The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-04-14
and midnight attacks.

rl1d ON IN the commercial and indus
trial world to establish the old sys-
TEN Of apprenticeship, now almost
dead. The papers have been full Of
suggestions Of people who us econo-
mists or as employers Of labor, have
an interest in the solution Of the
question. There are no more appren-
tees. Why? Some people pretend
that IT is because the parents, owa
days, wish their children to.earn mon
cy Immediately, and are no longer
willing to support them whilst they
learn the practical essentials Of a
trade; hence they encourage them to
take places rs messenger boys or 20
SHIFT for themselves without inquir-
in" whether they arc receiving any
useful training for the future. But
this is only a partial reason for ala
rrisc de l'apprentissa"e.' The an
swcr is given. today, by the authori-
tive pen Of NJ. Jules Mcline. senator
for thc Nos%tS and Il former prime
minister. Neither the a~varicc Of par
2nts nor The mwillingncss Of youth
I" enter the workshops and Factories
is the real cause Of the crisis. That
resides in the fact that The work.
shops close their doors to the would
be apprentice. This state Of things
has prevailed since Il certain famous
law passed III March 30, 1900.
The law is paved with good inten-
tons, like the road to the neither re-
gi"ns; those intentions are equally
ineffective. 1t is, unfortunately, the
custom in France to vote social and
other legislation without adequate
inquiry. No expert evidence is taken;
hence, there are perpetual difficulties
IN the proper execution Of the laws.
Defects. hitherto unsupported, are dis
covered in practice. IT has been sc
with the Sunday rest act, which has
"ivcn rise to immense agitation and
inflicted damage on IL variety of in
l"rrSis. simply because it was voted
by Il chamber incompetent to dis
r,I~S technical questions and toe wcd-
drd To general SocialiStic principles
T." ask for information.
The law OF March 30. 1900, declar-
cd that in factories which employed
women and children the work should
moi be prolonged beyond ten hours a
day. The principle Of the act was adj
,mlrablr; to prevent womcn and young
persons from o]vcrtaXing their
strength and injurin% their health by
Il too long s%oj"urn in the dus'-ladcn
atmosphere Of the factories. Put, un-
fortunately, it has had a most evil cf-
feet. AS the normal working hours
in France are - and NOT 20, the mas
tcrS have abolished the apprentice,
so as I" be free to employ their
hands to the limit Of the customary
working day.
a most important dcputation Of
employers of labor in the principal
trades of Paris have waited upon NJ.
Niviana, minister of commerce. ask
IN: that the law be altered 50 as to
allow the adult male worker to con
Time his labor. t" The full extent of
tilr wnrkim" day. in factories employ
&n-' r'3llr"n which. they declare.
W"ull u"l hinder the wurkin" Of the
act in respect Of the children them
selves. In the opinion Of most ALL
th"ritativc persons, this alteration
would have the desired effect Of re-
storing llc apprentice to the work
shop.
But the proposed remedy is SO RI
dicul"nsly simple and so entirely I'M
sensational that it hardly appeals 10
tn" Great rlHc! of The people. 10 tha
Spuilt darlin" Of universal suffrage.
No. they say this touches Il great and
sacred principle. IF You allow men
t" work - hours Il day in factories
employing y"nn" PERSONS, then the
latter will be encouraged in break the
law and continue their labor. too. SO
thry propose professional schools
Il tremendous syStc moi technical IN
Slrncti"n-as a means Of c0njuring
IN" criSiS-at the expense. cohen en-
tcndu' of the rate payer. That is
where The question is nj this moment {:
a Nv instance OF The struggle be-
tween state socialism and common
sense. Nor is adequate solution help.
ed by the fact that NJ. Niviani is So
~riAliSt in his views. Meanwhile. The
"arrrrn,ic" and potential .\rarhc