The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-04-03
FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
SAN FRANCISCO, March u, ~

BY GENERAL A. N. VIM
Labor phases sre nov alarming political
leaders Of both Republican and Democratic
parties they are beginning /" discover
that the people are getting tired u work
ing n political traces iur the benent III
those Who have been playing master for
% many years. Free school intelligence
has brought to the surface the farmer and
mechanic in various nays, until they are
assuming a position Of Independence.
which the pot house politician delight IN
denominating plebian impudence
Who is the President Of the United
States Is he not the Tanners son Who
is the Vice President : Is he not the Native
Shoemaker Who u senator Sergeant Is
he not the California Printer Who Is
the ex President Of the United States and
the Tennessee Senator Is he not the
Nashville Tailor, with independence enough
to meet and battle With the foes II tree
dom Ana yet many son, having passed
through some college, is ashamed Of his
fathers leather apron.
We are grayely asked by men, with
more education than common sense, what
good has been done by labor agitation.
Can they not see and Judge Of the future
by the signs Of the times ( Millions Of
dollars have been appropriated BY congress
to establish agricultural and mechanical
art colleges, where men will learn to make
living as well as read Latin, which old
fogy graduates are trying 70 use for keep
ing up colleges Of letters or,iy, and thus
make few hundred professionals. to be
supported at public expense, because theiI
kind Of education does not enable them ID
make an engine, build house or hold d
plough
Labor must be made honorable. and edu
cation 50 shaped A. u make the diploma q
the mechanic equal To- the parchment Ger
tificate Of professional graduate IN fac
there should be no difference for they ar
| alike honorable to the holders, whrI
backed up by the energy necessary 10
/ success III life.
! When the boy or girl Is learning lesson
| in the free schools Ut our country the ben
IL their inind should be watched and cul
tivated, 40 AS u give direction % lntan
| thought ana prepare it for youthful train
| ING. TO waste time IN trying a. maxi
a lawyer out Of boy with mechanl
head. is refined cruelty 70 the student, be
sides spelling an artizan that might, viii
proper care astOnish the world with IN
inventive genius. IN building tall spires to
temples VI liberty, Or iron clads and grea
guns for defense of the nation which /
about as Inconsistent as to use the crouke
knee timber ~ ships fur the flooring II
house
We have some men Who have becom
professors IF the right stamp, such as Pro
fessor Anderson. az Kansas, Professo
Carr, Of California, and others, Who art Try
ing to convince the world that cultiyatlO
Of Il c brain must be 80 directed a. to max
the hands nimble Ia labois laboratory.
il the privilege and duty " the producin
classes to encourage such men ia ever
: possible way. We propose 70 make Pr
lessor Carr the Superintendent Of publ
instruction az this State, which will NV
him -. 900 per annum. and make han "a
Of the Board of Regents, where he ca
watch the Industrial interests ~ the stat
in relation to University education.
One Of the greatest necessities for labo
ing men Is the eight hour system Of labo
and | suggest a plan to bring it abol
throughout the United States at one an
the same time Let the labor uniuns
every city get M pledge to be signed +
any aud every mechanic that H. viii con
mence working nat eight hours va an
after certain time agreed upon. hy o..
tional convention ~ be called frr thai Pm
pose, and when ruoughnames are nbtdInt
u insure succrss. The state mechanic ry
resentati,g leaders could agree upon
t.n'r. and place Ion convention aud call g.
Il, by circulars and newspapers, AMI the
could tiX day When All the pledged java
neymen vii -4s4laal, Z. !. Al -
, hours per day.