Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-09-20
LAWS FOR THE LAB0RING MEN:

Since the absurd and clumsy plat
form of resolutions has been adopted
and promulgated by the Labor Con-
gress at Cincinnati, the question has
arisen..in many minds as to- whether
the needs and requirements OF the
laboring men have not been already
SO fully and carefully provided for
that further legislation in their be-
half is almost impossible, and, there
tore, aseparate party in their inter-
est quito unnecessary.
A homestead law has been In force
for number of years, by means of
which any man can secure himself
home without money, simply by Sc
Letting and living upon the land a
| certain length of time, with the right
| to choose the same from any lands
| remaining unsold anywhere on the
public domain.
By the laws of most OF the States,
the homestead, and generous
amount of household articles neces-
sary for the support of family, are
exempt from execution, and thus
guaranteed TO him so completely
that they cannot be taken from him
for debt, whatever may be his mis-
fortune, or for whatever cause the
debt may have been incurred.
By the laws of large number OF
the States, free schools have been
established, by means of which
school houses are built and furnished,
and competent teachers employed
and paid 80 that the laboring man
can have his children educated with
out cost.
The price of labor, like the price
of anything else, is regulated accord
ing to tho quantity and quality in
the market, by the law of supply
and demand but the laborer has q
right to ask the highest price that
he can get, and to continue with
others to get a higher price, and,
when the price has been agreed up
on, the laws already established will
compel the employer to pay the
same.
If the laborer be q mechanic or a
skilled artisan of any kind, the laws
already in force give him lien for
his pay upon the house or the boat
he has been building, and this lien 10
allowed whether he has labored on it
personally, or has furnished materi-
ais which cost him labor elsewhere
thus securing his pay against any
contingency.
Journeymen and common iaborers
have the same right to vote that 9TH
or people have, and there is nothing
to prevent them from holding any
office from Constable to President,
the same as other mon. Abraham
Lincoln commenced life as q COM
mon laborer, and General Grant has
labored with his hands to earn his
daily bread.
Now when the laws Of the land
are so liberal when the government
gives q homestead TO the laborer
who will live on il, and guarantees
that home against debts and the re-
verses Of fortune; educates his chill
dren without any cost for tuition
compels the employer TO promptly
pay the price agreed upon, at tho
time specified; and gives him an
equal chance in the race of life, in
every conceivable way, it looks to
US as if he could have but little to
complain of.
| Up to 1860 there was o race OF
people in our country doomed to
perpetual labor, who were denied all
the rights and privileges herein
named, and twice as many more F;
but, thanks to the Republican party,
which has enacted the greater share
of the laws for the good of the la
borer, and which always aims to be
on the side of liberty, justice and i'm
Partially, the restrictions have been
taken from that .raco also- and . ..,:,
above-named rights and privileges
are guaranteed to all who labor