The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-08
ERnM NEW YORK
NV YORK. July 20 IoGI

n the Editor o. the woRKNGMAS's ApYocArH.
Ifthere is necessity that the work,ngmen
should work ten hours, or IL they must sub
NIT to a reduction Of pay for eight hours
work, there should be no necessity that they
should work for capitalists. And this calls
upon US to discover some new way for the
wo-kingmen to 70 to work 70 secure their
ends.
How far will cooperative industry secure
10 the producer the profits Of bis work with
out resoriing 70 the seemingly violent inca
sure 81 abolizhing he interest on money 70
more nearly equaliz, wealth, while keeping
all at work
But i law il u be Iaased to make eight
hours the rule Of work, under the present
system az things, (such law has been pass
ed ia some Of the states, and since writing
this an cight-hour Law, limited to the en-
ployes Of the national government, has been
passedl, Or TO enforce ten hours ray FOR II,
the wOrkingmen must not trust to tame Pc
titIons to 20 It, but send representatives to
OF others who are pledged to their interests,
Who viii make such law, or laws, If It il
wise 10 Do it. The resolution Of the Buffalo
workingmen's meeting last year 70 support
such men for Office as are pledged 70 their
interests, is in the right direction. Such
course Is the entering wedge in the business
Of the workingmen lettering their condition
as long as they must work for capitalists.
These representatives would have enough w
do while in congress tc look after the inter.
ests OF their constituents If they were not t1
pass an eight-hour law, or any other law
which might seem 10 be to make water run
up hil-which eight hours work for ten
hours pay might or might not be- The oh-
jectors to the practicability of the last mghI
ask where ID the ten hours pay for eight
hours work to come FROM? This shows
that the enforcement Of ten hOurs' work
would have to be predcated (as they say w
an employers income, or be exactai only
when liberal income would permit of N
will end these inquiries and introduce here
some remarks showing the value OF leisure w
the laboring man, aud his claims for an am
pie remuneration for his labor, made wv tne
Hon. James Dixon Of Hartford, Connecticut,
ia bis anniversary address before the Amgri-
can Institute Of this city, in the year 1852.
Though made 80 long 20 they are AZ true
now as they were then.
Remarkng upon the greater cost w
production Of manufactured articles in [.
country than ia European countries, h.
says:
IF the money cost il more here, Il Gun oufg
be because labor demands a higher rewurd aud
that such is the case is matter, not ofregret but
Of exultation. Labor has wants here which arc
unknown elsewhere. Ii demands its hours OF
leisure its comfortable and refining home wv
means of mental cultivation; and above all,
ability to educate the children who, while the
father bends in cheerful toll over the anvil Or
the bench, are laying the foundations OF tho
learning which 10 preparing them TO become
your preachers" this profession he might have
left out perhapsl, your authors, your inventor,
your senators, your governors and the pres.
dents Of your republic. Well, therefore, nAy
we exult in the fact, that labor demands HIT
er compensation here than elsewhere, A. Ils
wants are higher and more extended"
These, though few, are noble words. Tlag
remind Us Of a parent addressing bis chi
dren or talking Of them. The state, or thc
capitalists, is apt not to care for the lab0rer
any more than he is useful to il, or him.
But the above expressions are from higher
motive than mere selfishness.
will conclude this letter with what "
said BY writer (who seems % be in sympa-
thy with capItal) in the Eng.l5h AdcmiilIHs
Magazine, for, | believe, May 1867, on "S1.
cal DisIntegration."
IN proportion he says, CAS- The artisans 3
come better educated more At leisure from Nd
temporal needs, they will spend more time at
care on political and social one stions ID RESTS
with the weather. classes whether thar time aal
care shall be bestowed in concert with or ~ ol-
position 70 them
lie tells Us that the trades un.0n Will N
confined 10 federal leaguer and ~ (though
it is not bis wOrd) mischief. Aud he tells
Us that it IL requisite that there should he
more intercourse between the rich aud l4o
poor
II it is agreeable to you, will, in another
letter, speak Of the subject VI usury.
A SsEKER AFTER TRUIH.