The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-05-11
A PLEA FOR THE LABoRER.

1t would be amusing, were it not DISCUS
ting to note with what avidity the partlzan
press distorts through its editorial and re-
portorial columns, the action or demands
of the industrial classes Instead Of meet
ing and discussing the question on its mer-
its-and the Labor Movement is one which
cannot be ignored falsehood, ridicule and
misrepresentation are selected as the me
diums through which to intimidate the
doubling and mslead the public mind.
The cry Of @ demagogue" is regarded as
irresistible, whenever plea for justice is
raised whenever an unpalatable truth is
disclosed, and on the principle that a lie
well stuck to is as good as the truth, they
repeat, from day to day, with parrot-hke
naivete, the exploded ISLANDERS Of the past,
their only object being to prejudice their
readers to conceal the truth, and manu-
facture a public sentiment opposed to all
consideration of the laborer's true con
dition.
The proposed workingmens demonstra-
ton, on the 18th Of May, has been cited,
by these villifers. as an evidence Of the law
less characters of trades unions, and the
intention of those who propose to partici-
pate therein to create disturbance and in
lure the business prospects OF our city.
That a goodly number Of our mechanics
whose rents, through the cupidity of our
Chicago landlords, have been doubled, and
whose incomes are secured by their skill and
ten fingers, propose to ask for an advance
Of wages, it would be folly TO deny but
that request for an advance of dollar or
fifty cents per day, implies a riot, blood
shed or a resort to violence is know to be
false by the scoundrels who make the
charge. We have heard so much lately
about the exhorbitant wages paid to our
workmen, that our readers can have no OBJ
lection to our reference to the position Of
a class Of men who receive more cuffs then
blessings and who seldom, if ever, get the
ear Of the publc-the outdoor laborer.
Let us see what his wages will average the
year round.
In Chicago, for example, 50 has been the
maximum paid, and it is safe to estimate
that work cannot be obtained more than
25O days during the twelve months. This
gives him gross income Of $500 per an
num- Now, what are his expenses-even
under the strictest economy, for family
of 6ve-by no means an e1travagant esti-
mate2 At $40 a month his rent amounts
to S120 provisions &c, at Sc per week, to
S3OO-leaving but $50 to clothe the entire
family-purchase fuel, and meet all con-
tingent expenses. Well, these are facts
that no abuse or pettifogging can gainsay,
and in this estimate no allowance is made
for idle time, or rainy weather, sickness,
accidents or doctors fees. His avo-
cation too is frequently of the most dan
gerous character, being often required to
perform duties and risk his person-where
those who growl about his exhorbitant de-
mands, would not risk themselves an hour
for an interest in the Kingdom above.
In taking this position we do not wish 10
be regarded as an advocate Of strikes On
the contrary, we are, and have been, con
sistently opposed to them as injurious
alike to the best interests Of the employer
and the employee as an alternative only to
be resorted to after all means for an AMIGA
BILE adjustment have failed nor yet are we
acquainted with National or International
Trades Union, which has not advocated,
time and again, the pursuance Of a similar
line Of policy. In fact, 30 stringent are the
regulations governing strikes in several Of
them, that a majority vote Of the local
unions is required to sanction one. But it
has become SO prevalent, of late, whenever
or wherever demand for an increase of
wages is made, no matter how just or nee
essary such demand, for the paid lackeys Of
the press to set up howl Of indignation
and willfully and persistently misrepresent
the merits Of the case, in order to prejudiee