From the earliest history of the Republic, the energies of the Chilenos
have been devoted largely to agricultural and horticultural pursuits,
stock raising and mining. The conditions of soil and climate, and the
natural resources of the country have encouraged the people to interest
themselves in those lines rather than in industrial occupations. The
result is that there are few large manufacturing interests in the
country. The majority of the more important manufactured articles are
imported. There are, however, various small industrial institutions,
most of which are closely related to the agricultural and mining
interests. The methods employed are more or less primitive, as is
frequently the case where a low value is placed upon labor.
Practically all of the manufacturing interests in Chile are operated by
foreigners and controlled by foreign capital. This may be attributed
to the fact that the Chilenos do not possess the taste for industrial
pursuits. Another cause is the irresponsibility of laborers and
mechanics. The average Chilean workman has no sense of responsibility.
If given a task to perform, he cannot be made to understand that
any importance attaches to the time when it is to be completed.
Individually and collectively, the workmen are afflicted with the
“mañana” disease. This condition has existed from the time of the
earliest history of the country and continues to be one of the serious
drags upon industrial and commercial progress. If remonstrated with
for indifference to his employer’s interests or his procrastination of
time, the workman will declare his willingness to leave his position.
To discharge him does not improve the situation, as the man employed
in his stead will entertain similar ideas as to his rights and duties.
He cannot be encouraged by kindness, or even an increase of wages
to change his habits. He is without ambition, and does not expect
to improve his condition. It is useless to manifest any sympathy
for him, he does not want it. He is satisfied, and will not accept
innovations. That which was good enough for his father and grandfather,
is satisfactory to him. He believes that he was born to his station
in life, and he sticks to it stupidly and stolidly. Another drawback
to the manufacturing business is the fact that the Chilean workman
or mechanic seldom learns his trade properly, and takes no pains to
improve himself or his condition.
In Chile a lad is put to work in a shop, and in a few weeks or months
he tires of the job, and tries something else. After a time he tires
again and tries another trade. And so he goes on changing until the
time arrives when he should be a competent journeyman tradesman, and
he goes forth a jack of all trades and master of none. The Chilean
workman has his good qualities, however, as well as his faults. If
properly encouraged he will render excellent service as a laborer.
He does not work intelligently, and where skill is required he is
unsatisfactory. Inured to a life of toil, hardship and deprivation,
he does not hesitate to engage in any kind of labor, no matter how
menial or trying. He has wonderful endurance, and can subsist upon
the plainest food, in limited quantities, while performing tasks
requiring the greatest exertion. In handling heavy freight or cargo
he has few equals. He has great strength in his arms, back and legs,
and the enormous weights he can carry is cause for comment among those
who witness his feats of strength. A roto will trot along the street
carrying a box or bale of merchandise upon his back that weighs three
or four hundred pounds, and is apparently not distressed with the
burden. It is at labor where strength and endurance count that he is
valuable as a workman.
Organization among the working classes in Chile is in the formative
stage; yet even in its incipiency, unionism has proved itself to
be a dangerous political element and a serious menace to society.
The working classes are not sufficiently educated to appreciate the
responsibilities, or to enable them to direct with intelligence
and judgment, an organized force. The roto has little idea, and no
appreciation of obligation to his employer, to society, or to the
State; no regard for his word and little for the law. He is illiterate,
intemperate and superstitious. He is not lazy, but improvident, and
works because necessity prompts it, rather than for the purpose of
bettering his condition. He can neither be persuaded nor forced to
understand the importance of reporting for duty at a fixed hour for a
given number of days in the week. He is independent and clannish, and
has an exaggerated idea of his republican citizenship. His hatred of
foreign workmen is intense, and he will not stop short of murder, if
that be necessary, to prevent the “gringo” from coming into competition
with him. He is an apt pupil in the ethics of trades unions, in so
far as it applies to his side of the question. He believes that
the province of the union is to force shorter hours and more pay,
without giving in turn good and steady service. He has yet to learn
the commercial value of truth; the beneficial effects to himself of
personal industry, of rendering an honest day’s labor for his wage. He
must learn the good result of applying new methods to his work, and
also lessons of economy and providence. In short, he must join the
onmarching procession of industrial and commercial development before
he is qualified and competent to assert his authority and make demands
as an organized force. A dangerous phase of the labor union problem
is the fact that when encouraged by clever leaders and enforced by
numbers, the Roto Chileno is not slow to resort to violence.
The most serious charge made against labor organizations in Chile,
and one that is well founded is, that they do not seek to elevate
the standard of excellence among their members, or to better their
individual condition. Neither do they encourage temperance, and
obedience to law, or protection to society.