America 1869: A Doppelganger Every Day

Chapter 113 Planning for the Future → American Labor Association

1873 3 Month 15 Day.

On this day, an American newspaper quickly caused a huge reaction.

The Chinese American Daily already had high sales in the United States because it provided access to the latest news from around the world.

It allows you to access information about places around the world outside of the United States.

But today's front page headlines are about America.

When they saw the opening article, everyone was taken aback.

This was the best of times, this was the worst of times.

Almost anyone who enjoys reading newspapers knows that this quote comes from A Tale of Two Cities.

They just didn't understand why the article started with that sentence.

But after they watched, many people fell silent.

The article's content is very simple, even more straightforward than ever before.

Compared to his previous articles, this one is a bit too blunt.

It's as if someone is simply expressing their inner thoughts, generally lacking any literary flair or depth.

But it is a powerful and thought-provoking story.

This is clearly stated in the article.

Oliver worked as an employee at a bicycle manufacturing company.

Originally, I was in Europe, but I couldn't bear the intense labor, so I chose to leave Europe and come to America.

Because he didn't know any other jobs, he later learned that there was a bicycle factory in America, and that its founder was the inventor of the bicycle. After Leicester established the bicycle factory, he went to work at the Leicester bicycle factory without hesitation.

Once he started working, he discovered that it was the same whether he was in Europe or America: he had to work more than ten hours a day, go home to sleep, eat a bite of food, and then continue working.

All I do all day is work, and I'm exhausted both physically and mentally.

But if I don't work, I won't have money to live on.

Therefore, for him and many working people like him, this era was definitely the worst of times.

But even in the worst of times, he saw the factory owner, Lester, dressed smartly and living in luxury.

Not only do they make a fortune, they can also enjoy life.

After he finished writing about his experiences, he concluded with a sigh.

"For us laborers, this is absolutely the worst of times, but for people like Lester, it is absolutely the best of times."

"Let's give everything to make a profit for them."

"Normally, I should hate Leicester, but I just can't."

"Although Leicester was also a capitalist, he invented his own bicycle."

"Because he invented the bicycle, I was able to get this job."

"It is because of this job that I have been able to survive."

"So I don't know who to hate."

"So all I can do is hate this era."

"I hate this era, when workers give their all but can barely survive."

"I hate this era that allows the rich to become richer while enslaving the workers."

"I don't actually have any pursuits or goals."

"I just want to have a little time to do what I like while I'm alive, like writing."

"For example, some people might like to chat or enjoy the scenery, etc."

"At the same time, if we could earn just a little more money, so that we could have a little bit of our own life while solving our survival problems, that would be great."

"I've also heard about it. There's a workers' organization in America called the Knights of Labor."

"They went on strikes and marches, but in the end, many workers lost their jobs and their lives became worse than death."

"I don't know if what they're doing is right or wrong, but I can't bear the consequences, so I don't dare to join."

"I hope America can have such an organization."

"They consist of all the workers; there are no other people."

"Their existence is solely to fight for the interests and rights of workers, not to recklessly do things that harm the workers themselves."

"We don't need to become much better all at once. As long as we can get a little bit of benefit from the capitalists while they are making money, it would be better than what we are now."

"What I hope this organization can do is to balance the relationship between capitalists and us workers, so that capitalists can make money and factories can continue to produce, while also allowing workers to have a little bit of their own life and a little bit of their own spare money."

"That's enough for me."

"If there were such an organization, I would want it to be called a workers' union, because it would be a place where only workers can join and fight for their rights."

"Finally, I also hope that if this article of mine is actually published, my boss Lester will take into account that I have already published an article and give our bicycle factory workers a little better treatment or a little less working hours."

"Otherwise, I really can't keep going."

The article spread rapidly throughout America, and the name of Oliver, a bicycle factory worker, became known to many workers.

Even so, it wouldn't have been a big deal.

After all, the United States already has a Knights of Labor, and while other workers also want such an organization, they cannot organize it without a leader.

However, the latest news in the Chinese American Daily the next day gave the workers a boost of morale.

Because the protagonist of the article the next day was no longer Oliver, but the bicycle shop owner Lester.

Leicester's article was also very simple.

"Although I am a capitalist now, I was a worker before I became a capitalist."

"It was only because I invented and researched the bicycle that I was able to own my own factory."

"I hadn't considered the workers' situation before, so I just copied their system, just like other factories."

"I admit I didn't think things through, so I apologize to all the workers at our bicycle factory."

"I must reiterate that I am a capitalist, but a capitalist with a conscience."

"If Mr. Oliver wants an eight-hour workday, or even higher pay, or even more rest, then I really can't do that."

"After all, I need to make money too."

"However, it would be acceptable to give the bicycle factory workers a slightly higher salary and reduce their working hours a little."

"Like Oliver said, I'll give them some extra money and time to enjoy life."

"I promised to give all the workers at the bicycle factory a 1/10 raise, and at the same time, I promised to reduce their working hours by one hour each day."