The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-06
FROM CONNECTICUT.
NORWICH. Jan. 22d, 1869

NORWICH, Jan. zzd, 1907.
To the Editor OF the woEkseHASs ADVOCATE.
have watched with considerable interest
the action Of the senators and members Of
Congress, upon the nuliifying course Of the
secretary of war upon the eight-hour
question, and / am free to confess
that | am thoroughly disguised with
the actions Of them all; for it will be
remembered that lhe bill making that law
passed by an almost unanimous vote, only g
few months ago, and by the same men who
now sit "mum," when their decision would
give vitality to the law which their votes
called into existence. The present non action
Of congress is trIhIng with the expressed
wishes Of million Of workingmen in this
country, who have right to demand at the
hands Of their public servants that the law
shall De carried out In good faith. Congress
knew when the law was passed that they
we're complying with the will Of vast ma
jority Of the workingmen Of the country, and
passing il just before a presidential election,
when taken in consideration with the course
now followed gives the whole transaction
the appearance Of gross swndle. Il was a
good enough scheme TO answer the purpose
Of trickey, wirepulIing political leaders v 40
carried il through, and that purpose was 70
dupe the laboring masses Of the country, in
to supporting the party nominations in the
presidential contest.
The question now Immediately before the
worklngmen Of our country Is, shall the
labor of the last few ears which secured
the passage of the law BY congress, be IosI
by our neglectlng to warn our party friends
in congress that we are watching their ac-
ton on this bill, with q view 10 holding
them accountable for votes? TheIs IS no
excuse whatever for apathy in this critical
juncture. The motto Of every union should
be att again, and petitions should food
congress, asking that the course Of the sec
Rotary Ut war be censured an the true IN
terest of the law be earned out.
As for the opinion OF the attorney, general
assPublshed, it was The lamest and most bung-
ling document ever issued by n cabinet
minister. It announces that law Of con-
St COS ~ u Jaw INV bAV1G WIZ ~ NJ w oOCy
It, and those who disregard it are not TO be
held guilty Of any mislemeanor. Hear is
truly Daniel come to judgment, this mans
decision. If correct, dispences with the neces-
sity for q congress at oil, rs it remains in
the power Of any subordinate to nulify their
actio, II It suits bis pleasure 90 to do.
In addition to the warning, to be up and
doing, with view to save the vitality of
that already accomplished by the previous
agitation Of the labor question, the present
course Of congress speakes in tones OF thun-
der to the sons of toll, to come out from
amongst the present political sharks with
whom they have been operating, and rely
only on men selected from their own ranks,
men whose past life has proven TO them
that what labor asks Is needed, and whose
minds trsneled by honest toll, has learned to
discard subterfuge and ambiguity. No re-
lance can be placed upon either democratic
or republican political organisations a. now
controlled Let these soilers all strike hands
and step ont Of the ruts Of party lines which
now divide them, and cut new channel
through which the vast current of labor's
wer may aow to victorious end, which