The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-12-13
THE FARMER AND MECHANIC
MUST UNITE.
REVOLUTIONS Never DO BACK wards

Experience mas taught us the truth Of
this assertion We have seen the Labor
Reform movement III its infancy We were
at its birth and baptism, we have advoca-
ted its principles in prosperity and Sdver
sity, and yet hope to attend its contirma-
ton Ii has grown from an infant TO be a
youth II comely proportions, and is virtu-
ally entering upon its manhood This fact
is attributable mainly t. the doctrines
contained IN its platform, which are both
sound ana practical They strike al,
ana uproot al the great monoPohes Of the
day. ana advocate a thorough reformation
Ill uur Financial. Land and Railroad sys
TENS, for We hold these are the systems
that are daily rohbng the producer, "heth-
er that producer be farmer or mechanic
When the principles Of the Labor Re
formers we're first enumerated, they we're
held up "a ridicule, and their advocates
stigmatized as Rcvolutionists, Utopian
Schemers, Demagogues etc, but to-day
these same principles are advocated by the
ablvSt minds in the country
Since, however, the Inauguration of the
Labor Reform movement, the farmers
have discovered that they too we're sailing
M the same boat with the mechanic, and
drifting t. the same position, and with a
view u relieve themselves have set on foot
another revolution, having prec sely the
same eud III ends in view. though propos-
ing "a reach it by different process.
Without taking exceptions to any of their
propositions, We take occasion to say hat
the interest Of the farmers or grangers
and the mechanics OF workingInen are
one and the same. What Expresses the
one operates oppresslyely on the other. The
farmer sows, but seldom reaps the fruits
of his labor The mechanic tolls, but that
excresence III society, the middleman,
pockets the hons share Of the proceeds.
The enemy against which both contend IS
the same. yet strange e. say, the agricul-
tural and mechanical elements have IN the
past viewed each other with suspicion, II
net with actual dislike Ignoring the i'm
portaut truth that So long as this state Of
affairs existed. the efforts Of both parties
We're comparatively ucutralized, while mo-
uuIu.y Toasted AT their expense Expert
rugr aud reflection have however. happily
brought about a change of feeling, and
aroused bath parties On a sense ri their du-
ties aud their dangers, and convinced them
that before the evils - which they com
plain oan be remedied, industry must har-
mlulzc and 4 unitication Of labor be secur-
ed Cheap transportation is the demand
81 the granger cheap money, which will
secure cheap transportation is the demand
81 the Labor Reformer ana here again
| there Is certainly mo conflict confer
ence, am interchange ri opinion, alone is
required to secure this unity Of action. and
il IS under these circumstances that we
hail with delight the invitation extended
by the managers Of the Decatur conven-
tion III the mechanics and workingmen ~
Illinois, ia participate in their delibera-
tions, on the 10th inst
The Labor Reformers have never ignor-
ed the claims Of the farmers, nor Of any
man who earns all honest living by honest
labor They, therefore adopted the broad
Z i 4 / u. Ill
men entitled, might participate in their de
alterations. 1t is to be hoped that the time
( is not far distant when such viii be the case
when there will be no distinction between
| the man who works at the lathe in the shoI
or Ne who works on the farm God speed
the day and labors emancipation from
the grasp Of the moned power will then
4 be asserted