The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-26
We asst s<nd WorA<ingmen "a
the Leaislature.

AM2 A<Ek ADAM4eAECs
A few days ago, m Irishman, q so-called
con. MR. aborer. was told by some capital
Ia what 10 say to an advocate of the
'fe;ght Sour law" as he passed along the
strses- The Irishman said to toe advocate
Of the eight-hour law he not being . So
called workingman), II do not want an
eight-hour law; you want to set away my
liberty. want the right to work as many
hours IS please | do not want to be dc
tated to. Shall not earn more money if I
work sixteen hours a day ut ten cents an
hour, than | shall If I work only eight
hours ?" The joys Of elbows, winks and
laughs Of the capitalists seemed to indicate
that they enjoyed the logic Of the laborer
hugely. ie
But q change came over them when the
eight hour man said, You have not got
any liberty as a workingman, except the
right TO starve to death. This is q great
right. The negro had it not before the war
He was thrashed il he did not work for food
and clothes Now he has the right, In com
mon with the Northern laborer, to say he
will starve rather than work at the prices
the capitalist dictates. You talk about hav-
ing your liberty taken away There is
nothing YOU can do which will so much help
the capitalist to keep you down, as to insist
that you VIII work more than the average
hours necessary 10 supply the world with
produce, if all work. Every hour you work
over the average helps to keep others out Of
employment, or else to excuse theEI and 80
you cut OF your own nose-you make your
self work cheap and keep another set Out
of employment, so that they stand around
Il. 6 a. no. h..
tractor to give them a job that they need
not stsrve.
Now, if Just such men as you would only
saw that you would not work more than
eight hours, you would get rid OF all these
competitors, and the capitalists and spccu-
lators would be obliged to 60 TO work, and
We should al become producers. The
friends Of the eight-hour law want to get a
law passed prohibiting corporations, at least,
and If the workingmen only knew enough
to help to do it, they would like 10 get law
to prohibit anybody from working more
than eight hours, because it is well known
that If al the members OF the community
would work eight hours, we should have q
great deal more products to consume than
we have now. But if one can work more
than eight hours, somebody - cut of from
work and the capitalist knows enough 10
take advantage of IL.
The eight-hour law folks want you, hod-
carriers and grave-dggers, to have carpets
on your floors, pictures on your walls, books
and pianos In your houses. They want you
TO amuse yourselves after the eight hours
labor lust as the merchants, lawyers presi
dents Of railroads. agents and treasurers Of
factories, and other so-cslled gentry, 40
There are enough young men and women Of
the upper class, 50 called, who would bs
glad to do some kind Of work il it could be
made respectable TO do so. Now, ny friend
[ do not want to get away your liberty
want to have you have and enjoy more
liberty.
If you think you have the liberty Of work
ing as many hours a. you please, Just 90 t.
the factory, or y the contractor, or foreman
and tell him you want 70 work eight hours
day. He will say to you, IL you will moi
work ten, twelve or even sixteen hours, as
dictate, you shall not work at all More
over, the capitalists have plan on foot t.
take away some Of the liberty you now have
They mean that you shall work more hours
instead of less; and fer leEs pay, instead o
the pay you have now and when they hav,
A
going to tackle the mechanics and clerks il
stores, SO that capital shall rule supreme
Now, we eight-hour men want to save you
liberty but we are afraid that th~ ,spitalist
will get round you and cheat you out u tn,
little liberty yon now have"
The Irishman put his hand under his ha
and began to scratch his head, and said
God bless you, sir | do not understand
this. | hope you will get the eight -hou
law. will vote for IL Do you think W,
shall get it this Year, He was told you vii
never get it until common day -lsborers am
other workingmen are united, and will sent
workingmen, not bosses, capitalists, min
listers and lawyers, to the legislature. TIL
day-laborer and mechanic know what kim
of laws are needed to organize just labo
system better than those who lave playet
boss, capitalist and employer. You nigh
as well trust a hungry dog with your din
ner as to send the employer class to the LIE
islature. The Massachusetts, Legislature Q
this year have decided by a vote Of two }
one that laborers "hAve no rights who
capital il bound to respect. Coz. R5stc
Voice.