The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-10-28
FROM CALIFORNIA.

SAN Francisco, October 19, 1871.
To the Editor Of THE woRKISGMAS's ADVOCATE.
The terrible calamity with which your
city has been overtaken, is so astounding
that the mind cannot comprehend its ex-
tent Every attempt to grasp it fails, and
we can only direct our thoughts to the
contemplation of incidents.
1t seems as if the laws of nature were at
fault, and the imbecillity of man, too, ap-
pears to be charged with the responsibility
Of this dreadful catastrophe; and yet it is
but sudden accumulation Of the human
r,I.ery that Is daily and hourly taking
place around US.
1t appears selfish to wish that the ADvo-
CATE has escaped the general destruction,
but when | think that TO the labor interest
It's loss would be irreparable, ! cannot but
indulge in the hope.
The ruin which this fire will cause, brings
to nv mind forcibly the opinion | have
| long INDUCED, that our system Of insurance
is not adequate TO the demands Of society.
Insurance opens it capacious nav to swal-
low our earnings in the day Of prosperity
but often fails to intercept the ruin it is
intended to work, when great calamities
like this which has be'allen Chicago hap
pen.
Insurance should be universal, and in
stead of being means to gorge the rapacity
of a few favored individuals who undertake
obligations they are sometimes unable, and
seldom willing to perform, it should be, as
it can be made, an intrument that will never
fail to guard the unfortunate from the yicis-
situde to which we ali become unavoidably
liable
We have 50 long been accustomed to see
one portion Of the community preying upon
the other, that the most palpable injustice
frequently escaped our attention and with
out further thought we admit such spurious
arguments, as that insurance companies
cannot perform impossibilities, and that
they are equally TO be pitied, for ruin has
oyertaken them also The difference is, that
! the insurance companies have not labored
all their lives, while the insured have been
fattening on their toll. Our system Of
marine and fire insurance is defective, and
should be remedied. 1t is too great tax
upon our industry in the days Of prosperity
and often fails to guard its deluded victims
from ruin in the day of adversely.
Let every owner of property, in any
community, give his premium note or de-
post on the property he wishes insured
let all these communal offices have one
head, and all the insured property in the
nation made to contribute its pro rata o
the losses; every insurer would thus becom,
a public guardian to prevent fires, and de
tect frauds No paid up capital is required
and the number Of drones who now reve
in luxury on high salaries, could and woulC
be replaced by persons who are willing L
do fair days work for fair days wages
while they would be set at liberty to per
form the obligations all able-bodied mel
owe to society, and their places could b
la by women by cripples and by oh
men, who, though they had performe
their task, had failed 70 secure competen
provision for old-age
The Mr. Goodman who insulted SO gross
" the ladies present at the Labor Meetin
at Dashaway Hall, was the secretary {
Labor Union No = Of Oakland He va
recommended To the committee as one 3
the speakers by Mr.. Delany. This furnish
es link to identify Delany with the rail
road monOpOlists.
T This man Goodman is a stipendiary Q