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THE LABOR QUESTION IN THE U.S.
The labor question, both in Europe and the United States, has become a momentous social-political problem, of such vast importance that even state-legislatures are compelled to give it earnest consideration. The governments and legislatures of all civilized nations endeavor to improve the condition of the working class by establishing endowments for the sick and disabled, by providing asylums for the support of the old and feeble, by the inspection of factories, by sanitary methods and by protecting women, children and the working class in general against oppression. The advancement of civilization and extension of education have increased the intelligence of the working class and their desire to better their condition, to lead a more respectable life, to improve their education, and not to be treated as a subordinate class. The example of the first French Revolution, which removed the yoke of oppression from the third class (citizens and peasants) has awakened a resistless desire in the laboring classes (called the fourth in Europe) to emancipate themselves from servility. The individual, unaided, is not able to achieve anything; hence the organizations of the working classes in all civilized countries and more particularly in the United States. These labor organizations make it their duty to protect the individual as well as the whole body of workingmen against the oppression of their employer. The enormous capital, the factories and manufactures, the rich railroad and mining companies are only too often inclined, to treat their employees and workingmen as mere machines, demanding from them full time and labor without, in return giving them sufficient means to live a respectable life. The only means of protection they have against such tyranny are "the strike, the lock-out and the boycott". These labor organizations determine the minimum of wages and if they are not granted by the employers, a strike is inaugurated.
The principal labor organizations of America are "the Knights of Labor and the Federation of Labor". Both organizations make it their duty to improve the condition of the working class in the factories, manufactories, mines, railroads, in correcting the sanitary, moral and economical conditions by exerting their influence upon the legislatures of the states. They hold their National Conventions, in which certain....
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EMIGRATION U.S.A. - Table of Contents
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