Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-09-01

AN3uAe Va SLlpl lhiIt Vi SOCldlIolll, just
as the prejudice against the trades
unions and the knights Of Labor
principles is the result of ignorance.
DIVIDED AND CONQUERED.
Now, why this ignorance
Isolation.
Who is it that eXhorts the indi-
vidual workingman to be "inde-
pendent" and "free ?"
Why, the employer, Of course.
Why?
Because he can then take an ad-
vantage over his employee which he
could not take if he had to deal with
him through his trades union.
The employer, us such, desires the
workers to be isolated. separate from
each other; he finds it to his interest
to deal with each one separately.
The employer is perhaps only one
person, but he is the owner of or the
controller Of the means of labor-the
factory, the machines, the land. The
worker is only one person, but he
has nothing to live upon unless he
receives wages, and for wages he
must work, and to get work he must
apply to the owner of the means
wherewith to work.
If the employer can replace dis
satisfied worker with another, his
business continues uninterrupted,
and his machines and plant, his
capital, with the labor of his wage
slaves, continues productive. If,
however, the workers are organized
and not inclined to accept the en-
ployer's conditions, it is more pos
slble to make better terms, for he
would find it more difficult to re-
place a large number of wo4ikmen
than a single one, besides risking
the disagreeable publicity Of
strike.
AGGREGATED CAPITAL.
Nevertheless, employers have also
learned to organize, and the trades
unions are confronted with organ
lzed capitalists, who, with the
means of labor in their control, the
ability to purchase new inventions,
and the ability, also, to allow their
works to stand still without suffer
ing want, may and often do succeed
in forcing their employees to sur
render. And this is likely to con-
tinue and develop to the detriment
Of the only partially organized work
ers.
Here are some thoughts that may
be proftably dweIt upon as a prepa-
ration for Labor Day.
NOT ISOLATED SLAVES ON LABOR
DAY.
One thing accomplished on that
day Is the coming together of many
laborlng people in social intercourse.
The reason why just those whose in
terests are identical are ENJOYING
holiday together should be patent to
alI-they are a class, and this fact
indicates that there is another class.
The scheme Of the employers is
for short space defeatcd-thc
workingmen are not isolated slaves
on this day, and so it is important
that they should make the best of
their opportunity.
AN AUSPICIOUS DAY.
Here is a chance for friendly re-
union. Here the workers NAV COM
pare notes and encourage each other:
whi.e at the same time they celebrate
the day that takes them from the
treadmiIl of wage slavery.
May it be auspicious of the per
manent emancipation Of the work
ers from the false system that de-
mands their toll and their product
too; that occupies their waking
hours and prevents them from prop
erly attending to their interests as a
class.
Let the workers study their COM
mon interests just as they unite to
enjoy their holiday, and by combin-
ing add to the pleasure of all.
Labor Day may perhaps be cele-
brated more sincerely than any
other holiday, for it may in the fu-
ture commemorate an emancipation
that will have had greater signifi-