The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-11-11

amounts paid out to members from To-
cal sources.
Trade unionism in America is inter
national The boundary line to the
north does not exist so far as our
unions are concerned. The delegates
from Canada and the United States
meet as members OF but one organiza-
ton. They have but one trade union
constitution, they have but one set OF
officers, there is but one treasury into
which their dues are placed, and so far
as their activities as trade unionistS are
concerned, they are the members OF but
one organization.
But in a still broader sense the
American trade union movement is in
ternational, for it is part OF the Inter
national Federation OF Labor, which in
cudcs the trade Union organizations OF
| America and OF Europe. These condi-
tons serve to Indicate the progress
which the trade unionists OF the world
have made toward their ideal OF broth
crhood.
If we would examine the constitutions
Of those trade unions representing skill
ed or semi-skiled trades, we would find
them containing provisions Tor the edu-
cation of apprentices. Some, we would
discover provide that the apprentice
after a certain period must be placed at
work between two Journcymen, so that
he can have their assistance in qualify
ing himself as a craftsman We would
find other organizations providing for
the technical education OF apprentices
Again we would discover local efforts,
such as that in Chicago. through which
some OF the unions, the carpenters for
instance, have made special provisions
Tor the education OF their members, as
well as the apprentices, in the theory
and practice of their craft.
Some OF the international unions,
finding that no other satisfactory me
dunn existed, have established schools
OF their own, one OF the best known
being that organized by the Typo
graphical Union, where, through a cor
respondcnce course, the members are
taught the theory and the art OF their
important craft.
The Prcssmcn'S Unions has cstab-
lished a school at its headquarters, and
members from all over the United
States and Canada go to RogerSvile,
Tenn, to increase their proficiency and
acquire a broader knowledge OF their
trade.
During the mintcr months, many To-
cal unions hold courses of lectures for
the education OF their members.
For reasons which it is unnecessary
to discuss at this time, the trade union
movement OF the United States has
never been given the degree of credit
to which it is entitled for the prominent.
ii not predominant, part which it played
in the establishing OF our public school
| system.
But a few years ago the wage earn
cr'S child was practically charity pupil
| the opportunities for an adequate cdll-
cation being confined almost cxclu-
sivey to the children of the wcll-to-do
The history OF trade unionism in this
country from 1925 to 1885 is filled witt,
evidence that the trade unions of that
period were carrying on a trcmcndou,
campaign, which had for its purpose tn,
establishing OF public school system
supported and directed by the State
which would guarantee to every wage
carncrs child the opportunity OF at lcaS
an elementary education.
At a maSS-mccting oi trade unioniSt
held i'll New York City in December
/ 1929, the following resolution wa
adopted;
NtSolNCt, ! lldl llcNl 10 me ana I'D
erty, we consider education the great
| est blessing bestowed upon mankind,
, Resolved, That the public fund
should be appropriated, to a reasonab
extent for the purpose OF education
upon a regular system that shall insur
the opportunity to every individual o
obtaining competent education bcior
he should have arrived at the age o
maturity"
In September OF the same year,
, maSS-mccting oi trade unioniStS in Phil
adelphia adopted resolutions Of like i'm
port, the preamble OF which read;
| mo system OF education which ire,
man can accept has yet been cstablishe,
, Tor the poor, whilst thousands OF dol
, lars oi public money have been appro
prated for colleges and academies 10
the rich"
At trade union meeting held in BOs
ton in 1890 ii was resolved:
That the establishment OF liberia
- system OF education obtainable by al
l should be among the first efforts @
every law-givcr who desires the con
tinuance of our national independence,
| And shortly afterwards the genera
trade union movement OF Cincinnati is
sued an appeal to the West stating tina
| their efforts would be directed tOwar