The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-01-16
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ing of committee n Washington.
AS but little has been said upon this Sub
ject, many Of our readers Gail to see the fbrc
of the proposition, and ne are freq udhtly
asked the question, 10 there necessits 70
such department? Viii the author a th,
resolution, or some one else, throw som,
light upon the su6jectS .atsaw AlA. Il
1t is now conceded on all hands, THAI the
principle of cooperation in its various fetms
as applied to industry, is the only cdrrecI
one, and should be applied to every form Of
production and distribution. This being
true, we should give it every encourage EN-
and support possible, uatil its apple ton
becomes universal. o.-1 .~~t
II this be correct position, then we hust
give legal sanction and protection to al ef-
forts 70 start cooperative societies, and we
hold that this can only be done through a
labor department. We know it will DC said
that all such things should be left to the
States. We do not believe this, but viii
not now stop to discuss it; we know what
we want, and viii take nothing less. We
shall favor no halfway refOrmS-espeI ially
such as place all the responsibilities ane ex-
PeDse upon the back of labor; such I'd in
stance as the eight hour laws recently. bass
cd in several States, which are but SO Ihanry
insults to every workingman in the col.ntry,
and should be flung back into the teeth Of
the shallow-pated, galvanized, or papercov.
cred legislators vhO passed them. ~
In no country in the void is therI such
huge monopolies, and so rapid centIaliza-
ton Of wealth as in this. All wealtki and
all power centers in the hands of the few |;
the weak are deyoureS by the strong, and
that portea Of tAspeopls who hive by phys
ical tOil-all producers are now in ndi.
ton of absolute dependence. upon thdrich
and powerful. 4a as.au ~ aa at
A spirit Of arrogance and tyranny is Merry
where visible among the rich. Every itfort
made by workingmen to, combine for N htual
protection and profit, is met By . stern and
:
savage OppOsitiOn.a " wOrkingnen are slow
90 join co operative associations, Il is'because
the vengeance Of the employer is visited
upon FL knogr 70 belong ! to such societies,
at every favorable opportunity. ~ NJ a
1t is because Of this dependent and help
less condition Of wOrkingmen that We de-
mAnd labor department - - A, :.
The government j. absolutely and v polly
dependant upon the prodaesrss iaeat
those who work at ply seal labor -afori Nth,
out physical labor there can be no p Sdue.,
ten. Il is, thsrsfOra, the Rrst Rpty the
government to protect, encourage AMI de-
tsnd this class qf the people. Iftherd.nust,
be classes and distinctions, the prod 3cers,
they Who toll with their hanas, shoulA cc-
capy the highest positions md feceive The
greatest hOhors, for ppoh them, sTii ,S4hsrs
must depend for food. ho, ses, raimsnt; and
government ITSELF boz l.n9s car syi IA
SraA these grounds We Mold thatitai the
dnty, Of tbs government y look Nier Il s In q
terests Of the physical workers EssA and We
know of no wsy 'byswhichlit oan Be % effect
naily done as through a9AbCt Department at
Washington Sgeh = dspsrtFepL presided
% sshy practical businsas napsWisbls Zig
:. - IA honest Aeart sadsrs the fOper
sssgons' SHld 40 more 70 istindls IN
II. esOvie ~ y sioas .vsll4 apd
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