The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-12-09
Labor Legislation

Many Of the VII oi labor are Jut " un-
Just or partial Legislation. ANA u is w,.i
known thar 1t requires huge ,ti.rt tu s.-
cure any legislation Intended labor :
esnecIA benefit. An application On tty
average las- maker lu iufr .,uCg a tliilag-
Ing t'r its object the securing " gYs-ie, -u
labor, no matter h.W sma. mav ~ l-- i.-
tent. Is generally met with Il stare. su,t
as would be gwen were vug tu AK f- 4.
iaw preventing the klliIn. uf mad is.-..
II rs does introduce your -hII. W." Ely r,r.
orally gives Il a seud-ui Uy ,a,rr y W. y.
NOT responsible for the bll. i4: IVY r.-
marks are never published avn a- c..-
sutuenfs hurrah fur him under rh. belief
that he is their frie0I T1. htIi 4, buried
in committee, writing tetters has d. effect.
and y requires money t. Y. II try SAT-.
capital, aud 80 your OH dies ~. commit
tee. II, however, You are persistent. ana
force your bill to be voted nu. and IL i-.-
comes . lag, how much better srr. v..u nj .
What legislation, during the past III.
years, has been u benrnt " i.t.r wy.
though laws have been made especial, ivy
lrbJr
Laws passed in the interest ur iau.f a--
imperative. hecaCs, there BIZ income. l.-....-
enough T. try AID enforce t..ul. Ll.y
dare not DO =, because Ties * .i.,.s u.-
come marked men, ana are bounded ,ut
of the community without voice being
raised among their comrades against the
wrong done. Every state has passed
AVS at the demand O! Labor. but thew Ar.
Practically dead letters The people Day
public officers O. attend ID the enforce
ment Of lave, but labor laws are either -
drawn as to exempt the public officer from
attending TO such laws. VI ne conveniently
iorgets that such laws arc in existence. In
some States We have laws against The elm
pluyment IF children under certain a..-
yet these children are employ vi their
parents, eager to evaie the lax. I.iu Wr-b
employers la violating ID. True. their
cfndtl - forces the parents % uartnit
their children L. be employed T. HELM exc
ont miserable existence. Another "a.
son Why labor legislation is dead letter.
In Ono We have mlue ventilation
law, and mine Inspector yet the miners
sll not notify HIM NJ violations IT the
Law, for the reason that they would there
BY lose their situations, either ~ BEING
discharged Or by the mine inspector clos
lng the mine; hence the ventilation Law
IS almost a dead letter
The same may be said II all labor le,i,.
iatlon It is vaiueiess except ,n show the
utter degradation of labor
The Constitution u the United states
provides that no State CAV make ANYTHING
but gold and silver 4 legal tender fer tbe
payment Of debts, but corporations and
individual employers eXervIse powers de
nied to the States. They pay their dcbts
to labor IN store orders. or force employees
20 deal AZ compsny stores Yet 10 prac-
teal protest from labor ana II 4 Law Vas
adopted against such practice il would nat
be enforced, for labor would not dare en-
force It, because it would result IN the in
dividDal being ostracised aud denied the
right to labor Labor legislation IL use
less until laoor is IN a condition IL enforce
such legislation, and II will never be IN
such condition until il becomes thorou,h-
ly organized, aud organizations will seek
tn enforce such laws. and not individuals.
when through organization il will see that
no public officer is elected y no vii not IN
preference t. all other laws. attend To the
enforcement uf labor laws 80 long "a
men are dependent on others for the risht
to labor SO long rs man may ba driven
to starvation or crime because ne dare as
sert his rights, just 80 long will labor be
IN the slough and labor legislation a
failure. Notjcrs Journal.