The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-07-05
A SENSIBLE SUGGESTION.

The last number of tn, Coop,,s Jn,nf,nt
contains some very sensible and apprupu
ate suggestions on enlarging the scope
and sphere IF labor Journalism, which We
cordially endorse We endorse them he-
cause ten years experience has demon
strated the absolute necessity Tor the
change We care not how trenchant or
versatile a pen writer may WELD, # al
WAYS directed ~ the same groove, one
ness Of ideas must characterize his produc-
/ tluns OF all questions the labor question
il the least understood and appreciated.
I The official data obtained from statistics il
the Old World, and which generally fur
nish the basis for carefully dlgested arti-
| cles. penned on this question by her ht,rHti,
are lacking in the new world The man
who undertakes to show that the same
causes will produce the same results, and
who as the temerity t. espouse the cause
u the oppressed, must expect the denun-
citation Of the party press as a demagogue
and dsorganizer, and what is stranger still,
tins style If argument Is accepted BY the
most intelligent class in the community as
conclusive proof Of the correctness of its
random charges.
The labor question, If referred To at All.
in the columns Of our influential Journals
is referred 70 ii strain If ridicule, IN
which the cloven hoof is always discernible
Instead of discussing this subject from A
comprehensive, intelligent standpoint, a
slur, an inuendO, is generally their stock
in trade The inevitable result Of this
gerrymandering is that the labor journalist
is always placed at disadvantage. If in
stead Of indulgng in personalities or de-
nunciation, the opponents Of the labor
movement would discuss the principles in
volved, all would be comparatively easy
sailing Justice would ask no discount
| Truth would seek no ally. but with a craft,
which weakness always furnishes II the mer-
its Of the case are always concealed and
buncombe which they affect to despise
furnishes their staple arguments The very
essential discussion is studiously avoided
and upon the principle that a lie well
stuck TO will often accomplish as much as
the truth we have rehash of the same
falsehoods and misrepresentation every
tIme-a conflict between employer and EN-
ploye occurs
The Journai, in referring to this subject,
says
Editors would sometimes Willingly give
their whole sanctum for subject, but they
find no takers and must rack their weary brain
until they become as erratic IA madmen and
as cross as wolves But 81 all editors the
editor Of a labor journal j. most to he itied
There Is but one string Or hIs harp " hIlc other
editors can play upon liarp- ct thousands
strings. In every issue the same old subject
il to he paraded. hashed ana rehashed, and If
after the thousandth twang on the same string,
the melody is dlscordant, or il It Iangles ont
of tune, the poor, puzzled, braIn-tlred edit
should not he harshly treated even ia thought
II YOU pump a well continually, You will reach
the muddy water Of the bottom sometime n
it is not a well Of extraordinary resources YOU
will fail to pump clear sparkling water AZ all
times. No man can talk upon one subject
forever and not repeat 90 reiterate The sub
lect matter will fail to II pan out well toward
the end and the man vii become bankrupt
as far as that subject " concerned our Oh
lect IN penning these few rambling remarks
Is to suggest a change Of base IN labor journal
ism We think the abstract question Of la
bors rights has been already eNhaustively
treated. aud that it would serve the ighest
interests Of workingnen II labor journalism