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Editorial
February 28, 1886
Workmen's Advocate
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
Editorial urges workers not to resist labor-saving devices through strikes but to organize and educate themselves to secure benefits like shorter hours, better conditions, and higher living standards, criticizing monopolies protected by unjust laws.
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Full Text
LABOR-SAVING DEVICES
For workmen to fight by means of strikes or agitations against labor-saving devices is every whit as sensible as it would be for them to object to the existence of land because certain individuals or classes were by law given a monopoly in its ownership. There is just as much a monopoly of labor-saving inventions, maintained and encouraged by our unjust laws, as there is a monopoly of land; but that fact does not make it wise or right to fight against the labor-saving inventions. What is to be done? Are workmen to allow themselves to be driven out of work because some one has invented a machine that will do their work, and which the government protects, as against them and their rights? If they so submit they are false to themselves. They must insist on reaping the benefits that accrue in saving of time, cheapness of production and greater effectiveness—benefits which ought to become tangible to every workman in the shape of shorter hours, better accommodations and opportunities, and a much higher general standard of living.
How can they accomplish this? Only by thorough organization and education. The education must precede and accompany the thorough organization, for many workmen now entertain the most absurd views conceivable on these subjects. If the existing labor organizations are to be controlled by the men who wish to devote their strength to resisting inevitable improvements, the practical solving of the labor problem will be delayed just in proportion to the time it will take to get over that misdirection of energy.
Workers must organize, but they must also educate, so that their efforts shall not be "as those who beat the air." The People
For workmen to fight by means of strikes or agitations against labor-saving devices is every whit as sensible as it would be for them to object to the existence of land because certain individuals or classes were by law given a monopoly in its ownership. There is just as much a monopoly of labor-saving inventions, maintained and encouraged by our unjust laws, as there is a monopoly of land; but that fact does not make it wise or right to fight against the labor-saving inventions. What is to be done? Are workmen to allow themselves to be driven out of work because some one has invented a machine that will do their work, and which the government protects, as against them and their rights? If they so submit they are false to themselves. They must insist on reaping the benefits that accrue in saving of time, cheapness of production and greater effectiveness—benefits which ought to become tangible to every workman in the shape of shorter hours, better accommodations and opportunities, and a much higher general standard of living.
How can they accomplish this? Only by thorough organization and education. The education must precede and accompany the thorough organization, for many workmen now entertain the most absurd views conceivable on these subjects. If the existing labor organizations are to be controlled by the men who wish to devote their strength to resisting inevitable improvements, the practical solving of the labor problem will be delayed just in proportion to the time it will take to get over that misdirection of energy.
Workers must organize, but they must also educate, so that their efforts shall not be "as those who beat the air." The People
What sub-type of article is it?
Labor
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Labor Saving Devices
Strikes
Organization
Education
Workers Rights
Technological Progress
Monopolies
Living Standards
What entities or persons were involved?
Workmen
Labor Organizations
Government
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Workers' Adaptation To Labor Saving Devices Through Organization And Education
Stance / Tone
Advocacy For Labor Organization And Education To Embrace Technological Progress
Key Figures
Workmen
Labor Organizations
Government
Key Arguments
Resisting Labor Saving Devices Is As Senseless As Objecting To Land Monopolies
Unjust Laws Create Monopolies In Inventions Similar To Land
Workers Must Claim Benefits Like Shorter Hours And Better Living Standards
Benefits Arise From Time Savings, Cheaper Production, And Greater Effectiveness
Accomplish Goals Through Thorough Organization And Education
Education Must Precede Organization To Counter Absurd Views
Resisting Improvements Delays Solving Labor Problems
Organize And Educate To Avoid Futile Efforts