The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-12-06
TRADES UNIONS.

these societies and If they will read us,
We beg them to reconsider.
Two things-if maintained ara suffi-
cient to vindicate these societies wherever
and however found. First, that the end
in view is worthy, and secondly, the means
fair. instituted to maintain it.
Now can any sensible person contend
that working men ought not to desire to
keep up and in many instances raise up
their wages Capital is continually tend
ing to put them down. Money lenders,
and indeed men in all business de-
partments of life, are constantly at work
to improve their trades Banks unite in
keeping up their rates of interest. No poor
laborer can 90 and induce the first one to
discount in his favor below the established
rates Railroads, mills and factories all
over the land unite in the same way in
keeping up the prices for their services and
articles. No man however poor and worthy
can go and get a passage to New York be-
low the established rates. The share hold
ers and the officers not Of one, but Of al
the lines have Trades Union, to keep up
the fare to the very last cent. And so of
the large mills and factories through
out our land. How then can these very
persons thus combining to make their mo-
ney and their official services pay, object
to the poor laborers for doing the same
thing Have they ''no rights" which capt.
talists are bound to respect :" Quite sure
do We feel that little sober thought will
correct the preiudices so uniustly INDUCED
against our working men for simply try
ing to do the best they can. Poor mechan-
les out of work, must have shelter and
bread for their children. Capitalists easily
! take advantage Of their necessities and
employ them for the time at reduced wa
ges. This not merely puts down the pay
Of the sufferer but the whole craft for the
future Can there be any harm in his CO.
laborers uniting not only for his assistance,
but in such way as to avoid its recur
renee Is it not decidedly wise that the
man himself and all like him, should go
into a mon to sustain their prices and
themselves, when out Of work
Let all bear in mind that We owe all
We have or ever can have to the laborer
Then We should wish to see him in easy
circumstances, happy and prosperous All
should certainly wish to see him well paid
for his work To effect this is the end and
the only end Of the Trades Unions. Hence
it is worthy.
The means used to accomplish the end
are simple and innocent. Workmen simply
come together, as all other meetings, and
adopt Just and general rules for their reg
ulstion. They agree to stand out for what
they consider reasonable time and pay for
their work. To De over-worked and under
paid, they regard as wrongs against which
they have the right of self-defence
This it would seem none dare dispute. If
an employer has the right to say how much
he will give, the employee must have the
same right to say how much he will take.
This is all the Unions propose. In prin-
ciple there is no difference between the
rights exercised by these societies and
those accorded to every man. The only
distinction is that the associations act all
together. They know, as We all do that
in Union there is strength, and act accord
ly. The only possible obiection-of any
reason-must arise from their prices being
too high. As in all similar cases, the diff
ference Of opinion on this point comes
from selfshness. The buyer says it is
naught: while the seller lands his wares to
the skies. But there is certainly strong
er tendency from the power in the hand of
the capitalists, to depress, than to unduly
exact wages. The distinguished physician,
the lawyer, the general, or the managing
politician, may indesd get overpsy, but
never the poor, patient, honest tailor. Let
him therefore no more be censured for
joining with his fellows to secure the best
protection he can against the crushing
weights Of capital and monopoly.