The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-04-21
FROM MICHIGAN.
To the Editor Of IN. WoRKISeAAN's ADVOCATE:
PONTIAC. March 28 IR7


PONTIAC, March %, 1877.
We hear on all sides about "labor re-
form, but the term is very indefinite, and
means the cutting OF Of an hour or two
of work, or the adding Of dollar or two
of wages, all the way up to complete in
dustrial reorganizati, n, such as will make
the present wages class q self f-employing
and self supporting class, co -operatively.
Every trades unionist is necessarily labor
reformer, for he seeks q refOTmAt of
abuses Of one kind or another.
But It must be conceded that all labor
reformers should have one object, and pull
one way, in order to be successful. A
measure that seems OF vital Importance to
some men is considered utterly Insignificant
by others. We cannot have harmony unless
We are united ON some fundamental prin-
ciple or idea.
What night have We to labor reform1
What right has labor to a comfortable sub
sistence, short hours, and good surround
ings Of all kindsl Clearly by the right Of
existence, the necessity for toll, and the
justice of a proportioDate reward. The
first step toward reform il to look at the
condition under which men work, and
discover what changes or improvements are
needed. The first thing that strikes at
tention is the fact that society is divided
into employers and employed also, the
fact that the employed are entirely de-
pendent on the employers for work and
bread also, the fact that this dependence
entails much necessity of work, uncertainty
in the rate Of wages, enforced idleness,
poverty, and host Of poverty of all kinds.
1t ought to be clear to every worker that
the trouble lies in this class division, with
its accompanying servitude Of the works,
for they have no control over anything
that affects their welfare. Labor, there
fore, cannot expect or hope for any i'm
provement until it has entire control over
the contingencies that affect it.
Labor has never yet taken this broad
view of its position and requirements, but
has invented trades unions, that it might,
through consolidation, obtain things it
deemed essential and sufficient. Its ener-
es have D-on n..i-iy davoted to reduced
Jurs and increased wages, and if we were
to estimate correctly what labor has gained
through strikes and union expenses. and
what it has lost, how much profit would
there BE- to labor, after all its sacrifices Z
1t ought, from all those failures, to be ap-
parent that labor has aerer gone far enough
in its demands. 1t never contended for
q principle or policy that would endure all
contingencies; therefore it has had to fight
its battles annually, losing to-day what il
gained yesterday.
Labor reform, therefore, naturally mar
rows itself down to one idea or principle.
and that is, the reorganization Of industry
on the basis Of labor ss!fsmplovaq and
self controlling. and free from the sxsetions,
mismanagement and tyranny Of other
classes. This constitutes labor reform in
a nutshell. 1t requires no strikes and no
losses. 1t elevates the present wages serf
into the position of free man. What is
gained through Independence 10 gained
forever.
This class independents ia bottom rock,
and the growing sxigencies Of its position
will compel labor to stand upon il. Minor
policies are mos worthy Of the name oi
labor reform, bseauss inszisisnt, arrsliabls
and unsatisfactory.