The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-09-28

There are persons who have prejudged
theAe societies; and il they viii rsad.ass We
begt them to reconsider.
Two thirss-if maintained -are suficiens
10 vindicatc these societies wherever and
however ifaand. First, that the end in view
is worthy, and secondly, the means fair, in
stituted TO attain il.
Now can any sensible person contend that
working men ought not 10 desire TO keep up
and in many instances raise up their wages
Capital is continually tending to put them
down. Money lenders and indeed men in all
business departments Of life, are constantly
at work to improve their trades. Banks
unite 10 keeping up their rates Of interest.
No poor laboref can 20 and induce the first
one to discount in hls favor below the estab-
lished rates. Railroads, Mills and Factories
all over the land, unite 10 the same way in
keeping up the prices for their services and
articles. No man however poor and worthy
can 20 and get passage TO New York, below
the established rates. fhe shareholders and
the officers not Of one but Of all ne haas
have Trades Union, to keep up the fare to
the very last cent. And % Of TIE other
large mills and factories throughout eur lAod.
How then can these very persons thus CON-
bining to make their money and their Official
services pay object to the poor labersrs for
doing the same lhingy Have they mo
rights" which capitalists "are bound to
respect"i Quite sure do We feel that little
sober thought viii correct the prejsdices 50
anjustly INDUCED against our working men
for simply trying to do the best they can.
Poor mechanics out q work, must have
shelter and bread for their children. Capital
lists easily take advantage Of their necessities
and employ them for the time at reduced
wages. This not merely puts down the pay
Of the sufferer but Of the whole craft Cor the
future. Can there be any harm in his CO.
Nleborers uniting not only FOR his assistance,
but in such way as 10 avoid its re-occur-
renee Is it not decidedly wise that the
man himself and all like him, should 20 into
Union to sustain their prices Ant them
selves when out Of work.
Let all bear in mind that we owe all we
have or ever can have 10 the laborer. Then
we should wish TO see him in easy cream
stances, happy and prosperous. All should
certainly wish to see him well paid for his
w,ork To aETs~k shss j. fhs. as.a a..1 an. ..,.lv
end Of the Trades Union Hence IL 10 worthy.
The means used to accomplish the end. are
simple and innocent. Workmen simply come
together as oil other meetings md adopt just
and e 1eral roles for their regulation. They
agree to stand out for what they consider
reasonable time and pay for their work. To
be over~worked and under-paid, they regard
IS 4. Eropg against which they have the right.
Of self-defence, Wis it would seem none
dare dispute. II an employer has the right
to say how much he viii give, tn employee
must have the same right I" say Row much
he viii take. This is all the Unions propose.
In principle there is no difference between
the rights exercised by these sScieties and
those accorded to every man. The only dis
tinction is that the associations act al to-
gether. They know rs We all do-that in
Union there is strength and act accordingly.
The only possible Objeetiou-of any reason
must arise from their prices being too high.
As in all similar cases, the difference Of
opinion on this point comes from sel6shness-
The buyer says 1t is naught, Write the seller
lands his wares TO the skies. But thee Ia
certainly stronger tendency from the power
in the hand Of the capitalists, to deprcss,
than TO unduly exact wages. The distin-
guished Physician, the Lawyer, the Ger erai
or the managing Politician may indeed get
ove<pay, but never the poor patient honest
tailor LET him therefore no more be cen
sused for Joining with bis fsaiews 70 secure
the best protecl .ou De can against the crush
ing weights Of capital and monopoly.
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