The Labor enquirer., 1888-04-21

NADER Can you-viewing thes(
matters in the light of events thai
have transpired within the last fen
months-can you deny that thu
masses, the toilers especially thai
portion that represents organized
labor, would not be condemned te
a more hopeless condition of in
dustrial bondage than that they
now suffer, were it not rthe fac,
that such a movement on the par,
of capitalism would be fraughi
with great danger to existing in.
stitutions1
Not only are unjust laws framed
to oppress labor. such as the ICON.
spiracy" laws, which some states
have adopted. but our Lawmakers
have filled great, ponderous vol
umes with acts providing pun
ishments for certain crimes and
offences, all of which naturally
spring from and are nurtured by
the iniquitious competitive system.
| wonder how many working
men ever consider the vast number
of persons annually thrown out
of employment by the introduc-
ton of labor-saving machinery in
shops, factories, etc. This more
than any other single cause is re-
sponsible for the existence of the
great army of the unemployed,
the ranks of which are being daily
recruited by discouraged wage
slaves. To men who have been
accustomed to regular occupation
year after, year. the performance
of their daily labor becomes a
sort of second nature. To be
suddenly deprived of the employ
ment for which they fitted them
selves by an apprenticeship of
toll, Hardship and self-denial
which was subsequently followed
by steady application to their
chosen vocation for a term of
years, is a hardship that is not
understood or appreciated as it
deserves. Usually the victims
endeavor to secure employment
in some other locality, but alas
for their hopes. They are doomed
to disappointment. The labor
saving but tramp-producing ma
chine has preceded them. Need
Igo further into details1 Shall !
tell of the many weary miles they
travelled in their almost hopeless
search. Shall l describe the in
quisitive glances, the angry scowls,
and muttered curses that mark
their arrival at every industrial
center7 Need tell you how,
being unable, to secure employ
ment at their trades, they seek
laboring work, poorly paid as it
is1 You know these are actual
occurrences, you have seen them,
perhaps been so unfortunate as to
have experienced these hardships
yourself. Do you know the cause
of such far-reaching evils1 Have
you ever thought of a remedy
that would make it impossible for
them to exist1
On all sides are heard murmur-
ings and mutterings by the dis
contented wage-workers. Most
of the dissatisfaction appears to
come from the employees of large
merchantile, manufacturing and
transportation companies. The
usual complaints are: 1--WE don't
get enough wages to enable us to
live decently; when we work
overtime the boss won't allow us
for it; the foreman threatens to
discharge all union men as fast as
he learns who they are;;" and many
others of like nature. To these
and all similar grievances l would
reply that they need expect no
change for the better so long as a
system conceived in fraud. upheld
by force, and adored by ignorant,
superstitious wage-slavesispermit-
ted to exist. The employees are
not altogether to blame; it is our
system that is at fault. But it
must be admitted that employers
as class assume rights. privileges,
and liberties that are gross
breaches of justice. Although
frequently employing methods
that never can be sanctioned by