International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1947)

dom, Roman craftsmen were organized. From other sources we know that as Rome grew so did the number and strength of the craft unions. They developed their organizations during the period of the Kingdom, they flourished throughout the existence of the Republic, and as Imperial Rome extended her conquests and established her colonies, the crafts followed and organized throughout the then civilized world. It has been possible to secure a glimpse of this extension of the crafts beyond Italy, as well as within Rome proper, through the careful cataloguing and study of inscribed stones which survived the ravages of time and the Vandals. Some two generations ago a few sincere students gave their time and patience to the cataloguing, deciphering and translation of inscriptions carved on altars, votive tablets, columns and many other records inscribed on stone, including public proclamations. It is largely from these that we find a craft union record which indicates how extensively they had developed, and to learn of some of their activities as well as form of organization. There is always the possibility that the record of an ancient workmen's organization may have had no craft or trade union significance, for the people of antiquity had religious and fraternal organizations. As many craft unions fell under the displeasure of Roman Emperors they may have hidden their true character under the guise of funeral or other religious societies in the same manner, and for the same reason, which led the early English trade unions to mask their character under the guise of "friendly societies." This much the records make clear, that as the craft unions grew in strength, experience and wisdom, they added to the purely craft features the substance of fraternal and religious activity. Committees were appointed to visit the sick and bury the dead. Many of the crafts erected altars in the temples so that the craftsman making his sacrifice or oblation did so on the altar of his craft. Associations Very Ancient Andrew Stephenson, in his "History of Roman Law," writes: "Guilds are said by Plutarch to have been established by Numa Pompilius, who organized the artisans and craftsmen who had made their way into the city into eight or nine of these associations. Whether it was actually Numa who first organized these trade unions, it is certain that such associations are very ancient. "It was the creation of such associations among the plebians that compensated, to a certain extent at least, for the absence among them of gentile, cultured organization. By means of these guilds the plebians obtained a common cult, and possibly a common burying place, with a master and his council to manage their affairs, consolidate customs, arrange and adjust disputes. These guilds cannot be said to have had any political significance in the first stages of their life. Their members were bound together, not indeed by descent, either real or fictitious, from a common ancestor, but by interdependence and by similarity of tastes and occupation." An interesting relic of a craft union far from its original home is a Roman votive altar now housed in the Museum de Cluny in Paris. It had originally been placed in the Temple of Jupiter, which was erected on the site now occupied by the Notre Dame de Paris. It had been placed in the Temple by the Boatmen's Union of the Seine, a branch of the Boatmen's Union of the Tiber. The legible part of the inscription, as translated by Osburn G. Ward, reads: "The Boatmen's Union of Paris publicly established and dedicates this monument of their temple to the Aug. Tiberious Caesar the Great and the Best under Jupiter, Protecting God of Rome." Incidentally, this was the first record of the ancient Roman craft unions which the writer saw. Fortunately, it was not the last. As shown from the records extant, the Roman unions were concerned with four main activities: the regulation and strict supervision of apprentices, collective barbaining and, as will be shown later on, they thoroughly understood the drafting (Continued on page 30) Regular Treatments keep 'em sparkling! An RCA Sound Service and Replacement Parts Contract means "sparkling" sound reproduction in your theatre. The equipment receives regularly scheduled checkups; needed parts; and prompt emergency service when needed. Check the seven benefits of this service. The cost is but a few admissions per day. Ask your RCA Theatre Supply Dealer to explain its advantages: Or — write RCA Service Co., Inc., Dept. 43A, Camden, New Jersey. Scheduled checkups Emergency service Regular maintenance Valuable technical data Insures peak performance Complete parts replacement Emergency sound systems *CA SERVICE COMPANY. IMC. RA DiO CORPORA TION of A M ERICA CAM DEM. M.J. INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST January 1947 25