Workmen's advocate., 1890-05-17

to become mllllOnalreS. TOT anueTDlll was once poor boat-hand and became a Crusus. To be surel One in a hun dred thousand, and why not be the one? There are thousands on thousands so re- duced by poverty and distress that they neither hope nor desire aught beyond the two things connected with their daily tOil: shorter hours and higher wages. They want nothing further be- cause they understand nothing further But that which at least they cdn under stand, which their comprehension can grasp, which they would cheerfully fight to obtain, or make sacrifice for. if the subject were but presented with simplicity and clearness, is the shorten ing of working hours, which for the time being secures immediate relief,
 And now, having seen that the eight hour period is not destined to become permanent, let us determine what under any circumstances, may be ob- tained herewith. 1t is as follows:
 1. By shortening the time: increased wage, mitigated crises; by preventing intervals of illness; q general eteUdti0n Of the tutoring class m erery respect as de- scribed above. And this alone is worth the struggle!
 2. Now, when gradually in the course of years the old troubles begin to creep in (occasioned by the causes above cited) when the workers perceive that again Something must be done to prevent the return of former evils, the laboring masses will find themselves in aChoily different situation from that of tue pres ent There will be marrow in their bones, intelligence in their skulls. Their organizations will have strength and power and purpose. They will know how much they can do if they only unite and assert themselves. The strug- gle which shall then begin for further limitation of hours, off the time be propitious-for the final aim of the Socialistic labor movement, the over throw of capitalistic rule, and the ob. taining of system which is founded on the principles of justice and human brotherhood-thi struggle will bear with it the certainty of success, of tri- umph. There can be no question of the outcome or ensuing consequences.
 The eight-hour movement is the lever with which the giant "proletariat," now lying prone upon the earth and barely able to resist the contemptuous kicks of his oppressors, shall be placed upon his feet and so enabled to use his fists.
 AND THEN WOE TO HIS ANNIVERSARIES
 But how is the eight hour day to be obtained? That depends, of course, upon circumstances. Every reasonable means is justified, and workingmen should be prepared, lest their actions, however peaceable (parades, demonstra- tions before factories, on-assoclation with ',scabs,' and so forth) be inter- rupted through the brutality of the capi- talists, especially by the clubs of the police. Violence must be met with vio- lence, as every one knows, not except - ing those who would not for aught on earth be induced to forcibly attack the existing social system. The principal thing remains, however that the eight hour rule would not only obtain for the moment, but exist as lasting institution that is, as far as it's usefulness is con. cerned--and not remain dead letter.
 Therefore, if the organized working men, by a great economical movement, by uniting all their forces, now succeed in actually enforcing the eight-hour nor mai workday, so that from the moment of victory on it be adhered to in all n- dustrial establishments, it must be urged at once, that the victory be sanctioned and made permanent and binding by statute. Should this be omitted, little would be gained; the rule would be broken now and then, here and there and finally as general thing.
 But if, by United States law, which the organized acorkingmen Dould natur- ally see carried out to the letter, the vari- 1nE, .al ishment provided for each and every transgression, the spirit of the law would enter into and animate the flesh and blood of the toilers, and an institution thus grounded and protected could not easily be shaken. Thus would be formed substantial and commanding position, from which the workingman should pro- ceed to new endeavors and new vic- tories.
 And since law can only be adopted through the representatives of the peo pie, it would stand to reason that the working classes should not merely con- tent themselves with bringing pressure to bear upon the country's present venal body of law givers, upon individuals so thoroughly corrupt that one is never safe to deal with them, and who, at the first opportunity, would betray the people; but they (the workers) should send rep resentatives of their own to Congress and the legislatures, men upon whose upright character reliance could be placed, and who would know, regarding the working classes, just where the shoe pinched,
 In a word, workingmen should at once turn their backs upon those par ties which are utterly devoid of prin- ciple, ever susceptible to bribery and inimical to the laboring classes, the par ties calling themselves Republicans,