Page:Friedrich Adolf Sorge - Socialism and The Worker (1876).djvu/19

 wages are only a consequence of a higher price of manufactures. Furthermore, if a manufacturer on a small scale has to pay high wages, his own wages will be high, for he does not, like the large manufacturer, depend for his income solely on his employees, but he is one of his own helps. But if business is slow, wages will go down and small concerns will suffer must. It would, therefore, be the real interest of such, who are not able to employ a great number of hands, to unite with the wages-laborer. Whoever works to make a living, has the same interest, that the wages-laborer has, and should assist the latter in his struggle for the right of labor against the encroachments of capital.

On the other hand, are the wages-laborers to be blamed, if they do, what all other people do, if they sell the only article they have for sale, their working power, as dear as they can? Occasionally they may raise a good price, and there may be instances, in which the petty manufacturer suffers. In this case the latter makes the observation, that his unmarried hands are able to live without cares,—but the married ones?—he overlooks them. And at all times there is a vast number of wages-laborers in a miserable condition.

The interests of all workers are the same! This is best shown by the fact, that in many strikes the petty manufacturers are in favor of the wages-laborers. Low wages are unfavorable to the farmer as well as to the mechanic, for, when wages are low, the struggle for economical independence is more difficult; large capital increases, and at the expense of small property. If all working people would only learn to comprehend the solidarity of their interest!

As it is with the increase of wages, so it is with the decrease of working-hours. Eight hours work a day is judged sufficient by physicians. A person that has worked properly eight hours a day, ought to have done his duty and has a right to request some hours for recreation, for instruction, and for his family. Those who are the loudest in complaining of the laziness of the workingmen, would soon make wry faces, if they were compelled to work only six hours a day. This decreasing the working-hours will better the condition of the whole working-class. Everybody can easily see that. Even in the country it could be done, although there such a shortening will meet with the greatest objections, and it will be done. What a great benefit will be acchievedachieved [sic] by this measure alone! Whole armies of paupers, tramps etc. will find useful employment, they will disappear and with them a great deal of mischief and crime.

Now if the wages-laborers of the cities and manufacturing places will be ready to lead the van in the struggle for the interest of labor, the rest of the whole working-class have no right to put themselves in the position of idle, indifferent, or even grudging and hostile spectators. On the contrary. It is the duty of the whole working-class to participate in this struggle, for this war is carried on in the interest of all workers, and the wages-la-