The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-09
THE INTERESTS OF LABOR.

THE INTERESTS OF LABOR.
Intelligent people know that the interests
of labor are affected by laws passed by CON
gress and by legislatures which give spe-
cial privileges to special classes by which
money is made at the expense of labor
such as the tariff and revenue and finance
legislation of congress, whereby the mass
of the people are bled little by little for
the benefit of certain classes; and by acts
oflegisatures for the benefit of certain mo-
nopolies 1t is not necessary to particu-
larise. People who know the effect Of laws
know how certain classes, by legislation
friendly to their schemes, grow rich while
the mass of the people barely live, This
matter is we'll explained by Prof. Perry, in
his recent address at the Nebraska state
fair His subject was Foes of the Far
msrs," and he said:
81 do not mean the natural and providen-
tial foes of the farmers, such as the grass
hopper, the weevil, and the drought;
mean those forms of public policy and po-
litical organization that are especially pre-
judicial to the farmers of this country as
SUCH namely, Paper Money, Protective
Tariffs, and Party Spirit These three
things are also prejudicisl to all classes of
the people, but upon none do they lie
with so deadly weight as upon the far
mers. / shall give you the reasons for this
real interests of one class are antagonistic
h., ~oo1 :,ta nf othar olapcau |
believe that all legitimate interests are in
harmony; that what is best for the far
mers of this country is also best for the
manufacturers of this country and that
what is best for the whole people as pro
ducers and consumers is also best for the
state and national governments as the
gatherers of taxes. | would not set class |
over against class, because in a large view
the interests of both are identical but the |
interests of the farmers are by far the |
largest class of people in the United States,
and it is legitimate to inquire what it is
that makes against them, what it is that
retards their prosperity, and what it is |
that prevents them from exercising con
trolling influence over the public policy of |
the United States.
II turn to the national census of 1870,
and find that almost six million of the
people are directly engaged in agricultural
labors, that is to say, speaking exactly, of
all the persons in the United States report
ed as having occupations, Al. Sc per centum,
almost one-half of the whole, are agricul-
turlsts; only 2l65 per centum are man
utacturers aud miners; just 81. AT per cen
um render professional and personal ser |
vices; while only 9.52 per centum are Gu
gagged in trade and transportation. 1t is
very nearly accurate to say that, of all the
people of the United States who have any
thing to do, one-tenth are traders and
transporters twoteuth are manutactur
ers and miners; another two tenths rem
der professional and personal services
while tire tenths are farmers The farmers
are thus considerably more than twice as
numerous as any other class, and almost |
as numerous as all the other classes put |
together. As the families of the farmers |
are probably more numerous on the aver
age than the families of other classes, it is
safe to say that more than one-half the
forty millions Of people who to-day inhabit
this land derive their sustenance directly
out of the cultivated soil, Under these
circumstances one would expect that the
farmers would certainly influence greatly,
II not completely control, the policy of
these states and of this nation,
But as matter Of fact, we find that
their influence has been exceedingly small
Not only have they not bent, as their num-
bers and Importance fully entitle them to
DO, the policy of the country in the direc-
hon OF their own interests, they have not
even prevented that policy from being bent
IN a direction exactly contrary to their in
terests, There was in 1870, Al JOG law
yers IN the United States / can count
you 100 or these lawyers who have eyer
ed more practical influence in the states
and In the nation than the whole c. 600 OO0
farmers have exerted. There is no obiec,
tion to raise lawyers; they are usefnl
class OF men; but there is decided obiec.
non to allowing mere handful of them
representing another mere handful of now
etiul clients, to shape and mould the mol.
ICY OF 40,OOO,0OO OF people. That only is
truly Republican form of government.
~ Which they who are entrusted with no
Hucai franchises exert an influence some
What proporuonate to their number. The
u, nooern caucus Is no friend to Republican
liberty; and the blind following at the
polls OF q mere party name is full Of dang
er. have looked with appreciation and
nith HopS vi tHc cHoit vi the farmers of |
this country to organize themselves into
one body with view to promote their own
interests as farmers and as citizens, and
with view to secure, independently of the
OLD parties and of all parties, the political
influence that Is pre-eminently their due. !
And now The ARGUS asks the people of
his congressional district to consider mo-
nent the manner of men who are before
hem for congress and the legislature.
,Ook at the candidates
PoR CONGRESS.
Gen Elliott is the Independent Reform :
'ndidate; is native born Illinoisan, a 8
al, genuine, practical farmer, identified 5
ON bis boyhood with the interests of Ia s