Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-11-07
TECHNICAL
Az issue wonrHr ! NATIONAL PART,

P1So ASA bNOM kOuLttSA aPoh
well considered political economy
their defeat would have been as dis
astrous as 1t is widespread. Fortu-
the result reached is beneficial
to both community and working-man.
The complaint made SO loudly that
over-production from the use OF la
bor-sauing machinery has operated
against the interests of society is
false. 1t is equally untrue that 1t
has been the cause Of idleness. The
sophistry Of the favorite trades-'lnion
arguments relied on to prove that
machinery has deprived labor Of its
livelihood has been exposed a ttous-
and times. Nobody outside the labor
organizations entertains any such
idea.
1t has been shown time and again
that when ability to purchase what ID
needed existed, increasing produc.
ton led to increased employment. II
was financial embarrassment and not
over-production that arrested the
wheels of industry and discharged its
operatives.
1t is true that in the present ad-
yanced condition Of the sciences, es-
pecially of mechanics and chemistry,
the contest maintained by mere ainew
against brains Is very unequal. Skilled
workmen r constantly being forced
from one field of usefulness to that
Of another by the introduction of'new
and improved machines and processes,
but such results ought to be attribu.
ted to their true source and not to
over-production.
These changes, notwithstanding
their temporary unpleasantness some
times to workmen, are in the main
advantageous. They introduce larger
and cheaper supplies Of food, raj
ment and shelter, in all of which the
labsrer participates. As the tenden-
cy of modern machinery is to make
machines Of men rather than mechan-
les, the operative is often most bene-
fitted by change of employment; it
stirs up his intellect, in
creases his activity, and makes him
more s~elf-reliant.
In many instances mechanics have
not realized what has been advanced !;
lacking the training necessary for
occupations and not enterprising
enough to acquire it, they have al
themselves to drift to wrong
conclusions, and attribute their dis
to wrong use Of capital when
they were occasioned by the superior
observation, knowledge, tact or
brains of a fellow-workman. From
such false premises come wrong de-
auctions, and the conclusion that all
avs protecting capital and manuiac-
,ories are in the interest Of the rich
md against the poor. Hence arise
.lso clamors for governmental inter-
position, irredeemable money and re-
on which account scme
yorkmen become socialists and COM
.nunists and sometimes even tramps,
and accomphces Of vsga-
'ond, living by plumber.
The demand of such laborers have
,een unjustifiable, and therefore have
,een secuted.
How Is it possible to arrest invsn-
ion or provide against a competition
hat can be neither foreseepeno nor esti-
Protection against the contingency
Il improvement cannot be given by
aw, but when advances of this sort
re made every workman affected by
hem ought to adopt himself to his
urroundings-if he does so prosperi-
y will continue, but If unfortunately
q will not or cannot he will find
either forced from one trade
0 another or compelled to enter the
anks of unskilled labor.
Can nothing be done for such
rorkmen by the public2 Not much
the gift Of a homestead; a
arm is the best refuge for these
brown permanently out Of employ
nent by the progress of the times.
The Issue we started out to call ut
ention to is for the children of isb0r-
RS rather than themselves. The
Eorkman win have to get along as
veil as he can with the knowledge he
assesses, but his children shoula1
ave higher advantages. The work.
1an instea6" cling taken up with
impractical schemes, proposed by
]emogogues, should use his political
power individually or through organi.
.ation to secure that technical eduea-
ion for his children, for want Of
which he he has not been able to
compete with more fortunate artisans.
lie cannot draw, ne cannot design,
o has no conception Of the prinei-
lies OF decoration, he does not under
tand the laws of mechanics we'll
nough to invent or improve, and lie
an make no discoveries unless by
nance.
We cannot imagine an issue ON
vhich q national labor party could
mite with more benefit to their fami-
les or more certainty Of sympathy
nd assistance from all classes. Labor
strikes and organized opposi-
ion to what has been miscalled the