The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-05-18

greatness IN the @hofCeBG per1od OF Cme ID |
it to tax, counsel together as to the speediest |
way to build the Is, 900 dwellings occupied
by the Ii Dor classes which were consumed on
that direful October day, in order to obtain
comfortable tenements at cheap rentalsf Or
have you met 10 confer in regard to the best
method Y which the great stores, warehouses
and manufactures which furnished employ
ment to 70 many thousands Of persons can be
reconstructed most expeditiously?
Are these the objects Of this imposing dem
onstration Of laborsrsl Rumor, with busy
tongue, assigns very different motives to the
promoters Of the gathering. 1t is said that
the real purpose of the meeting and march is
to absorb into the labor lodges all the non
union men in the city by means of an over
whelming demonstration Of numbers and
strength, preparatory to . general strike"
for higher wages and fewer hOurs Of work
that when the lodges have secured control Of
the labor market they will take advantage of
the burnt out house-Owners, turn the screws
and squeeze them while drop Of blood re-
mains thsA, acting on the idea that Capitals
calamity is Labor's opportunity, there is to be
inaugurated grand raid on employers, and
that by means Of threats and terrorism nom
unionists are to be prevented from working and
compelled to remain idle during the period Of
the strike. [Cries of mo" mot
trust, for your sakes, those reports and
surmises are wholly false and baseless and if
there be any reckless persons in your organiza-
tiOns advocating such 9 course that their pro-
position will be frOwned down by over
whelming majority But do not understand
me to deny your right to ask for more wages,
or to combine and strike" for it. You have
the undoubted legal right to put your own
price ON your services you are under no com
pulsion to work for anybody any terms.
There are neither masters nor slaves now in
this country. Each man has the unquestioned
privilege TO demand whatever wages he pleases,
and to work much or little, providing he does
not become "vagrAnt"
But like . medal, there 10 q reverse side to
this matter. Rights Of persons are exactly
equal The rule works both ways The en-
ployer il not bound to offer mere wages than
he pleases, nor to accept the services Of those
he does not see tit to engage. He Is under no
legal obligation to pay any attention to the
rules of labor unions He can determine the
number of men lac desires to employ, the hours
Of labor per day, the Kind and quantity Of
4 work to be done, and the wages he is willing
4 to pay therefor. 1t is his privilege TO propose
and yours to accept or decline and yours TO
! offer terms and his to Accede or refuse. Meth
er party can dictate both sides Of tie bargain,
for that would be tyranny, and submission TO
1 it slavery.
Journeymen have the lawful right to com
| hine by trades or unions and determine the
coalitions on which they will exchange their
labor for wages but they have no legal right
| to conpel any outside worker to accept their
conditions or to sell his labor only at their
price, for that would be to destroy his person
al freedom and liberty of action.
Moreover, it In unlawful to use threats, in
timidAtion, or coercion to drive any man into
o. "stnke" or prevent him from working for
Just such wages and as many hours per day As
he and the employer agree upon. No one will
pr etend to deny the right Of every person to
work for hmnseV at any occupation, for many
or Few hours per day, whether he makes much
or little profit thereat, and what he may do
for himself he may do for another, or another
may 10 for him.
Tfs freedom Of will and action is an inalien-
able right the law extends its invulnerable
shield over the weakest and most timid the
whole power OF the nation il pledged for the
enforcement of the law and for the protection
| of the humblest citizen in the quiet and
peaceful enjoyment Of his rights and privileges
And this is the crOwning glory Of our instItu-
tions, and reveals the reason that every true
patriot 10 willing to die in their defense and
| maintenance.
1t is made the duty of the police officers to
preserve the peace and to arrest all persons
committing breeches of it. This force may at
any time be increase In accordance with the
emergency and the Mayor may call on the
Governor for whatever military force is re-
Quired to suppress any not or disturbance, and
he IN turn may call ON the President for the
ASSISTANCE Of the army and the navy
l am chiefly led to make the foregoing OBJ
Servations in relation to the rights Of citizens,
protecting power of the laws, and the duty Of
executive officers, for the information of stran-
gers from foreign countries, attracted hither
by exaggerated reports of the demand for la
Dor at high wages in rebuilding Chicago.
Many or most Of these persons were born and
raised in countries where strikes" and
"lOck-Outs, from their frequency, seem to be
the normal state Of industrial society, and
where Labor considers Capital its enemy, to be
crippled and warred against on all favorable
occasions. And it is possible their presence
here in such numbers has given rise to the
rumors that fill the air of impending strikes
and disturbances, while they may be perfectly
| innocent Of any such intent or design Never
l thelsss, | deem it proper to inform those
( strangers of the absolute equality of the rights
| and privileges of employers and employees, in
this country, and of the irresistible power and
supremacy Of the laws, for the protection OF
| those rights and privileges.
We welcome every stalwArt worker from
abroad who comes to help rebuild our devas-
I tated city, and hope he will make his pemA-
! nent home among u.s. But we desire no mis-
chief makers, or breeders Of strife between
| wOrkmen and employers, to stay here If
! mmeh persons are dissatisfied with the wages
cur capitalists can afford to pay, they are vel
como to 60 elsewhere in pursuit Of higher
compensation, and more perfect happiness. A
few words now on the relation Of Labor and
Capital from an economical point Of view,
which believe to be pertinent to the occa-
ZION
There are loud complaints heard, on all
sides, Of the recent advance in rents, and
landlords ere denounced as heartless and de-
PRAYED, fer charging them. But, are they 70
blame more than all other men who take the
market price Of Anythingi Rents have not
been raised by means Of any combination,
secret or public, AMONG landlords. They have
no Unions" TO force up rents, or to prevent
their decline, or to obige tenants to pay
years rent for leas than . years time. Rents,
4 since the fire, have advanced in obedience to
4 the irresistible law Of supply and demand.
This advanced was caused BY the sudden de-
structiOn of Is, 600 dwellings, aggravated by
an influx Of 1900 or 1000 strangers, who
came here in search Of employment
The remedy must be obvious to the dullest
understanding What in required to bring
down rents is, the speedy replacement Of the
burnt buildings, with . few thousand in ad-
ditiOu to accommodate the new corners. Every
new house erected this season helps to insure
moderate rents in the near future. The num-
Der Of houses that will be built depends wholly