El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-18

Nv Since some form Of bread has
W existed almost from the be-
ginning of the history of mankind, it
is probable that the earliest organlza-
lions of industry were formed BY the
men who provided this bread. In the
davs of the early Egyptians, public
bakeries existed and the DaKers formed
a sort of league for the regulation OF
the price of bread and the cost OF
baking Although baking since has
been considered a domestic occupation,
most Of the bread used IN that day was
baked outside Of the home and the
men who controlled the strange, cone
like ovens upon the outside OF Whlch
the coiled cord-like cakes of bread
were baked had a number OF de1inlJe
agreements as regards their business
methods An old account sheet Ioune
in the tomb with a mummy indicated
that he had been a master baker IN
the time of the Pha-aohs and that he
had been a leader in the development
Greeks Bake for Romans.
In the time of the Romans most of
the bakers were Greeks and they had
several trade societies which were De
cidedly antagOnistic to the bakers OF
other nationalities who attempted to
ply the bakers trade even in the Ro-
man capital Even when the Greeks,
a. a conquered race, were IN a serFlle
position to the Romans, freedom ana
special privileges were granted the
bakers because of the Importance OF
their work to the public well being.
The bakers Of PompeH and Hercu-
Ianeum arc known to have been a rec
ogniZed privileged class, and tormu-
las for the different kinds OF baked
food were authorized by a sort of COM
mittee elected annually by vote OF all
the bakers in the community.
The Baksrs' guild. Of I-0ndcn. is
doubtless the oldest bakers organiza-
ton now in existence. Its history
dates back to the 10th Gentry and II
has detailed records extending to 1881
1t is still a powerful organization. Its
Special privileges were revoked in the
last century. and the guild is now So
cial and charitable organization 1t IS
in a prosperous condition, having a
large amount Of properly.
The old oath of brotherhood as ad-
ministered centuries ago, IS stiu taken
by its members and many interesting
old ceremonies are performed IN ar
der to be a member IF the guild
man must either be baker or he
lineal descendant of baker. some
times a candidate will be apprenuced
to a baker for a short time IN order 20
be eligible. because the old guild Is
no longer representative of the trade
although it is rich in its relics and
records of the past It mas line
building containing magnificent ban
Quet hall. The walls are OF rare mar
bic decorated with pictures showing
the history of the guild. One of these
| represents the confirmation Of the
guild charter Of king Edward in 1901
MunicB's Bakers Save the King.
The Bakers guild, of Munich, is
J nearly as old as that Of London and
| is also rich in historical records. Dur
1 ing the battle of Ampfing in 1922,
when the armies of Ludwig Of Ba-
varia fought Frederic the Handsome,
| of Austria the Bavarian monarch was
surrounded by his enemies so that his
| soldiers could not reach him. The ba-
\ kers of the town formed a solid body
and secured their king As soon as
/ peace was restored, king Ludwig
! showed his appreciation by erecting
] a large club house for the bakers Of
/ Munich.
Another guild Of Bavarian bakers IS
! still in existence at Augsburg, which
! has am ng it's many relics q large
| solid gold drinking cup which, accord
ing to the inscription. was presented
70 it by retired nester baker Of
| Venice in 1892. Bakers guilds were in
! existence in France before the 18th
! century.
Modern Bakers Unions.
While these organizations at ne time
regulated all matters pertaining to their
! trade, they are now supplanted in &C
tual authority in most countries BY the
| more modern associations and bakers
( trade unions. In the United States, the
I Association OF Master Bakers has grown
{ into a powerful organization which has
I had large influence In improving the
/ bread of the entire world. The National
| association has branches in the differ
ent states, each of which has a large
local membership, The larger body
/ gives attention to matters pertaining to
: the real advance Of the baking trade.
The organization is composed of
| master bakers and does not take Up the
! matters which properly pertain to a
! trade union. While It's membership in
! cludes the heads Of most Of the large
| baking firms OF the country some OF
/ whom are responsible for an output av-
! eraging a hundred thousand loaves OF
bread daily, it is equally helpful to the
! small baker who is naturally at some
! GisadvantaSe- The association is in
terested in labor from the standpoint
of the employer desiring to secure com
! petent help. This is not always easy
because the supply of really capable
bakers Is always insufficient to meet
the demand.
European Organizations.
In England the National association
of master bakers Of Great Britain and
IIreland was founded il 1887 and now