The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-29
TRADES UNIONS.
Their Influence, Effect and Present
Necessity
Az ADDRESS DELIVERED BY L. c. HuGut = or MsAD
Wills, PA BEFosE rBE INTERKATIoSAL CoNyks-
THk MAtBixisTs ASD FLACEsNITA's UNION
NORM ANEB.CA. AZ CLGyKLaSD, o., TmDAY
IvESiSG, SFPr "a, 1870.
ADDRESS
| ICONTINUED.

The first idea perhaps that was entertain
cd by the leaders of Trades Unions was
That labor was bought and sold much like
articles OF commerce, and that the buyer
or capital having the advantage il bis bar
gaining, kept the seller Of labor in partial
state of subordination. Capital was more
powerful than isolated workmen. They
were not on equal ground in point of buyer
and seller.
Hence we may safely infer that its first
object was to remedy this difficulty, BY put
ting the employe on equal footing with lis
employer; the seller Of labor on equal
vantage ground with the buyer 1t was
claimed, and that most justly, that labor
should have the same chance to sell dearly,
that capital had to buy cheaply-to square
them in these respects was the first, and we
may safey say the primary object If Trades
Unions
Has uniOnism been successful in this re
spect If they have secured to its men,
bers in whole or part the same power to sell
dear y that their employer has to sell cheap
", the fact that raise Of wages has been
secured will have been conceded, inasmuch
as this was the primary object Of organiza-
ton.
We see from the first dawning of Trades
Unions that theT have been gaining ground
in this respect. We will admit in the past
that capital has been in a great majority Of
cases conqueror, vet between the intervals
Of the struggles, capital has been giving
away. Their opponents gaining slow but
firm fcothold, for half century it has been
vic,o, for capital, but substantial success
for the worker Capital claiming all the
honor, labor all the profits"
That each might secure to itself the pow
er Of dictatorship in matters Of labor and
wages was the cause Of much tierceness in
the struggle. Men demanded the right Of
debating wages of labor, and its conditions
of employment. They demanded high wa
ges, and shorter time the same wages, but
less work in return; how work should be
done, and who should do it, and the quan.
tity in giver time.
The employers naturally wished the same
privilege. The result was a elashing of in
terests.
"Who have been the victors - Stats
ties OF the struggles show that Unionist,
have been often brought to terms, but they
have compelled the employer to compromise
much of'ener. We have only to lock abou
us to see this fact verified. That the laborer:
/ of Briton and America are receiving a mort
just remuneration. is so evident that it doel
not need to be asserted. That Trades I'm
ions have been the cause to great degret
cannot be truly disputed; most Of you know
the truth Of this statement have no doubt
from experience.
But there are those who maintain that
raise of wages brought about by Trade
Unions would have been conceded withou
their Intervention.
answer .his BY asking question:
capital could have granted The advance
would they have done it on their own &C
count?
The answer is conclusive to any observe
of human nature. Who ever heard Of sue
a easel Instances of employers raisinI
wages without beng forced to it by Union
or fearing Of lOosIng their labor, are as nu
merous as those Of workingmen demandin
to have their wages lowered, thinking the
wore getting more than their share.
4 But our opponents say again: sIf cap
tai could not afford to pay, they must Of n.
! cessity come back to old wages.
J this case what use are Trades Union
Or what benefit the raissi Wages al
based on profit. and when the wages pai