The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-10-12

The following is copy Of the petition
prepared BY the President OF the National
Labor Congress, ior circulation among The
workingmen of the United States:
The Ratition OF tis .fschaaics ap.F 7thsr
L1Joru.g Hen rcsPec fully repres. atS'
That this great O ove- nment owes ia existence
10 the doaitable courage and devotion Of the
workilgme tbey won is inde pendence and
oecueathet TO their descendants tue sacred FIRE
n liberty, % b. by them watched over and
guarded with neser-ceasing vTgiIeHce. Tint
daring lbe late terrible stTgsgle With rebellion,
they proved thlr worhinsss OF the trust and
through their great services u ths work saJp
,na tnr ne-, 'e irteg-ily Ny the G1yeg, i...-,,
was maintained ana peace restored. That while
they have bore TIVE brunt " battle, ana suffered
the ssversst hArlships and trials ID the field.
ihey nave .at the same time borne their share
~ the burden ~ taxation, and Yielded prompt
! obedience 10 aN the re4girements OF the laws
That labor y the origiaai. Fundamental. and
most indispensable caPatalf OF the coEntry--the
parent Of ali Other capita, bringing X into eH-
istence anA constituting the basis OF an other
interests thaa are valuable III civilized society,
lbialding L. ritss. navy ana coEmssctA. marine,
covering The land sin web VI iron arteries u
carey civiikAgs1a, Se Attn and hRpy ness through
1ut w length and DreAdta ana alOrang ID with
NJ that y beAuafsl and grand That a. the
sons w toll constitute the bulk OF the popula-
\ ton and are the true sources Of AL its wealth
and prosperity, and legislation tending 70 i'm
prove their social condition, 20 add to their ia
ielligence and proionz their ives j. practically
beneficial 20 the general welfare, and cannot fail
| 70 diffuse is advantages 70 AL classes IN the
country. That there " 4 large number or work
II f. h.H ~. I'll. -
among your humble petitioners they are largely
represented IN the navs yards, dockyArda and
oIber places. whose condition would greatly
improved IL your honorable body would pass a
Law reducing the hours Of labor 20 that instead
Of ten they win be hereafter required % work
| but eight hours per day The consttnL unre-
lissses 'al Tor ten hours each day i destructive
Of health, or social comrS.- w. la happipss,
incompatible with proper mental improvement,
and tends to debase aud drag hem down from
The high social position of republican freemen
to die degraded one OF voceless slaves, That
The passage OF law makIAg eight hours a days
rork in alt the government works throughout
the country would set an example that
wogld be followed, as in 1910, b. its gradual
introduction into private establishments
and whilst the gover1Wsnt, BY is priceless boon,
goald be adding 20 the bodily comfort mental
Improvement, and general happinf = Of " large
= class OF its empios -, the worNngnsn d tie
country would feel taat great triumph had
been gainsd, that Immense strides nan been
made towards their mental, moral, and intellee-
trAl Advancement, a4d-their Blossoms would res
pond with gratitude fur the great and Just gift
Your petitioners wguld therefore pray Won
pass a law making MGar hoars days work in
.all Government workshops, &c, where FES
4burs now constitutes days work. AID thus
1heY will ever pray.