The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1891-06-10

for II il the privilege Of every citizen
/ toademand of the government q re-
dress Of grievances, when his rights
are trampled upon, and his share il
the gains of industry Withheld.
Iti is true these labor unions have
| put forth d Declaration Of Princi--
pies, bat 1T is as far from being d
detriment To the laboring nan as the
sBill Of Rights" was to the colonists.
They declare TO the world that their
first and highest aim is, to make in.
fdustrial and moral worth not
| wealth the true standard of indivis
dual and national greatness. And
tis not this the noblest and pnrest
aim 81 Mhich mah y capable2 Il
lshoWs clearly that the Inspiration III
lof d new life for humanity Is rapidly
becoming moving force for labor,
50 long depressed and socially de-
graded. IL is the promise of a new
era, I:s HI
The knights Of Labor have for
their motto, The sword may strike
the shackles from the limbs of the
slave, but it is education and organ
ization that will make Of him free
man. They understand that a rev
olution in the minds of the people
must necessarily precede change
in the economic and moral condition
of mankind. The members of these
organizations have learned the great
truth, that knowledge is the most
importantlforce In human progress.
Consequently, they have established
reading rooms, and labor lyceums,
where they spend their evenings in
educating themselves, instead of
spending them in the dram shops.
So far then, flabor unions are a de-
triment to the laboringfman, educa-
ton is a detriment and not a bless
ing and a safeguard to our nation.
Before there were labor unions the
laboring men Of this country were
indeed apathetic. They did not un.
derstand the Importance of the bal
lot, and allowed themselves to be-
stow it upon the plausible candidate
or, still worse, to sell it for money or
Whiskey, u But, since the labor or
ganizations have been formed, they
have enlightened the masses as to
the. Importance Of the vote, and are
now demanding pure ballot, the
abrogation Of all laws, both state
and national, which do not bear
equally upon capital and labor, and
the removal of unjust techniealities,
delays and determinations in the
administration Of justice. Justice
must be bought at a high price.
Consequently, ne, poor man can bny
it. +. -. ~ ..l.. NJ =,
America is to-day what the labor
ing man has made her. He has felled
her forests, made her canals, brought
forth her hidden treasures, and by
the sweat Of his face ladened our ia
bles with the viands and luxuries of
life. Yea, when this nation seemed
to be in the throes of death when it
was shaken from center to circum-
ference by the shock; of civil war,
he was seen standing up for the right
and eternal principles Of truth and
justice. "There is not a swamp, or
field or dark ra vine where treason
made a stand" but is covered with
the graves Of these noble heroes. And
are they not entitled to Justice, and
the enactment of such laws as will
better their condition and alleviate
their suferings? M f.
In 1876, there were eighteen glass
manufacturing establishments in
the state of New Jersey. The en-
ployees in these establishments re-
ceived their pay only once year. IF
one of them desired to purchase an
article, he presented himself at the
company's Office, and the officer in
charge gave him a printed due bill,
with which he bought his article at
the companyfs store. The corpora
tion sold the. glass atScost but real
lied $50, 900 per annum profit on the
store, to every 800 employees Hence,
the laborers were the ones that were
robbed, and when the robbery was
complete, paupers or criminals were
imported Under contract to take the
places Of the wage slaves. l..
In the last year, over forty thous-
and people were imported under
contract, in direct violation of law,
to take the places OF American la
borers, in order to defeat the efforts
Of the American toiler to obtain his
| rights by organization for his own
protection. Therefore, the labor unions
demand laws prohibiting the hiring
out Of convict Tabor, and the enforce
ment of the law prohibiting the i'm
portation Of foreign labor under the
contract system. Would the voice
of one laboring man be heard, if he
should alone ask the law. making
power for the passageIof a law that
would enable him to enjoy life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness?
Ne 1t must be the united voice of
the laboring men, and let it be said
to their credit that they have clearly
demonstrated the fact, that sin
union there is strength" for il differ
ent States they have secured the
passageIof laws, which alleviate the
sufferings of the telling masses
such laws as accord with just prin-
ciples and can not'be opposed BY the
honorable capitalist.