Trades Unions

The Ypsilanti Sentinel inakes tuoso pertiuet suggestions oq the above subject : A great deal has been said of the benefits of trades uuions and other associations fonned under the specious plea of mutual assistanoe and improveinent. But a comprehensivo view of their working will prove that to the majority of their membors thoy are detrimeutal rather than benefioial. The well-taught, capablo, self-reliant meohanic needs no assistance from those liko himself, and he can certainly get none from infetior workmen. If inferior and ill-taught workmen can rely upon the assiatance of an associatiou all incentive to self-improvoment is lost, and when thrown on their own resources, as at some time they will bo, they are helpless, Laborera and mechanics of all kinds will ever find the old motto true, " help yourself is tho best help in the world." And if any member of tho trades uuion will sit down and estímate the cost of bis initiation dues, the time spont in attendance on meetings, and other inevitable expenses of the association, and multiply this by the nuniber of members, he will find that each man could never by any possibility got his money back. Ile would, howevor, find that a few, and those who had talked the loudest about the benefits of the institution, had feathered their nests, or lad a good time as thoy went along, never surronder the personal right to ;ake employment when it can be got, and inake tho most of all oircumstancea.