The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-10-12

T should dwell upon the possibilities
lying before this institution as well
as upon it's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
the character of the great man whose
generosity provided its foundation, and
upon its new building, not entirely
finished, in which are to be concen-
trated the Offices Of the various OIL
Gals of trade unions and other or
CARNATIONS devoted to h elevation or
labor. According to the statements OF
prominent union men and others
"Umanitaira' has both the means and
the intention to and help
promote every legitimate form of So
cia uplifting force that may be mani
tested in Milan. It is the central
in hic all the local n OF new
Only in general terms can the di-
verse methods, of promoting the we'll
being of the wageworkers of Milan be
referred to in this letter; the amount
of printed matter given me relating
to the subject, if condensed, could
make a volume, which would hardly
fail to be interesting. But it may be
said that while the trade uniOnists OF
the city are grateful for the assistance
and recognition given them by the
other forms Of organization. they have
learned to rely On their unions as the
backbone Of the general Working class
movement. Last year, IN Italy, q sep
aration was declared by the trade un-
AoAAe ~ ~ othAS -
Guiding the political. AS in several
other European countries, the neces-
sity Of discriminating between the
purely methods Of the I'M
ions and the theories and methods Of
the political parties has been acted
upon in Italy. The unions are to be
rad unions, and not party S%ectiOnS;
their officials are to be workers at the
trade. and not "intellectuals," the
members are to be governed in union
matters by their own democratic de-
c%isions, and not by votes AMI delegates
of political conventions; each individ-
ual union member is to be free in his
religion, politics or other activities, ex-
cept where his contract with his union
is concerned. In other words, in
Italy, as in other great countries OF
Continental Europe, the united ware
workers are adopting the well-settled
principles of the American Federation
of Labor. The necessary work is not
complete, but it is proceeding rapidly
and effeCtually.
Before %elaying the subject of Milan
labor organizations [ must mention
the Typographical Union as one of the
best examples. 1t has 1,400 members.
and there are not more than twenty
non-union printers in the city. 1t has
a nlne-hOur day, with no work Sun
day. In it's offices. which would do
credit to q l1kge business house, the
books are kept for the various forms
of insurance for the regional (town)
combination Of printers unions-the
north of Italy. And while the typo.
graphical is one Of the best unions in
management. it is by no means the
only n to be classed as model. 1t is
simply used as a convenient illustra-
ton.
And Rome! Lik many another
American, my thoughts have been df-
l. cantn1 fnuro yGC DOM cinon -n- or -
youth-the mighty Rome of the an
clients, the Rome of the popes and OF
h renaissance, the Rome of the Carl
bal6i and his brother patriots. | have
for years bought prints and photo
graphs of ROne'S works of art. and
have lCnged for the idle day en-
some long vacation might beholC
the originals. And, besiles, / have
read something of these description
written by cab and car-window tour.
lists of the lazy %populace of the pres.
emf Rome, and of it's dirt and it's fe.
vers. Now that I am in Rome [ an
seeing and on all sides and hearine
about a Rome of which I have hither.
to known but little. This Rome is {
live, active, energetic, newborn city
q centre of the most active social re.
form. 1t has a recently formed dem
ocracy, overriding the old privileged
castles, and a citizenship of Which in
dustry. thrift, independence, and au
dacious assertion Of human rights ar,
prominent characteristics. Such a
least, are my impressions after tn,
tabloided charges of information tina
have been thrust on my attention from
many sources since my arrival. I can
not say "all sources in the socia
scale, for / nave not been presented t.
the king (though I have been assured
| should have an audience with hin
were he at present in Rome, nor t,
the-pope Though a high official wa
willing to charge himself with tn
office of me an audience)
/ may as well say on this point, tina
| would like to meet Italy's king, as
man who has won the hearts of hi
c~ountrymen, many of whom, like my
self, would be content to see his lob
abolished. And most certainly