The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-01-23

1@11
70 the Ed'sur q tho wo.rusoMAs's ADvOs.rr.
The time for the State Trades Assembly,
70 meet in Albany, being near at hand,
mary Unious are elscting de- sgates to 20
there. IL 10 anticipated there will be quite
large delegation from this city, and for
many reasons il 10 desirable there should be,
80 rs 20 bring all the influence possible to
bear on the Legislature and compel that
body to eradicate frem the statute books
every vestEe Of the Conspiracy Laws that
interfere with the rights of labor; bat 1
fear the pressure wall not be strong enough
to accomplish that much desired good. What
10 now waDted 10 one Of those monster open
air meetings, such a. was held in Tomp-
kins Square. in midday, when almost every
workingmaD 10 tbs city left his work to at
tend the meeting, and sent such peal Of
thunder up to Albany that killed the Foger
and Hastings Bill, which would have made
ID penal offence for any One to belong to
Trades Union then worxlngmen were in
earnest and Of course their rights were re-
spected; their leaders were sagscious and
far-seeing men, who would chad they been
supported and sent into the Legislature)
have done more for the rights of Labor be-
fore now than will be done in the next seven
years. But they neglected them, lost IN >
prize that scas then within their grasp, whilst
their poor deluded victims have suffered the
greatest pecuniary difficulties from which
they have not yet recovered and from which
some never will. The result to-day IA sort
of quasi organization, which only provokes
the smile of the Capitalist, and he goes on
with impunity forging fresh chains for bis
so let them.) Business in many branches Of
labor Is now very slack, and it 10 feared
that We shall have repetition Of the scenes
Of last winter, when 20 many thousands
bad to be fed by public charity. The fact
10, the seasons are so very short and every
kind Of man or boy 10 employed to rush
the work through during the short time it
has, that nearly one-half Of the year 10
spent by nearly two-thirds Of workingmen
in enforced idleness, and as they only re-
ceive q daily wages sufficient &C support
Them when working, IL follows, as a matter
of course, that when work gives out the
suffering must be intense for the working
men, while the employer gets none of the
prohts OF his labor. There is, therefore,
Just this difference between them. When
the season is over, the employer says 20 bis
man, :" Well. We have done pretty well
this season, / have made 50 much, but ms
I ha il 4 hal al
any longer, but il you don'E get anothe
job, (Which don't suppose you will) for
there is nothing doing now, you may call
70 and again next March !" mentally adding,
il 10 the meantime you do not die of starva-
= ton. The workman leaves to search lhe city
all over, in the vain hope OF finding EN-
ployment, whilst the employer sits down
quietly to enjoy his cigars, and live on the
profits Of his mems labor 80 thar We see
the difference between the two 10 toe profits
of labor. And yet 10 this instance, as 10
almost all Others, YOU cannot get FIVE Den 90
agree 10 cooperate together and divide t1ese
profits. Why, because some one of them
must be superintendent, book-keeper, &c-,
and be being q workingman, Of course ever '
other one is as good as him; hence you can
not get the car on the track to start u, for
without a head centre no family can thrive.
Thus all the most skilful mechanics are com
PEELED TO submit TO work as they do, because
it is impossible to induce men 20 submit 60
discipline under q leading Cooperation,
whose interest, If they rouid only see IL, lie
their own. No." they would much rather
be the slaves Of some petty capitalist, who
knows nothing Of the trade be is carrying
on, bat who does kaOw how TO live On the
profits Of other mems labor. /" WI IJ they
like &c, 90 let them" says
A MECHANIC.