The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-10-04
AMERICA, THE BATTLE FIELD OF
LABOR No. 8.

AMERICA, THE BATTLE FIELD OF
LABOR No. 3.
We have now come TO that part Of our
task which is perhaps the most delicate
that can be touched upon by any Journal
ist. We are aware that most men are
confident Of their ability to judge of pass
ing events, Of their power to comprehend
all the evils which afflict society and sug-
gest the remedies which should lie applied.
Recent events, however, have convinced
us that that this opinion is not always .
correct one.
We have been graphing with the great
enemy of labor for years without accom-
plishing anything decisively. Why has
this been sol Is it because nothing Of a
decisive or permanent nature cali be ac-
complished We think not. We incline
to the opposite of this opinion and in doing
s., we are reiterating the firm convictions
Of every labor reformer in the country
Now the questson which strikes us most
forcibly is that with which we close our
last article, DO the men who have EN-
barked in this cause understand their ms
sion" We think not, and We say 50 with
all due Difference to our co-lsborers in the
cause. Our friends have depended on the
ability Of the Trades Union to accomplish
more than it is within the power Of these
unions to accomplish. To expect that ell
ement in our organization to lift the great
burthen of the shoulders Of labor is like
asking a child to do a mans work. 1t Is
not within their sphere Of action.
To arrive at proper solution Of the labor
problem we must recognize the great fact
that there are three elements of wealth.
labor, land and money. These exist in all
countries. In monarchial countries we al
ways find the two latter ruling and control
ing the former Hence it follows that the
laborers of all countries are locked upon
as the dependent class, and are to be taken
care u of by the rich and wealthy classes,
which means those who own the land and
money. 1t is this condition of things that
we contend cannot be attained by the
Trades unions, and why not Simply be
cause the monied classes control the legis-
lation of the world.
This is one Of the great facts Of history,
ancient OF modern, and it matters not the
form of government, the result is the same
If our labor reformers would be success
full they must adopt the same means to pro
tect their interest as do the representatives
of land and money They must under
stand that they have to enlist the strong
arm Of legislation in their aid. That La
Dor has to be represented in our legislative
halls and that her claims must be made
through men taken from their own ranks.
II is true our political organizations have
at different times professed to hesrken to
her voice, and have even gone 30 far as to
take one from her ranks and elevate HIM
to position. But this has been only done
where the success If the party, was OF
doubtful issue. But where or when IN the
history Of legislation has either the KePuo
lican or3Democratic party, as party done
ANYTHING 70 favor the workingmenl What
act of legislation can their most ardent ad-
mirers point to and say it was done in them
terest Of the working people. Now, II
through legislation the working classes are
ground down, why cannot they, holding
the balance cf power ut the ballot-box, as
they most assuredly do, why cannot they
redress their grievances by and through
the ballot-boxl AS long as we leave our
business in the hands of others who have
no sympathy with us we cannot grumble 1T
our interests are neglected. We cannot
expect . workingman elected by Demo-
cratic or Republican party to be . con-
sistent friend to the workingman. He
owes his feality to the party who elected
him. and that feality must be given to that
partv in case Of an issue between it and
the workingmen. This is the reason We
say workingmen must have labor party.
We may resolve and pass resolutions until
they cover the great prairie Of our western
states, and they would be Of no avail. We
have no power TO carry them into effect.
But give ms distinctive organization out OF
which which We can select our own men,
and then the politicians of the country viii
gladly assist IN, for they viii need our an
siatance in return
Besides the workingmen Of this coan-
try have another duty TO perform-ons
which II they neglect the curses Of gsnsr-