[Gutenberg 12580] • Beneficiary Features of American Trade Unions

[...]well during the depression of 1893-1897. The following table shows the membership of the Typographia from 1890 to 1900 by years: 1890 1233 1891 1322 1892 1382 1893 1380 1894 1204 1895 1092 1896 1115 1897 1083 1898 1100 1899 1071 1900 1044 The falling off in membership in 1894 and 1895 was due only to a very small extent to defections. The introduction of the linotype decreased the opportunity for employment in the trade, and the gradual shrinkage in the amount of German printing done in the United States due to the falling off in German immigration was accentuated by the depression. While the two unions having the most highly developed beneficiary systems thus show an ability to retain members during periods of depression, it would be absurd to assume that this result is solely the effect of the establishment of the benefits. The Cigar Makers' Union in 1892 would undoubtedly have held its membership better than it did in 1872 even if it had developed no benefits. It is interesting in this connection to note that while in the depression of 1873-1878 the membership of the [...].