The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-10-26
Labor Reform in Massachusetts,.


The State Central Council of the Labor
Reform Party, Of Massachusetts,, have is
sued the following address to the working
men of that State
Two great political parties appeal 10 you
for support, both claiming to represent the
laborers' true interest The party in
power, proud Of its history, points back to
the emancipation of three millions of black
laborers, to the homestead law, and a very
few Of the bravest leaders to the eight-hour
law, as evidences Of the intent Of the Re
publican party to aid the wage-laborer, as
they have the chattel Iaborer, by legisla-
tive enactment AS well as by moral sup
port.
None Of these were party measures.
The abolition Of chattel slavery was the
naiura result Of conflict between labor
err ..,id capitalists, of which the present
mo, clu,ut part. The homestead Law
obtaEirl the support of members Of both
parties, and the eight hour Law, struggled
through Cong css, has never been Endorsed
by conventluA, press or leader. But its
operation has been embarrassed, its en-
forcement neglected and its influence mis-
| represented and denounced.
The Democratic party pictures IN glow
ing colors the happp days of labor during
the administration of Government the
hard money and easy times Of 30 or 40
years ago the cheap rents, cheap land and
cheap money Of those times claim that
their party measures-the low tariff hnan-
cial system and government policy-have
made our country what it is. But the
democratic party was on the side of the
capitalists in the struggle Of the worst form
Of labor against the worst system Of capt.
tai, and the cheap commodities Of which it
boasts were accompanied by the lowest
wages and the longest hours that ever
cursed our nation.
| Such is the past record Of the parties
seeking To rally you to their banners.
| What do they now propose Honesty i'll
the administration Of Government civil
service reform reduction Of the national
debt and Of the expenses Of the Govern
meDt tariff that shall please Protection
lst and Free Trader, etc. No measures
are suggested to aid the natural distribu-
ton Of the wealth to be hereinafter pro
! duced. No steps taken towards the solu
ton Of the problem of how to abolish
poverty and extreme wealth. The defeat
Of the labor commission by Republican
| Congress, and the question of labor ignored
at Cincinnati, Baltimore and Philadelphia,
are convincing proofs that i'll the future, AS
IN the past, these parties will be found
united against us.
The two prominent candidates have
alike neglected the claim Of the laborers
for more time. The president, though
proclalming the eight-hour law did not en-
force 1t until a strong public sentiment
compelled attention and compliance. Hor-
ace Greeley has repeatedly opposed the
movement i'll the editorial columns of his
paper while the prominent leaders Of both
parties have by vote and speech attempted
to defeat the only measure upon which the
worklngmen are united and the conven-
tiuns Of these parties, i'll this State, refus-
ed not only to indorse the eight-hour legis
lation but also to favor the enactment of
law limiting the hours Of labor for
women and children to ten hours per day
in the cotton and wooden factories.
From such parties and leaders the labor
ers Of the United States have nothing to
hope We, therefore, as representative Of
the labor movement, urgently request that,
in the coming Presidential election the
idDOT illeH lkuOTt lno OlO PARTIES, dS JllclT
cause has been ignored, casting no vote for
either candidate.
LIST Because a vote for either, is a vote
To continue the present unwise and unjust
system of industry
ID Because a vote for either is all agree
ment that civil service reform and kindred
measures are the paramount issues now be-
fore the people.
Sd Because vote for either, is a vote
to postpone the intelligent discussion Of our
question question upon the solution of
which depends the success or failure Of
Democratic Government.
4th. Because our predetermined with
drawal from political action is the only pro
test now within our power.
Fellow-workmen, We appeal to you, in
the name Of outraged labor, deprived
through poverty, Of the opportunities and
equality Of free and independent citizen
ship, to show to the werld Of labor and Of
thought your appreciation Of the situation
Remember that confusion and defeat have
followed and will follow the scattered
forces Of our disorganized numbers, and
that victory IS sure to follow concentration
Of action and union Of forces. Let the
party managers, who seek to divide you
upon irrelevant and absurd issues, know
that henceforth you vote for your own
men, and your own measures.
Z. NJ. CHAMBERLIN,
Chairman State Committee.