The workingman's advocate., 1871-06-24

"
what he produces, and that the drone,
the so-called capitalist, receives the
lions share? Do you realize that the
rate of interest on money is the govern.
ing power in the distribution of the pro-
duets Of enterprise between capital and
laber, and that the present rates aver
age thrice what labor produces, and
that such rates are therefore oppressive
to the working classes, because they
are paid from their toll Do you
know that this usury is the legitimate
offs spring of gold basis fallacy,"wbieb
enables the gamblers Of Wall street to mo
nopoiies this commodity, upon which the
business of the country is transacted to
charge their Olcn rates Of inte, est, because
so long as our paper currency is regu-
lated by the gold market and t,centy
dollars in currency is circulated for one
in gold, labor must pay tribute to tha:
commodity. This is one Of the ''isms"
which the labor platform inculcates.
eDo you believe that a national paper
currency based on the wealth and regu-
lated by the demands of the country,
Tearing rate Of interest proportionate
fp the increase of wealth, by labor, re-
deivable for all debts public and private,
would destroy that monopoly. The
Labor Union teaches this "ism."
Do you believe that the $50 bonds
stipulated to be paid IN latctm money
currency should be paid in gold The
Labor Union says, NO! This is an
other of its ''isms"
Are you in favor Of the abolition Of
the National Sank swindleS, which have
been so frequently exposed in these
columns, which annually rob labor di-
rectly of 2O,OOO, 900, and indirectly of
three times that amount?
The National Union says, yes. An
other OF its unmeaning isms.
Are you in favor Of reducing the
hours of labor to per diem, which
will give to the labor time for enjoy
ment and self-culture, and an oppor-
tunity to study, understand, and cor
rect system which makes the rich
richer, and the poor poorer The
Labor Union advocates this ism"
Are you opposed to the importation
of a foreign, barbarian element, which,
if successful, is destined 10 reduce the
American laborer and the mechanic
to the level of the serf? The National
Labor Union is committed against it.
Are you in favor of the establishment
Of an executive department Of the Go
vernment at Washington, to be de-
nominated the department of Labor"
which shall aid in protecting it above
all other interests The Labor Union
is.
Are you in favor Of the establish
ment OF mechanics institutes and read
ing rooms, and cooperative enterprises
Of every description, which will enable
the worker to become his own employer,
and dispense with the services Of the
leech, the pest Of society-the middle
man? The Labor Union is in favor Of
this ism"
Do you believe that the protection
Of life, liberty and property are the
three cardinal principles Of government,
and the first two more sacred than the
latter; that money, necessary for pro-
scouting wars should, as 1t is required,
be assessed and collected from the
wealth of the country, and not be en-
tailed as a burthen on posterity? The
Labor Union does.
Are you opposed to the granting Of
another acre Of The public lands to any
corporation, and in favor Of granting
the same, free of cost, TO landless settlers
only-in amounts, not ID exceed l60
acres? The Labor Union advocates
such an "ism.''
( These, gentlemen, in conclusion, are
few Of the issues, endorsed at Cincinnati,
in which, according TO you, the work
ing classes have no interest. How
do you like the picture:
I We desire to say a word about Sc
lecting "e1pediency delegates" and
We have done. The plan OF sending
this or that member To a convention, for
no other reason than such delegate
lives in such and such a locality, is
sheer bosh, and puts u in mind Of a
convention which sclccte a blockhead
for vice-president, because a "smart
man" had been elected president. 1t
Is almost AS absurd as it would be to
send a homeopathic physician 70 an
al,opathic convention, and has seldom,
if ever, proved satisfactory. The Labor
\ Union is independent however of the
Typographical Union, and if the latter
chooses to place itself in opposition to
the movement among the working
classes, irrespective Of profession, upon
its own head rests the responsibility
\ We have been associated with printers
for the past 20 years, and know no
craft more anxious than they when in
deep water, to have liie-buoy thrown
them.
If the National Typographical Union
can afford to endorse such action, we
are certain the Labor Union can afford