Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-03-01

these diagrams was to show that there
was virtually no enforced idleness among
the workers, But the diagrams served
exactly the reverse purpose. Carroll ID.
Wright, the chief of the bureau, was
caught. A careful compilation Of the
figures given showed that among the
employed themselves there was an
amount Of ideness equivalent to the
idleness Of more than $50, 600 men during
the whole year. Carroll d. Wright
tried to take back water. He reinstituted
an examination of the unemployed, and
although he chose summer month,
the most favorable for his purpose, it
appeared th7t nearly 30, 900 persons were
without work in that state during that
month. The outcry increased greatly
through this. Congress was asked to
look into the question; and the census
bill for 1880 coming up for discussion, a
clause was Inserted ordering an inquiry
into the time every person enumerated
was unemployed.
This Notwithstanding, the census Off
GERS deliberately omitted the inquiry on
this subject Directly, the census of
1880 throws not the slightest light on
the matter. But systematic Justification
is physical impossibility upon large
scale. Even out of the CENSUS evidence
was indirectly gathered showing that
there must have been in 1880 at least
100000 unemployed in the United
States. From that moment the agita-
ton to ascertain more accurately the
exact quantity of enforced idleness
in the country was undertaken with
increased vigor, and, in proper
ton, the effort or the census officers and
of their employers the capitalists to
suppress such information has been
systematic and persevering. The returns
from the bureaus of several states have
since been throwing light upon the mat
ter, and have shown that the unem-
ployed have grown to shocking proper
tions. Strengthened by these new facts
new efforts we're put forth to obtain from
Congress that the census law for 1890
should reincorporate the clause of the
census act for 1880 ordering an inquiry
into the number eff the unemployed.
But these efforts have SO far proved
futile. The census act for 1890 not only
makes no new provision on the subject
but it even omits the provisions of the
law of 1880.
Thus deliberately, informatior on
this important question is to be withheld
from the people. The conduct of the
government but reflects the wishes of
its masters the capitalists and in so far
helps to point out the only path for the
solution of the labor problem--indepen-
dent political action. That such will
soon be the course which the labor move
ment will adopt, almost every event of
our days seems to denote. The labor
movement is daily placing itself upon a
correcter, sounder, higher plane its
demands are becoming more and more
distinct and well-weighed. And when we
consider that the spirit of independence
in this country found its first advocates
in New England that it was in New
England that fifty years later the des-
cendants of the patriot revolutionary
fathers abolished chattel slavery; and
that, in this same New England, from the
same stock of revolutionists of l776 and
abolitionists of 1850 are now rising the
men who, under the name of National
lists, have emblazoned on their banner
the motto of NATURALIZATION of land
and the instruments of production for
the redemption of our race; keeping in
view these facts, | say, the conclusion
is obvious that the people of this country
are at last ready to meet aud solve the
labor problem"
On Wednesday, February 26, S, f.,
Shevitch will speak on Labor in Poll.
tics"