The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-08-10

best type of wage workers. Their
Union, they explained to me, had been
modelled OIL the English system, and
they had mainly followed English
trade union methods in increasing
wages and otherwise improving their
condition as Their wage
scale now compares we'll with that of
the English Workmen Of the same
trade. At Caudry, especially, where
the industry has grown considerably
in recent years, the Union has at the
same time developed strength. At
present employers and employed are
both doing we'll. The mayor of Cal
ais, who was present, and some Of
the councilmen, are union
They have helped in the Improvement
Of the municipality, sufficiently we'll.
in fact, to be reelected to Office. Some
Of these counciImen call themselves
socialists, in which ease the name
does about as much good, or about
as much harm, as it does in the case
of the voluntary cooperative society
Of Calais which also goes by the title
Of socialist. In either case work is
done in the present day, beneficial in
character. " There have been strikes
in Calais at times; out neither Union
ism nor the public welfare have
thereby suffered seriously. On the
contrary they AVE abolished griev-
ances and brought about improved
conditions. Incidentally to such few
strikes which have occurred, agita-
ton has been lively and some friction
with the police has occurred, but
neither Unionism nor the public well
fare has thereby suffered seriously.
France could and will very we'll get
along and progress with such a char
acter Of trade Unionism as p~ractised
H. - l. --I ~
practical trade Unions, which OBJ
tain in many trades.
The morning I reached Paris lie
Matin'' contained a letter from L.
Mel, who had just resigned as secre-
tary Of the &C. G. T." in
or a decision by it's delegates contrary
to his convictions, and because of
which he deemed it obligatory upon
described h &c. 6. T." in his letter,
as ruled by politics. While admitting
that he vas a socialist, he denied
that he yer permitted his political
opinions to influence his trade Union
ism. The Anarchists, now in full pow
er in the central organization, asserted
that their Unionism was but Anar-
chism under another name" Poll
tics,' wrote M. Mel, has always been
a poison to trade Un1onism." "Nev-
err was trade Unionism Gin France)
so invested with politics as today"
TN 1905, the G. G.: T., at the Con-
gress of Amiens. had so1emnly in
terdicted all Unionists from introduce
ing in the organization politics Of any
kind whatever" But while this inter
diction still remained in b text of the
rules, h fact in practice vas other
wise. "Unfoism has closed the front
door to the socialistic Virus, to pen
the back door to h Anarchistic poi
son." And now, the more solid
Unions were about to try to regener-
ate the labor movement The miners,
railroad men, printers, textile work
ers, commercial employees and others
were about to organize a central
Union Committee to promote trade
Unionism without party politics.
M. Mel, who is a Union printer n
a socialist, had written a letter pub
in M. Jean Jaures' paper,
"L'Humanite," on July 9Th, in which
he spoke of my coming visit and de-
scribed the work of American
Unionism. He said it was more prac-
teal than ideal; more conservative
than revolutionary. He expressed a
to me in France as the repre-
sentative Of the Observation-Disclosures
Of Labor. Now it is quite significant
both Of the French spirit Of hospitality
towards America ana OF eHe Intention
of the leaders and followers Of the var
groups in the c. G. T. to show
they were willing to hear me ex-
plain my mission. hat in Il VOix du
Peuple" of about the same date, NJ.
Georges Yvetot, another Union prin-
ter, who is an Anarchist, and M.
antagonistic, also welcomed
me warmly and in his letter said that
the occasion of my address before the
G. T. would be "sa1utary instruction
for all various reasons" I may add
that during my stay in Paris, NJ. Mel
and NJ Yvetot were amongst those
vino were indefatigable in showing
and my friends all possible hos
And when they met in he
of us Americans they we're
not only respectful to us but also K