The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-11-10

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10 for the interest Of all II is evidently T.
the interest of each individual that he shall
be able to secure in return for bis own Ia
Dor, the largest possible amount Of commo.
dities, Of such kind and quality as will bss,
contribute to his well being.
II is to the interest of all then, that com.
modities should be multiplied to the creates,
possible extent, and that the production Of
each should bear such relation to the pro.
duetion Of all, that the producers Of each
class shall be enabled to secure in return for
the result Of their own labor, due proper
tiOn Of the others commodities, which the,
require. This amounts practically to higher
wages and cheaper living.
Money is measure Of values and COM
modify for which al others are readily ex
changable, and is the medium through which
one man is enabled to exchange those things,
OF which he has surplus, for those things
Of which he is deficient
What may be the nominal money price 81
commodities or Of labor, is not material, 80
long as PRACTICAL We are getting high wages
and cheap living.
IL these views are correct, it 10 to the in
serest Of every wordngman that every other
workingman should be fully employed, and
that each should be producing commodities
to the full EXIT of his ability.
II the amount Of commodities produced,
is to be reduced TWEEN ~ per cent BY the sus-
pension Of labor two hours earlier in the
day, by ! classes of producers. then such
reduction in the hours of labor would be in
furious to every workingman; for though
his nominal money wages might not be re-
duced, the purchasing power Of mis- wages
would be lessened, because all commodities,
Of which be Is consumer, would speedily
become twenty per cent less abundant in the
market, and consequently would ultimately
be twenty per cent dearer.
If making eight hours q days work will
reduce the amount Of commodities p-oduc
then the eight hour movement will be 49,
tive. But whenever more can be produced,
by making eight hours days work, the
movement will succeed.
The true ground upon which to fight the
battle for the reduction of the hours of labor
is the ground that-ten hours work is over
work. A sensible man will not over wOrk
his horse why should be oyerwork himself ?
1t is now generally conceded that horse
well stabbed, well groomed, well fed and mod
erately driven will do more work during a
given time, and will live longer, than one
that is poorly stabbed, poorly groomed, poor
ly fed, ind immoderately driven. Now, as
far as the physical man is concerned, there
is propriety IN comparing him to horse.
A man that lives in a comfortable, well ven
tilated house, who has conveniences for bath
ing, and an abundance Of clean clothing at
command, suaieiency of wholesome well
cooked food, served at regular hours, is
ike the horse, well stabbed, well groomed,
and well fed. In order to get tie most ply
steal labor from him, 3 man should be at
least, as well cared for as a horse. Man
labors with his intellect as well as with his
muscles. His intellect also must be cared
for. Labor is the Intelligent application of
power to use. The more intelligence the
workingman has, the more work he will &C
complsh. Set an intelligent m4n to do the
monotonous labor performed Ly very igno-
rant one, and be win be very likely to devise
means Of greatly facilitating the operation,
so that be will perform more work in eight
hours than the other can perform in ten,
and it il not at all improbable that he may
invent q machine TO do the work for him.
Every labor ser wing machine, from the steam
engine to the sewing machine, originate
from the desire Of men to facilitate the oper-
atoms Of labor, and to increase the produc-
ton Of commodities.
We are Lfmly convinced that men are too
often overworked, we have sad evidence Of
this in the lack-lustre eyes, stumbling gait,
and STOPPING Of shoulders Of many OF our
most industrious citizens. Certain sets of
faculties are unduly exercised, wEile others
are suffering from want of exercise. One
part wears out, while the other part rusts
out
This should not be. Men should duly ex-
ercise all their faculties, and thus develope
all, and bring all to the work Of Increasing
productio and facilitating the distribution
OF commodities.
We must remember, however, that $50
ciety is growth, not a manufacture" That
it approaches perfection slowly but surely,
and that essh Of US in his own mode and
measure, may contribute to and stimulate it's
developments.
There is spontaneous and a general
movement on the part Of certain classes Of
workingmen for the reduction Of their hours
of labor. This reduction will ultimately be
brought about, and when brought about it
viii doubtless prove blessing to all classes.
Callings, there may be, in which ten hours
Of labor may not be too much, where many
faculties are exercised, where pure air
is breathed, but in very many trades and
calliDgs too prolonged labor is rapidly waste
ing valuable lives, and seriously affecting the
usefulness Of men and women. Using up
TOO rapidly lives that might be prolonged
FAR beyond the present average Of Longevity.
Americans a-e becoming very short lived
They overtax both their muscular and ner-
vous powers, and if Il we're not for the con-
tinual occasions to our Vitality, which we
are receiving from road, we should soon
wear ourselves out
LOVE AND WISDOM.--No.2 2.
In cur previous article we cursorily glanced
at the facts Of the absence Of " Harmony,