trade. or the num-
Der Of mechanics have decreased until
they can no longer fill all of the places
where they are needed. The plumbers, per-
haps have been more radical on the ap-
premiership system than any other labor
organization. They have decided in many
cities 10 eliminate the apprenticeship sys-
TEN entirely for a number Of years. They
have been successful in establishing this
rule in several places, but in Indianapolis,
about a year ago. they failed after strik-
ing. The Typographical Union allows two
apprentices TO each office and one for each
additional ten journeymen printers. The
Iron Molders' Union allows but one ap-
prentice TO every eight men. Other trades
average about the same as these OrgaIiza-
lions.
There has not been a national or inter-
national convention of any trades organi-
cation In the last few years In which. the
apprenticeship system has not received
lengthy discussion or was treated by. re-
ducing the number The principal barrier
now in controlling the apprentice is the
nonuniOn shop, where amateur workmen
are turned out as jOurneymen in less han
half the time prescribed by union rules.
They then go 10 cities where union wages
are paid and the unions are Obliged to take
them in 10 prevent a harmful competition
and consequent cut in their wage scale.
Most organizations in the large cities have
been successful in organizing practically
all Of the skilled trades, but from the
smaller places, where there are no unions,
come the menacing apprentice with half
learned trade but with enough knowledge
OF 1t to be able to hold position.
Three union butchers of New York city
were fined for distributing boycott notices.
Sixty per cent. of the employees of the
railways OF New Zealand work in shifts of
eight hours day.
The Retail Clerks Union Of Bloomington,
I'LL. has compelled pawn brokers to close
their places on Sunday.
The State of Washington has law pro-
hibiting the employment Of female clerks
longer than ten hours a day.
= The Limited Brotherhood Of Carpenters
and Joiners of America has a membership
OF 5000 represented by 9l3 locals
The Daily Press, an eight to twelve-page
publication in Cripple Greek. Col. is owned
entirely by organized wOrkingmen-
An injunction issued against members of
the Machinists' Union at Memphis pre-
vents them from climbing telegraph poles.
CartoOnists Of Chicago, numbering 1000,
talk OF organizing a union and applying
20 the American Federation of Labor for
a charter
The union laundry workers of the coun-
try have adopted a plan of starting CO.
operative laundry where adjustments can
not be effected with their employers.
Xxx
The union tailors of London created a
sensation by showing that the clothes worn
by the elite were made in a district in
fected with smallpox and other loathsome
diseases.
The Supreme Court of New York denied
a petition to enjoin the United Garment
Workers from distributing circulars to a
firms customers, requesting such persons
10 not deal with the plaintiffs.
Xxx
Xxx
The coal miners of Cardiff. Wales. re-
Gently decided TO strike or Fridays and
Saturdays in order to reduce the produc-
ton and thus maintain their wages, which
are based on a sliding scale and controlled
by the market price of coal.
MaTseilles, Lille and ROubaix. France
have a commissary department in connec-
ton with their public schools. a free meal.
with meat. is given to the children between
the morning and afternoon sessions each
day, and twice year shoes and clothing
are distributed.
French labor unions are making a great
stride toward consolidation in the erection
of a palace for labor in Paris. The building
IS being erected mainly with funds collect
ed by labor organizations. but the city and
state have given assistance The funds
are now becoming exhausted. with the
building partially completed, and the gov
eminent Will be petitiOned TO appropriate
an additional $4,000 to completes II. So
anxious are the laboring men to have the
building finished that they are donating
their labor.
The blue label pasted on boxes OF uniCq-
made cigars was not originally designed by
the Cigar Makers Union. Several years
ago the cigar makers along the Pacific
coast adopted IL to distinguish their make
from that OF the Chinese. The public came
20 recognize the label as Il safeguard
against disease. as IL evidence that
the cigars were not manufactured In Chi
nese quarters. The union cigar makers
over the country learned or the benehcent
results OF the use OF the label and finally
adopted IL at an international convention
Now II Is recognized in all parts OF the
country as the trademark OF the union.
Xxx
There has been considerable agitation OF
late in labor organizations over the action
of the Postal Department refusing to pass
certain labor and Socialist publications
through the mails as second-class matter
1t is necessary that publications, TO be
recognized as second-class mail matter.
was shown that number of these publica-
tons did not have a recognized subscrip-
ton circulation. many publishers sending
their papers I'm bundles 70 local unions
where they We're broken and distributed
among the members. In these cases the
union was the subscriber and paid a stipU-
lated amount for so many papers. Several
papers suspended publication on account OF
The action OF the Postal Department. while