Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-07-26
Benefits OF he Trade Unions and
What Theu fave Done.
MIR. EDIT r.:


peared In this paper recently |
made some references 10 the
trade uniou-; hut, however, did
not try to cohfiue myself to real,
or epe cial talk on this subject
that is in giving anv results, or
benefits accomplished by it. IL
this, | wI.h 10 make a plain and
truthful talk on this subj ct.
While there are many that know
someih'ug about unions there are
many that should know, and do
no.; and many that do not kuow
nor do not want 10 know.
Now let US first look at few
things that have been done by
organized lsbor. Very few peo-
pie know the half of them.
II Tho early part of the eigh-
toenth century, m'r, women and
children worked thirteen and four
teen hours day. This was the
average, but many employer
ground sixteen hours a dav out of
their jaded wage-slaves. In 1900
every laboring mar aud mechanic
was at work at t n. IN. As late
as 1886 women aud children be-
gan work in some factories at
4:30 a. M, and worked an hour
before dawn as we'll as an hour
after dark.
The average laborer one hun.
dred years ago had fewer comforts
and less consideration than n dog
has today. There was no society
for the prevention of cruelty to
wage-workers.
In 1873 the brick layers of New
Jersey were worked fourteen
hours, and housed worse than
plge. a young man named
Michael Mention, wrote letter to u
paper, describing their condition;
and although all his charges were
found to be true, he was arrested
for libel, and sentenced to sixty
days in jail. To speak a word in
defense of wageworkers was then
rated as crime (?) in Revolution.
ary times.
The first American factories
were Governed by the most Cp-
pressive regulations. The factory
windows were nailed down, for
fear the operatives might look out
side and waste time. Proper
ventilation was not known.
AN,r-t IF
ly proven, that III some factories
women AID chlldron were thrash
ed with a cowhide if the overseer
caught them suatchinga moment
rest. One eleven-year. old girl had
her leg broken by "billet of
wood buried at her by savage
foreman Such were the good
old times"
In that time the average days
wages were from 80 to 60 cents
per day. The city of Washington
was built by workers who got not
more than 30 cents a day. The
diggera, choppers, hod-carriers.
etc, got so a year, and worked
from sunrise to sunset. AS late
as 1928, the Baltimore weavers
were working twelve hours a day
for 50 cents.
The success of trade unions in
raising wages may be shown bv
the following facts: In 1850 the
average factory wages were $247 a
year; in 1890, SAG; wages in cot.
ton factories in 1880 were al cents
a day; in 1873, $L49. fit had
not been for trade unions work
ingmen might now be working for
5O cents a day and business as
dull as ever.
There are some places now
where men are getting fairly good
wages; but it is not due to the
great benevolence on the part of
the American capitalists. 1t is
due to the seventy five years
fight against low wages made by
organized labor.
The real claw of wages" de.
ponds on the workers themselves.
" oIhsIs get as much of their
product as their combined, organ
lzed Intelligence and courage de
serve.
The following are a few reforms
that have been accomplished by
trade unions: Fire ESCAPES on
factorias, inspectors of factories.
abolition of child labor, shorter
work-day, ventilation 10 all
workshops, two outlets to- mines.
industrial and evening schools.
boards Of arbitration, Australian
ballot and many others too mum
erous TO mention.
Of course all the foregoing re-
forms are not iu effect in am the
states, but we should look forward
TO Che ffYrs r-Ir, tL rI