The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-06-16
FROM MICHIGAN.
Pontiac, May 20, 1876.


To the Editor u the woRKISoHAS's ADVOCATE
In your issue Of the 10Th inst. your
correspondent s. M. S. hits the nail on
the head. 1t is essential there should be
a complete cooperation of all the indus
tries" It is folly for the wages class to
be jealous Of farmers, or for the latter TO
look with suspicion upon workingmen, for
these two classes lie at the foundation Of
all wealth and prosperity, and are alike
the prey of middlemen and interest classes.
II united they could easily put to rout
the whole army of plunderers that now
rob them of the greater portion OF the
fruits Of their toll.
Farmers and the working class are alike
struggling through oranges and trades
unions to throw of the burden imposed
upon them by other classes. Their inter-
ests are really identical The labor Of the
wages class is worth 50 much. Each wants
what the other has to spare, and each is
ready to render a labor equivalent to the
other for what is received. 1t would be
easy to arrange production and distribu-
ton between these classes on equitable
principles if they were allowed to manage
their Cwn affairs. But there are hostile
plundering classes which, through our an
tiquated social divisions, our political part
les and partizan legislators, contrive to
get all the fat and flesh, and leave nothing
but the bones for labor on the farm and in
the workshop.
Suppose We unite on the greenback ba-
sis. How much will this help to get rid
Of those hostile plundering classes J Does
the greenback movement contemplate
loans to orgarize farmers or wages workers.
Does it get rid Of middlemen : Will il
assist the farmer and wage maker to equit.
ably exchange their products with each
other Certainly not. 1t leaves these
two great classes dependent as now upor
the money lenders. What it saves in ma
tional taxation BY reduction Of interest
the cunning Of the money power viii
steal in some other way.
Our troubles clearly and indisputably
spring from the dependence Of labol
everywhere upon capital. Currency i
the national autocrat that rules all in
dustries with a rod Of iron, and exact
tribute from all. 1t is the people, tn,
masses, the toileIs that need greenback
to set their labor in motion, and enabl
them to exchange products equitably
And until the greenback platform is so ex
tended as to embrace labor everywhere
and furnish It with means Independent o
the money power, it is not possible t,
create any enthusiasm in its favor.
If the national increase of capital b
something oyer three per cent. how cal
labor accumulate anything at 3 % per cen
interest The nation is being eaten u
through interest paid on one thing AM
another. The middlemen are the nationa
interest collectors, and they share tn
common plumber with the money power.
50 long as manufactures and agricultur
are separated by vast go-between elias
that live On interest, profits and specul
ton, what hope for labor anywhere
There is no hope for labor or agricultur
except through the extinction of the use
loss classes, except by some form Of indus
trial reconstruction that will iberate labo
from their grip. This hostile class pre-
vents or breaks down all corporation .
labor to help itielf, so that discussion i
narrowed down as TO how best to get rid o
the money power and its go-between allies
We must get rid Of the cause of the evi
before We can get rid Of the evil itself
j. 4. BRAY.