The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-27
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A sensible Letter.


I The following communication, written by
/ J. W Browning, of New York, appears in a
recent issue Of the Star. We commend il to
the careful perusal Of our anti-eight hours
friends:
7 DEAR Sri have noticed IN your issue OF the
l 9th, the proceedings Of the Master Mason :
\ iiatiou, s0-eaied, ard irel con trained 10
sa, nat am very much surprised TO Fl d a bod '
Y OF men who profess a least ID have worked a
journeymen bricklayers, aud ought to know the
wants anG necessities of labor, instead of help
I ing me mechADc all they can to make hon>
/ est Industry respectable and honorable in the
ewes oil all, that'they are doing, ana have done,
their utmc 50 to make il obnoxious and degra J.
/ ing, and, one Of their number remarked, for
\ the purpose OF putting money in the pockets Of
capitalists Mr.. Stewart told Tire truth. If the
members VI that Society who are so anxious to
! look after the interests and welfare Of the
Brio klavers' Uaions, and yet have snch a queer
way Il doing il, had always been capitalists
AID sDorted their living and never known what
deli "a. a mechanic takes to get home an hour
or so sooner than usual, aud go down to his
nrighburs with his family, or have q romp with
/ his children, then | could unders aud and ac-
cunt for this organized opposition but these
men sav they were once As poor as We aud they
had to work harr and ten hours a day--how
long snceg / have been told that out of $50
boss masons, there just thirty practical
bricklayers, and the others having some capital
are Specializing with ii on the labor Of others
When YOU gentlemen worked as journeymen
ricklayers, rents were not so high A good
comior table floor could be hired tnen ia local..
lies called respectable" for eight and ten dol
: lars per monih-n0w are obliged 20 paw
twenty and thirty for a miserable floor in local
tiles not called respectable. But what has that
20 do with the si-ht hour question some will
ask l will tell You. When We have settled
the Ques zion Of eight hours tor them, we viii
SOONER or later enjoy that blessing, no one y IN
sense will doubt then we Intend 10 move over
iu Flushing, west side, South Brooklyn, and up
IN Westchester where we can buy good proper
~ at reasonable sums, rent whole houses
~itk IN or two OF rich soil, for less than
we pay for two or three old rooms, without con-
ysnienees and then the rents will be less for
those that remain-that is one reason why q
good many Of the -t stsmen are a helping US
Don't sou see | Gel you all classes OF me.
chsncs are too dee ply inteTested in the success
o. the NOV ement, and are looking forward to
its 6ual triumph with too much interest to al
low tue toOthold they have gained 70 slip frem
them. Don't you believe the stories they tell
down IN Liberty street. The iourneyman are
going to yin. This is the great season Of re-
lorm. A new era is dawning upon the work
ingneu If America. Ii is not limited to this
city. We count on living cut of towu--my old
fr end Roseman, Of the carpenters ia particular.
He is gvod fellow Al d understands this oues-
ton. ] once heard him make q few remarks
that / wished at the time, the Young Mems
Christian Assoc alton could h-,e heard-for
you know they ~ouldn't How the temple to be
erected on the eight hour system--~ell, my old
friend, who has worked as juurneyman over
thirty five years, said whea Sunday came lie
would look at his children, Who had been COOP
ed up all the week between high walls, and
know very little about green fields and nature
and ask himself If he had better send them OF
10 Sunday school or il il would not be best 70
take them IN a six penny excursion to BROOKLYN
or uD IN The woods, where they could view the
handiNofk OF CID, and teach them how to rev.
ereDce their Creator by His works. He did not
think be was committing sin, but, said he, II
only enjoyed this eight hour system, | could
i've out among those hills where my children
could enjoy the pure air OF heaven, and on Sun
day We could all go down to the little church in
the lane and feel happy and contented with my
'os. Master Masons, let me say that Mr.. Roseman
speaks the sent ments Of thousands, and ask,
"ih sach change IL the condition of mans
affairs, with his mind At rest, would he not be
more lit to discharge his duties to you and him
sell Tsen il there IL any msnhood in you,
show i, or az any rate sail under true colors-
namely, in the interest OF the capitalists peck
cts, aud which 10 a mistaken ides alter ALL
j. w. BRowSISG.