The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-08-18


ARTS AND sCiENCEs---Iv.
Ia discussing the power invested in the
iaboring classes, by means Of their invent |
i've genius, we must not overlook the fact
that cspitai assumes to furnish the means
while the mechanic furnishes the brains !
As TO this point it is well to take issue for
we find that the entire -Softs OF the skilled
mechanics employed in performing the work
Of a factory or shop, do not amount, gener-
ally, to one-fourth of the income Of the
stockholders, or proprietors. Hence ii isl
easy to see that those who furnish the
brains have very much the worst OF the
bargain. And we might as well assert here
that very many Of lthe most successful and
wealthlest manufacturing establishments
owe nearly oil Of their success to the skill
Of some few men, who have delighted more
in their proficiency and skill, than looking
to the wherewith Of providing for the ease
and comfort of their families And the re-
suit of which is, their children after them
have bat few opportunities OF improvement,
and as consequence follow the footsteps Of
their parents, and become hewers Of wood
and drawers Of water. Cannot thousands Of
hard Dorkingmsn tsst;fy 70 tic truth Of tais !;
do tley not kaoe that their choics Of
business prsclades tie possibility Of get
ting rich under the present system Of
labor not only 50, but he procuring Of
a competency, from the fact that they
have no time to get rich-they are too busy
for this-.oo busy making their employers
rich. A president Of corporation or manu-
featuring company, says Mr. A. or Mr.. B.
is splendid workman an this is supposed
to be in part payment for valuable-services
rendered for making improvements which
have enriched the concern. We must con
Tess that we cannot live comfortably on this
kind Of pay. The workman ought to have
learned long since, that praise of this kind
win bring famine to his families, aud en-
nance the wealth OF the institution, from
the fact that many persons are stimulated
to greater exertions in the production Of art
Let the mechanics be asked how many de-
vices he has wrought out, which are iDdis-
pensable in the workshop Of his employer,
for the manufacture Of his goods, and the
answer can be -uthfully given, when he
says, ] am the author of my employers
wealth, and am at this time continuing my
labors for simple wages, and living In a
rented house And Also let me ask you, IL,
with the accumulated wealth Of your en-
lployers, you are treated otherwise than n
iaborer.
II is to be supposed that laborer ought
TO earn his wages, and work for the interest
of his emplOyer-which all exact. But there
is no law, human or divine, which makes it
imperative upon you or me to exhaust both
brains and mussle, without adequate COM
pensaiion. Yet. it rs to be expected, judg-
ing from the past, that many will continue,
down to the end # time, using all Of their
skill ard energies in augumenting the
wealth Of others, to the exclusion, Of their
own welfare, and especially their mental
improvement and that Of their families !;
while at the same time the penalty for sach
dereliction Of duty meets them in the face
every time they visit their Impoverished
families. 1t ought 10 have been apparent
to thelabOrer, long since, that his employer
makes it his continuous study to devise
means wherewith he may secure greater
results from his laborers while little or
nothing has been done to coantsract this
increasing evil. So long as no higher esti-
mate is put upon skilled labor, the working
man must expect to be recognized rs a part
Of the machinery Of the shop, and cannot,
OF course, complain in consequences thereof.
There IL no Disgusting the fact that many
look upon labor, NO mat ter bow ingenious
~ done, a. msnial, and only consent to
uingIe in any form with it because the pro-
dts produce asrandisements. The reader
may say that IL is easy to End fault, but is
more difhcult to provide remedy. In some
respects this 10 true bat IL the subject Is
lproperly invest s-ted the fact will be found
otherwise, because there is no social law
that compells person, although . mechan-
10, to admit that he 10 In mean business.
The difficulty seems to exist ia admitting
| this point. The remedy 10 simple and
eisctual; and consists in properly defend
ing the position occupied, notwithstanding
others may have positions more popular,
although obtained By fraud and deception
The workman Of tins sountry have the
strength to control and may make their
business honorable. And until they take
this ground and mainlains their rights sad
dignity but Lit tie good will be accomplish
ed.
THE sPRINGFHEI.D CoNvENTfoNl
AND rae HOUR MOVEMENT.
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