The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-29
Labor and Politics.
From the N. Y. Tribune.


A very large meeting of workingmen was
lately held in our city, by which it was unani-
mously determined: /. That labor produces
everything, yet secures and enjoys but share
and that not a fair share-Of the product;
2. That it has determined that this shall not
continue; and 3. That, to secure their full
rights, the labOring class will cut loose from
politics and politicians, and Ego it alone"
henceforth, not only in shaping a public
policy, but iu choosing Legislators and other
tunctlonaries to give effect to that policy.
(The resolves are now before us; but this is
their drift and purpOrt, according to our re-
collection,)
The workingmen are clearly right in affirm
ing the preeminent Importance OF questions
which are practically social over those which
are distinctively political. They want steady
work, confined to reasonable hours, with fair
recompense for doing it. They want commo-
dious and convenient lodgings, at rates which
are not beyond their limited means. They
want sanitary regulations which will protect
them from noisome etluvia and from the re-
sulting ravages of pestilence. They want good
common schools, with ample provision
therein for the education of their children. In
so far as the State or community shall provide
or secure these, IL is blessing to the working
men; while in many if not most of the ques-
tions on which our people divided into
parties, they have but vague, remote
interest. 1t seems, therefore, not only natural
but desirable that the workingmen should
meet as a Glass; and propose measures OF
interest to that class, insisting that they shall
receive early and thoughtful consideration.
We trust that this workingmens movement
is not to end with the passage of last Tues
days resolves but that meeting after meeting
will be held, in which the rights and wrongs
of labor will be more fully and patiently con-
sidered than they were or could be at the
OIL ~, And on frat
tribution to the sum OF knowledge on the
general subject of labor reform, we proffer
the following frank yet not untriendly criti-
cisms on the late proceedings at Cooper In
stitute:-
l. We do not object to the designation of
those who labor for wages as distlnctively
working men, provided it is fully kept in
mind that this is dictated by convenience, and
that there are in fact many other working
men than they. Thus, the brothers Harpers
were not only journeymen printers fifty years
ago, but they were remarkably hard-working
journeymeD, who never dreamed that eight
nor even ten hours efficient work excused
them from doing more while work remained to
be done and there was daylight whereby to do
1t. They are rich and powerful to-day because
they were specially energetic and frugal while
young and poor. So, We cannot doubt, John
Jacob AstOr, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Alexander
7. Stewart, and nearly all our present mil
lionaires, made the very utmost of their
hours and their pence in their portionless,
tIiendless youth. Now, we are not commend
| ing these men as models for imitation
We do not insist that every poor man should
| strive to become rich one-we readily admit
| that there is force in the statement of those
| who prefer to take things easy' and 'enioy
! life as they go along" but we do insist that
the case shall be fairly set forth and clearly
| understood. Great wealth is the product of
rare capacities or of rare diligence and fru-
gality-generally OF a combination of these. In
monarchies it may, to some extent, be won by
| royal favor. 1t is not so here. The founders
OF great fortunes had to work for them, as
truly as though they had welded the trOwel
or shouldered the hod. Let not this truth be
Ignored or by grouudless ella NOR obscured.
ii. The labofers for wages fairly earn their
money; but so do others. The skilful engi-
neer who, by his original devices, saves a
million days work in the construction of a
great railroad, as fairly earns the SlOO 600
paid him Tor his services as the digger with
pick and spade earns his 81 per day. IL i'll
becomes either of these useful citizens TO dis
parage the achievement or grudge the recom-
pense of the other. Live and let live"
III. We cannot deem it wise or well TO
array labor against capital. They are not ne
cessaIy antagonists. They are natural allies.
We lately visited manutactOry at Glenhaven.
where milk pans, e-pitohers, and every de-
scription of tin-ware are daily stamped from
plates or sheets into the desired forms at a
single blow, dispensing with Seams, solder,
etc., altogether. The ware is at once much
better as we'll as cheaper than it would be il
made by hand. Labor is thus doubly bene-
fted:-it is better paid than formerly, because
far more efficient; and it is supplied with
cheaper wares. But the machines whereby
this is Effected cost 5000 to $4,000 each
and their aggregate cost must exceed half
million dollars. Can any good reason be
given for antagonism or jealousy between the
owner of this machinery and those who
work Il or thosa who buY its products We