The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-10-25

Now, 1t il probable that every reader OF
your journal in, in sobe sense, labor re-
former, and desires bOre relaxation rom
work, more money, tld better opPortun-
tiles for development and growth into .
true man. These peiDd:cal crashes and
losses are Just the thngs needed to test the
value of our plAnks, platforms and reform
atory ideas. II ary OF them furnish
remedy for this state Of things, they are
good if not, they are Of no value ~ $50
lated points Of attack. What becomes
now of our eight and ten hour movementsi
Trade is dull and we are given eight hours,
but we strike against it. Wages are re-
duced, but we cannot help ourselves
Thousands are thrown out Of employment
to starve or beg, but we cannot GREAT
work for ourselves
reformatory movement, 70 DO worn
anything, should contain within itself
remedy for all the disabilities, OppressioIs
and pecuniary losses suffered by labG.
Are not our present social divisions fahl
to all true progress by labor At the Up
we have banking and monied class, fur
nished currency almost gratis by the gos-
eminent. This currency the banks leul
to manufacturers, merchants and traders
that they may carry on business. These
manufacturers hire men and women TO
work fJr them, pay them portion Of the
money and keep the rest for profit. As
labo,' has to create everything. it follows
thay all those other classes are supported
bylabor, in more or less luxury and ex-
kavagance. Thus labor tolls on, century
after century, supporting the whole i'm
'mense pecuniary burdens Of society and
government, struggling to free itself
through little One-horse movements that
ultimately cost about as much organization.
agitation and money as a more formidable
and effective demonstration directed to
social reorganization.
What necessity for an exclusive class Of
bankers, when 1t is Just as easy and far
less burdensome for government to loan
money directly to the industries of the
country And what necessity for an ex-
cluslvely employing and profit class, to set
the millions to work, when cooperative
organizations on every side, setting them
selves TO work and dividing profits, show
how easy II Is 70 get along without All EN-
ploying and profit class Social reorgani-
cation, and the getting rid Of the expen-
siye classes, would save the toiling mil
hons GA the farm, and IN the factory, mine
and workshop, an amount ~ money and
labor at present beyond calculation And
a struggle and victory for social reorgani-
cation involves no more organization, eff
fort or money than is now necessary to
carry the simplest reform measure in any
state Legislature.
1t takes time to permeate the masses Of
men and women with a great idea, how
ever simple. The reformation made no
Roadway for years, aud it il progressing
even u this day And 50 also at our rev
olution, the idea Of self-gOvernment and
the establishment Of republic, was at
hrst too great for the popular comprehen-
SION Reforms require not only the re-
reption of new ideas, but the battering
down Of old prejudices The ''rines that
try mems soul" are coming upon us with
greater force than in the days Of the Rev
plution
The toiling masses need higher aims,
and broader foundation To work upon,
han Is included in the mere Trades Union
They also need, and must soon have,
grand consolidation of all trades and in
lustries. We are on the eve of the great
st changes and the must desperate CON
iict recorded IN history Il Is as ineyita-
BIZ, and mere essential ~ the welfare OF
than any civil OF religious move
nent that has preceded IT,
J. F. BRAY