Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-02-11


brain of certain phase Of the labor
movement, is of the opinion that
what workingmen stand in greatest
need of is government telegraph.
Only give the workingmen a postal
telegraph and in the twinkling of an
eye a remarkable change would take
place in his condition Give the
workingman the government tele-
graph and the golden glamour of an
Italian sunset would forever bathe
his existence in that peace which
passeth all understanding. But still,
and very unfortunately, too, this
telegraph solution Of labors' woes
does not meet with that general ap
proval which it deserves considering
the source from which it emanates.
No, it is to be feared that the tele-
graph will not be an adequate substi-
tute for the strike and boycott.
TO be sure, if we remember right
ly, someone has proposed "single
tax" to be levied on land as a means
of bringing joy unspeakable to the
toiIing masses. But this PROPOSE
ton savors SO much of an Arabian
Nights "fake" that workingmen in
general have looked upon it as a very
pleasing though i'll timed joke.
Is there then no remedy for the
ills of poverty:
Well, yes, there is.
Eddie Atkinson, surnamed "the
good,' has advised the working peo-
pie to live more economically and all
would be well with them. This
advice, considering the fabulous ex-
travagance of the workingmen, is
decidedly to the point.
Surely everyone who has noted the
princely lavishness of the working
men, must concede that Eddie is
right. Let the workingmen retrench
their expenditures in keeping with
the position that a kind Providence
has designed them to fill, and the
roseate glow Of early summer days
will warm and iIIumine the inner
most recesses of their being.
| No doubt Of it.
And how shall this retrenchment
reform be introduced ?
1t would be well to begin with the
diet. Ike workingman has been in
the habit of spending his munif-
cent income on the luxurles of the
table. Let this cease at once. What
the workingman needs in the way OF
food is something that will sustain
life, being palatatle and yet mex
pensive. And here bounteous
Nature comes to his assistance, for
in the economy of her resources she
protfers to the workingman pro-
duct luscious to the palate, invigor-
ating to the body, if not stimulating
to the mind, and what IS of greater
Importance, plenteous as the sands
of the sea. In many parts of The
world it constitutes the sole diet of
the wo- king people. TO be sure
these people are not noted for a high
rder Of intelligence, but then they
are able to work hard ; they appear
happy; they have no need of strikes,
boycotts or politics, for they have
lentils.
Yes, lentils are the boon which
nature offers the workingmen in
these days of dire necessity. 1t is
claimed that men subsisting on
lentils are able to do more work
than they could otherwise. Here is
another important consideration for
the general introduction of this ar
ticle as a food for tollers: More
work can then be done, greater
amount of product will of course
result.
To be sure, it is not at all clear that
the workingmen will receive a
share of the products, but somebod,
will, very likely the employing class
will, somehow secure the surplus.
Surely, this will be nice. They viii
then not merely revel in the lap OF
luxury, but will extend their fes-
tiyities over her entire anatomy.
1t may be objected that this solution
of the labor question will not be ac-
ceptable. 1t may be said that this
more work and lentils will make 4
rather hum-drum life for the work.
ingmen. But it must be remember.
ed that another consideration ii
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