Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-11-15
fffE apathy OF work INGsfns.

The apathy of workngmen on the most i'm
portant questions affecting the condition and in.
terest of labor, it is matter ofsurprise to many
and of deep humiliation and sorrow to their best
friends. If a meeting is called to consider the
grievances under which any particular branch
of industry suffers, although the question NAV
be one of great Importance to the welfare of eve.
ry member of the trade, yet, not more than a
tenth part can be got to attend the meeting Oh
take part in the effort to improve their condition
and often many become, by their sneers ane
taunts, worse enemies to their own class thar
any employer. ra
As another instance of this suicidal apathy we
may mention the little support given to co-opera-
tive societies, by the class whose particular du
ty it is to patronize them. 1t is fact which we
blush to mention, that two-thirds of the patron.
age received by the cooperative societies is from
the middle class, and some of their best custom.
ers are among the weathiest of our citizens
Again, let newspaper be started to advocate
the claims of labor and defend its interests, and
see what weak languishing existence it has
and how often such die sudden and premature
deaths, leaving their originators overwhelmed in
debt and difficulties, as reward tor believing in
the honor and devotion of the working classes -
This is matter which should be deeply ponder
ed by every workingman who places any value
upon his labor, and it must be remedied, if work
ingmen wish to see their cause prosperous and
successful. eFns refeq
No man will dare deny the power which is
welded by the press, and the mighty engine it
can bemade for good or evil and if workingmen
wish to elevate and improve their social stand
ing in society, they must use the press as lev
er to lift them into their proper position. How
many workngmen are there who pirate and talk
about the "dignity of labor 'the expressions OF
capital" and SO forth, who prefer supporting
some of the low, flash, debasing papers, which
unfortunately every day brings forth, to one Ia
king high moral tone, and advocating the cause
they profess to have so much at heart.
Let us look too at the want of independence
on all public matters, which characterizes the
large majority of our fellow workngmen. Dc
we not bow down and worship the political calf,
set up by the particular class of politicians tc
which we may belong, without daring to exercise
our own Judgment on either the man or the
questions brought forward for our support p
Now if workingmen would be respected, they
must first respect themselves. The low deba
sing practice of following political leader, thro
all the mud and filth which he may please t.
drag us, is of the first great defects to be re-
medied. We must learn to think and act for our
selves, and no longer permit any party or man te
dc our thinking or to act for us, and support on
ly those questions which, after mature reflection
our conscience tells US are for the good anC
welfare of our common country. =.
We must also, make it our constant practice
to patronze our fellow laborers, when associa
ted together in labor societies, in preference to
all others, and do all we can to extend and pro.
mote their business. We hold also that no la
boring man is friend to himself or to labor, who
does not patronze at least one labor paper
When we hear man spouting about the "wrong:
of labor, who buys his clothes at one of the cnr-
sed Jew slop shops, and patronizes capitalist
newspaper, we are satisfied that truth is not ir
him. Let workingmen look to these matters, ane
Danish this apathy and indifference to their bes
interests from anon gst them. They must take
their affairs into their own hands, and not fancy
that the grievance which afflct and Cypress
them, will be removed without their own inter
vention. If they wish to avoid the fate which
has beggared and destroyed the working classes
of the Old world, they must awake and struggl,
for remedy before it is too late.
Boston Protective Union.