The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-01-11

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CORRESPONDENTS,
- -, ~ ~ FROM NEW YoRk.
ssa -F.tssz.u New YoHK. Jaa. o.
1sishs Editor Of the WoExHoMAs's ADvooAzs.
! The old year has closed IN this city with
more men out Of employment than at any
other time these seven years. Capital has
done what il always will do-made immense
profits out Of labor ; and nov, with its cof-
fers well filled, has turned Il into the stfeets
TO beg 81 starYe, il cares not which; while
it sta down at is ease mach a. farmer
does after he has gathered all his crops.
Two years ago the press was teeming with
articles to prove that it would be impossible
to adopt an Eight-hour system Of labor. as
the loes Of production would not bear IL. now
that same press it complains every day that
our markets are completely glutted with
goods, and thousands are walking about IN
enforced idleness; could any better argument
b produced " prove the good results Of an
EightAour system than thisf Had that law
been carried out We should not witness
what We hare to- day, production would have
kept pace with the demand, end no one would
be idle. sa9-aN
! The trade in this city that Is doing.
the best and is the most fully employed, ID
the plasterers, who, as you are aware, have
been working Eight hours day for some
months. Bat the fault Of this state Of things
does not rest entirely with the capitalists,
the workingmea themselves are greatly v
blame, they could, n they pleased, At the
late election have elected . Mayor and Com
mon Council, that would have put ~ Eight
hour system practically in force for all con-
tracts given out BY the city authorities but
they preferred to let the old parties have
the battle all TO themseIvss, well knowing
that to them would accord no benefit, which
ever psxty vas elected. Hnd they, IS they
ought to have dc3e, rln. n fourth candidate
Tor Mayor their success wo1id have beea
easy. Bot as yet the ircn bands Of party
are toe strong for the woI kingmea Of New
York city, whether they win ever awake TO
proper sense Of the duties Of hour, il more
than am able TO say. There y nova chance
for them that will not again accrue perhaps
i'm this century, and we can only hope they
viii awake TO the duties Of thu hour.
read with great deal Of satisfaction
the plan adopted by the Tiadss' Asismbly
Of your city, and think it.fhould Be put in
everywhers. Bbt the Trades
Unions Of New York have dot that vitality
they ought to have, and it se61s5sIa somewhat
strange thing that ut the very tir
ARE most required THAT 10 Whef
DULY You have the greatest d.
keeping them up to the proper SITS I, n
here was .usyr rpFospsct Of the force who
Kesp the Unions together beiAg able to I'D
vance the wages so cents day, you would
have plenty 70 attend till they had secured
II. and then with the basest ingrstitude re-
fuse to pay tbe paltry 10 Or 10 csntsa week
o. month, as the case may oese es
IL IA q lsrnentable fact, NJ kditor, that
ne workingman expects essrythinE to be
done for him grstuitously, and u some ore
or two men should gratsitosnly srsB psriotm
tbis Iabor. II ID mcrs than . hundred to one
that they will excite the envy end hatred of
The Workingmen's Un,oa held their Stats
meeting on Friday, the Sd inst, and elecssd
their oflieers for the next six months. John
Curtis retires from the Presidency (aens
serving two terrns9, with the good wishes
Of I'll. He 10 net what NAY b called : fiuant