The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-06-17
FROM NEW YORK.

nm - AAlN 10 L.
To the Editor Of the woRKIs0NAN's ADvoolrE
How the world moves Less than 4
year ago opposed the Woman's Suf-
frage movement, less than six months
ago | opposed the idea that the social
question had anything to do with the
labor question, less than two months
ago | acknowledged | was prrjudiced
against the theories Of the Information.
al, and to-day accept them all Now
| do not mean that am the world. but
| am part Of nature, and the fact that
even | have made 20 much progress II
evidence that ve are all reapng the
benefit of ages, and that the world i
naturally becoming wiser and better
This Is the age Of reason.
We may create and establish onr
Trade Unions, and through them build
up feeling OF fellowship, but beyond
that they can accomplish notn iug-al-
solutely nothing This would have
been hard for me 70 believe some time
ago bat it il clear aud plain w my
now. The fact j.. we, az Trade Union.
lists, have been dealing with effects aud
not with causes, ami here IL ju,t where
we have made a grand mistake. We
say we know our rights and dare main
tain them. ] doubt very UGH 1T many
Of Us know our rights. Just stop A BIT
and think that over 50 tre k1i1lg orr
rights /! Some will say fair days wa
ges for fair days work We'll, what
\ - . ~, a, -
We have been taught by custom that
eight, ten, fourteen and sixteen hoursis
fair days work. II il possible that
each Of these is a fair days work.
And thcn say fair days wages. The
term CRATES on my ears. There should
be no such thing az wages The wages
| system is little better than slavery. No.
we must drop such imaginary ideas ~
our rights, and 20 for something solid
and more enduring. We must have all
we produce If we would have fair days
wages, and the time we shall be en-
v plOyed IN producing that which is neCes
Sary will constitute "a fair days work
and this problem should form the study
Of every laborer ~ the world. and
may add, every capitalist. We have
\ been educated to be cOntented with our
Lotto look upon our condition and pO-
sition in society as a divine decree d
\ God. / think that j. the greatest u
all errors. | DO not believe that God
ever intended there should be such Inc.
\ quality and wide differences between
bis children. Can love my neighbOr
as myself. Do = % unto others as
would others would do unto me? Am
| consistent i'll saying 0ur Father, who
art in Heaven, aud calmly look upon
my neighbor and Fathers child stary'
while have plenty We must haye1
religion that embraces humanity. We
must learn to substitute duties 0r
rights-duties which We owe to each
other-prompted by a loving spirit and
desire to benefit our fellows We r
should love all allke-good and bad
for we are all part and parcel Of escl
other, and what makes one happyG
miserable effects us all in the same mar
ner in a corresponding degree.
/ would Ike to enlarge upon thl'
but | need more study and deePs
thought 1t is a new question with NJ
but | feel it il the right one
and | intend 70 pursue it-
We are all willing to adn'
that Trades Unions are not able TO rlgI
all the wrongs from which We suffer a1d
yet We are making no effort to dlsco7e
a remedy. Let Us all think and -sudi
if any one can strike the keynote, h
him sound it 50 that We may all tsEeA
up and follow on. | sometimes coz
slider it a crime for the leaders u in'
labor movement 70 be satisfied, an-
leave their constituents in a state Of y
isfaction with the belief that -
Unions are just the thing and notnp.
more is necessary. II " a shame upo-
them. LABOR REFORMEk