The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1907-01-19


One Of the most exhaustive and able
addresses on the Importance OF In
dustrial Education to the Working
man" was made at a mass meeting
held at Cooper Union on the evening
OF Friday, the 18th Of December, by
Mr.. Samuel B. Donnelly, secretary Of
the Building = Trades Arbitration
Boards, consisting Of thirty four repre-
sentatives Of building employers as
sociat1ons on the one hand and thirty
four representatives of labor on the
other, and who in the course Of his
address remarked, mechanics become
skilled through long practice, and In
dustr1al education will be greatly ben
eficial to the individual and the state
If 1t reduces the termn Of apprentice
ship and aids the Individual in in
creasing his capacity as a producer
and wage Garner. The bricklayer,
plasterer, machinist and many other
classes Of mechanics can only become
skilled through long practice and care
tul training OF the eye and hand. Theo-
retical instruction will not make
musician, but practice without instruc-
kind Of musician, and the reason we
have so much rag time production in
American industry is because our me-
chanics know nothing Of theory"
Mr.. Donnelly further remarked that
during the textile strikes in Lowell
and Philadelphia four years ago I
found as result Of personal investiga-
ton made at a time when the en-
ployees Of the textile mills were bitter
in spirit against their opponents, that
little, If any, antipathy existed toward
the textile school Of Lowell and the
textile school Of Philadelphia. This
Is accounted for from the fact that
these particular schools have proved
Of great benefit to the apprentice and
mill employees"
This statement opens up new
avenue of thought, and may we not
we'll ask ourselves the questions, Will
not the general Introduction of these
industrial schools usher in new era,
helping to solve many Of the Vexed
problems of capital and labor? Will
it not make life more worth the living
to many thousands of workingmen
their work effective and to acquire
success in their trade by placing with
in their reach the means of acquiring
thorough knowledge of their trade
or craft? And Is it not the fact that
the intelligent, competent workman,
who is satisfied. with the outlook
which his efficiency is winning for
him, is the. one who attends strictly to
the work he has in hand and who has
! neither the inclination nor the time
to spend in preaching the gospel of
| discomfort and warfare against those
who are llyS| DESTROYS Of: lettering
! hiss condit$ - do not think that the
vieM is ~ topian which looks
forward stp ~ lndu strial schoolsot the
future ash ~ Isme4 factor in ushering
In a new era of Industrial peace and
bringing about a better understand
ing between employer and employee,
replacing the present atmosphere of
unrest and dissatisfaction with one in
which mutual confidence and respect
will exist, thus giving our country the
assurance of a long period Of prosperi-
ty in which the wage learner will par
| ticipate.
The time is coming when employers
as we'll as Intelligent American labor
will demand the establishment OF
trade-schools and that part Of the
public school money be expended for
| the training of. workmen, and the ef-
ficiency which these trade schools
shall promote, added to the American
genius for production, invention anc
the use Of machinery, combined with
business enterprise and method, will
render invincible the industrial power
of this country and give assurance Of
its continued commercial supremacy