Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-06-01
SATURDAY. JUNE 1, 1878.
THE LABORING CLASSES AND
TRADES UNIONS.

Notwithstanding the abundant crop:
OF last year. which were looked upon a:
the precursors of better times and better
prices. the price OF labor continues low
1t is reported that in Chicago alone there
nre 10000 men out of employment and
yet vessels are reported as having diff
Guilty in procuring their crews, on &C.
count OF the Sailors Union which for
bids men for working for less than dol
lar and half per day. Tine vessel men
with grain freights down to Ia cents
per pushed OH corn from Chicago to Buff
falo and Other freights proportionately
low claim. that they cannot afford to pay
That price and We think their claim is a
good ono. They also claim that If it not
for the Union they could get plenty of
men at lower rates. The members OF the
Union claim that they cannot live and
support their families for less than one
dollar and fifty cents per day, and yet i'm
ortler to force the vessel men to pay this
price they will hang around and not do a
thing to earn cent. The fact is that
there are thousands of men with families
who do live and support those de
pendent upon them, upon even lower
wages than one dollar and twenty five
cents per cay. Times will never grow
better so long as there IRE thousands of
men who do. not do thing and yet live.
The laboring men are not the only suf-
ferers; the owners of vessel property for
several years past have been losing
money, and We think it no moro than
just that the laboring man should bear
his part of the burden. Let them earn
something, if it is not more than one
dollar day it will lessen the burden of
supporting them that much and have s.
tendency to make the times better.
"A man remarked to the writer, the
other dsy, that wdges would not be bet
ter until the government passed law es-
tablishing price for days work. This
is all fallacy. As we'll might the govern
ment sattempt to establish the price of
pork, corn. or any other commodity.
Labor, like everything else, is go:crened
by the supply and demand. and no Leg
islation can alter the result. So long as
the supply Of labor exceeds the demand
just so long will wages remain low.
From all parts of the country come
riimors of threatened trouble from the |
Commune, and it is feared that the riot |
ing spirit of last summer will again be |
manifested the present season, with in
creased violence, What the disaffected
expect TO gain we cannot see, The des-
truction of life and property will not GER
tainly tend to improve the times. Rob-
berry and pillaSs only servs to increase
thesvery difficulties which these men
now cry so loud against. The past has
demonstrated, we think, conclIsively,
that there is nothing to be gained by |
strikes or riotous demonstrations, the
laboring man is invariably the loser in
the end. Capital and labor shout WORK
in harmony and not be contendine
against each others interest. 1t is well
established fact that capital has suffered
aswell as labor and has had its burdens
to bear during the years of depression
through which the country has pass
pd and a war against it OH the part of
labor is not going to improve times.
What is needed is a spirit of content
nent. willingness TO make the best of ,
circumstances and if the laborer cannot !
geta full loaf, a half loaf is better than
none. Avoid the demasogues who, for
heir own personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT are 5
striving to create strive between the la t
)orer and tween labor {
lnd capital. Let the idle thousands of {
>ur cities seek homes in some farming
'egion, where by honest industry and
lard work they can win success as
he fruit of their toll. Northern Michi- !
,an presents inducements to the hard !.
working, industrious man that are not +
'xcelled in any other portion of the coun- 9
ry. In Cheboygan, Mackinac and Chip q,
'eway counties there are thousands of !,
cres of as good land as css be found !;
nywhere anil all within reach of the i
'est market in the country. Produce OF !,
ii kinds brings the highest market price :,
light at home. For Years to come the 8
ZONE demand will exceed the supply and
o long as grain, flour and all classes
# farm products have to be imported, so
ong will prices be better here than i'm
ny her market. A man must expect
o work this is no coanrry for lazy
nan but for the hard working mar, his a
eward is sure. 4