The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-20

wrDNEspAI. NOVEMBER 20. 1919.
THE sIGNIFICANCE OF THE UN'
SKILLED LABORER. :,
The unskilled workman Is rapioi'
becoming one OF the most sfeninca"
factors in American political ana IN
austrial life. A lsrge part OF existing
political. social and economic discoh'
tent "a traceable to him. HIS impo'
lance IN the controversy between cap
sra, and labor is also evidenced by tne
n,esent efforts Of. the American fe"'
Grafton OF Labor and Industrial "orh'
s-s ~ the World to secure controi u
this part OF the labor supply
This condition Of affairs Is due 10
tho nroxress in modern industry which
has resulted in the ELIMINATION
through the adoption Of improved me-
chanical and technical processes OF inc
elements Of skin formerly required OF
Industrial workers. In our mills ana
factories tho machine has taken nfss
place. and tho employe has become
subordinate. Apprenticeships are no
longer necessary. Skill and training
are not required as preliminar1es to
securing employment A Greek. Arme-
MAN or an Italian immigrant. without
any previous experience. becomes =
simmer or a weaver in a New England
cotton mill within a short time after
e.
matte looms and spindles make it pos
sible. The Slav. Pole and Magyar from
the agricultural sections OF Southern
or Eastern Europe, by the use Of i'm
proved machinery, are recruited into
the labor forces Of OUT coal mines and
steel mills within several weeks after
they have landed in New York.
The same condition Of affairs Is OBJ
servaele in all branches Of mining and
manufacturing. The skilled and super
v,so-y occupations have become COM
paxa.tvely. few. while the unskilled
px-e cc tAe working forces has con-
ssax.Sy xrcwn larger. As a eonse-
szEee, szhor unions based on specific
,s.s-2a-tc-s have been disintegrat-
o. tie other hand. there has
ss- cc.ssAar movement toward
xzaexazxs.cn AID organization by IN
.zx--zss Instead Of trade unions. the
z-.zs---x, unions have grown to be
~ leading factors We no longer
enys organizations OF pick miners,
s-asr,eensa or weavers. but 1t is the
C.i,sd Mine Workers or the Amalga-
mated Textile Workers. or some union
including a large number OF occupa-
lions in a single industry.
This Industrial tendency was firstI
recognized by the Socialists and other
revolutionary propagandists- With the
increase in the proportion Of unskilled
workers in our mining and manufac-
turing communities. the bargaining
power Of labor. based On skill. gradu-
ally los, its effectiveness. Dissatisfac-
tion rapidly became prevalent The
Industrial Workers OF the World and
oca-- radical organizations took ad
vantage Q: <Eese conditions 20 preach
ta~s- tass1.ato-y Doctrines Deplor-
ss!s r,-.xss and disturbances. such As
iheze which We have recently had az
AxxA3s Eock., Pa, and Al Lawrence,
Mass, have teen eYnptoMatic o: tee
Widespread aat dangerous u1-es: which
la oee- created IRE American Fe6er-
sctcn Q: Lzbor las oily recently rec
czn,zed "a. s.s.i.canc. Q: the s!tua-
ION and nas aso2.sc anr.-s measures
20 organize n. Ur:kuIss Industrial
worke-s
Hyc the-. :. ? broader aspect - re
situation The Federation o. Labor
ans only 20 serve n. interests aac
program u a certain ps-; or organ
tied labor. Tae welfare Of our !n6as-
trial localities and the republic tself
IS involved ia the situation The prob
lem is largely one arising from recent
!mnisration- The majority Q: the
workers II tire mine: ard tactor1s. d.
re industrial centres O. Tie North
and IVES; ar southern and Eastern
Europeans of rec.n, arrival The ~
~-e.es Q. these localities skoUld b
turned towards educating the aliens
20 a proper appreciation OF American
Ideals and institutions. State IesisIa-
ton should also be enacted 20 protec:
them against exploration. and laws
should be passed By the national Con-
gress 10 free them from tar.H exac-
ton. and similar inequalities. Such
measures viii result In the proper
Au.--scanizat!on % these unskIlI-c
workers and vii disrupt the Indu.
trsai Workers OF the World and sim
lar organizations ~ removing Ia'
ignorance and tie economic and socIA
Unrest which have been the chief asset,
q ~. revolutionary ard Gn-Americs,
,rOpa&aEG!sis
T8E MARSHALL. STATUE