The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-08-04
CHICAGO. SATURDAY, AUG. 4, 1866
THE EIGHT HOUR ADDRESS

as framed by the committee, which, to Ger
taia extent, is the most Objectionable We
presented. Il reads as follows:
'That they will vote and talk agains
that nefarlous and suicidal Ito western In
terests and enterprise) doctrine, Free Trade.
Now, If these gentlemen had only under
taken to yentlate their own opinion on thi:
subject, we should have found no fault what
ever with this declaration, but as they hav'
spoken in behalf of the mechanics Of Illinois
we deny in toto that the objects Of the EGHl
Hour ORGANIZATION have any such purpose:
in view. It is we'll known there is no pollt
ical question upon which there IS greater
diversity of opinion than the mythical ques
ton of 'Free Trade" and we would remind
the committee there are thousands Of me
chanics who have given this subject as care
ful consideration as themselves, who are
honestly convinced that the present pro.
tectiye tariff means protection only to mono.
poly, protection to the manufacturer and
capitalist; resembling IN great measure
the bounty swindle recently passed by Con-
gress, awarding the pAltry pittance Of $l00
to the men who sdred the country, ana
$4,000 to those who tried to ruin it. In
fact, strange as it may appear, who think il
a system by which the rich are made richer
and the poor poorer; and point to the
manufacturing districts Of New England and
Pennsylvania, where an almost prohIbitory
tariff ensures a virtual monopoly, that the
hours Of labor and rate Of wages are longer
and less remuneratiYe than in any section
Of the country, as confederation of this
statement
Neither are v insensible to the fact that
large number of our mechanics entertain
the very opposite opinion, and believe that
protection to American industry is a pana-
cee for the wrongs of the workingmen, but
are perfectly satisfied TO leave it an open
question, so far as an endorsement by our
leagues are concerned. What We object to
then, is that subject upon which such a
diversity Of opinion exists, and which has
no bearing whatever upon the objects Of
the organization, should he introduced as a
test question, to the exclusion of those who
cannot endorse the proposition. We insist,
therefore, it would be just MS eppropos to
require that our candidates should vote for
the erection of pier at Calumet, or the
abolition Of capital punishment, as either
would be no less foreign or injurious.2
The sixth requirement was one presented
BY the Trades Assembly of this city, at the
recent convention, and as the Committee
have expressed it as explicitly as necessary,
We produce it in full 1t reads as follows :
9th. To oppose, UncOmpromasingly, the
present thieving system allowed by the State
Of Illinois, that few men--policical trick 7
sters-absorb the entire earnings and pro-
ducts of the four thousand convicts In the
State Prison, which enables them to food
the markets with inferior articles at prices
that are ruinous TO our mechanics, and man.
ufaeturing interests Of tine State, by reason
that they are causing the closihg OF many Of
our largest shops, without any advantage to
X
spectators in convict earnings. "a
It may probably be argued that the same
objection can be urged against this as
against those requirements to which we have
taken exception, but we think little reAec-l
ton will place it an entirely different light.
In this case we find that convict labor-the
production Of the felon--is brought into d.
rect contact with that of the honest me.
ehanic, under circumstances which render
competition utterly impossible; and we have
yet to hear the first mechanic, Republican or
Democrat, under any circumstances, adyO-
cate the justice Of such system. There
are workmen in this city who labor twelve
and thirteen consecutive hours, to sustain
their families, simply because our Joliet
penitentiary can food the market with the
same productions if they refuse the terms
dictated by their employers.
We have thus reviewed in somewhat
hasty and summary manner, the declaration
of principles Of the Eight Hour leagues,
as avowed by the commitsee appointed BY
the Grand League to prepare the same, and
10 90 doing hsys Deen unwillingly compell-
ed to dissent from many Of the positions
.aken, although we cheerfully allow they
have done so in good faith, and with a sim
core desire to advance the interests Of the
movement. AZ q journalist, protesting to
advocate the interests Of the working classes,
nm imperative sense Of duty did not
permit Us to say less, while desire to
have thorough cooperation and harmony
Of action demanded We should say no more.
We hope to have the assistance and advice
Of both the gentlemen who signed it, in an
fu. re efforts to effect this grand reform,
believing they have too high 3 ssfse ofl
honor 70 feel aggrieysd at these structures.
What we propose now 10 that We shall now
60 to work IN earnest; prepare for the fall
campaign, re'inquish our personal and pol
itieal preferences; work together for al
common purpo 9, and elect majority of
d our legislature, who sre pledg |
"a 20 vote tor lao vhtreby eight hoursl
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