The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1864-09-17
CHICAGO TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION
VERSUS
THE CHICAGO TIMES"
A STATEMENT OF FACTS.

1t is seldom that grosser tissue Of false
hoods, or a more wilful perversion Of facts,
meet the public eye, than those in last Sunday
mornings Times, relative to the position Of the
proprietors Of that paper and the Chicago Typo
graphical Union. This statement, SO false in
every particular, we have been unable to cor
rect, owing to the fact that for months the
leading political journals Of this city have per
sistently refused TO publish a defense Of our
position, remove the false impressions they
have so studiously labored TO convey. Garbled
er-parts statements and misrepresentation have
been reiterated and re-reiterated until we are
compelled to appeal directly to the public, and
publish plain unvarnshed statement Of facts,
which must speak for themselves.
he Times aided by its ally, the Tribune, has
labored industriously to convey the impression
that we are opposed to the introduction OF fe-
male labor, simply because il is female labor.
None know The falsity of this statement better
than the knaves who assert it. We make no
war on women; woman in her proper sphere,
commands the homage and respect Of every
aeter and antecedents Of Wilbur f. Storey, be-
lieves that HE can be actuated by any such
noble idea, in any enterprise in which he may
be engaged, as the moral or sc-ial elevation Of
womanhoOd! II is because they are used as
the dupes-the instruments in tho hands Of de-
signing men-who intend to repudiate and dis
card them as soon their nefarious designs
1taf.o I'D has
tear aside their iimsy sophistry, and expose
themotiyes by which they are actuated. IL must
be a self-evident fact that woman is altogether
incapacitated by nature from performing the
labor required morning newspaper
business II at every year carries its victims to
the grave, by hundreds; that undermines even
the strongest constitutions, that demands those
hours for labor that nature demands for repose
is certainly one of the last that the weak and
delicate organization Of woman is adapted for,
or one in which the philanthropist might show
the sincerity Of his professions.
This leads lls however, more directly to an
explanation, much needed, OF the objects and or
ganization of the Typographical Union, and
the charge, oft repeated Of the dictatorial
policy pursued by its members. One Of the
requirements Of our Association Is, that per-
son applying for admission should be . com
petent workman, and have served four-years'
apprenticeship, of which he must furnish salts
factory evidence. Is it arbitrary, then. under
such circumstances, that weshould require every
competing workman to belong TO our organiza-
tion, in order to protect our skilled labor
against the introduction of inferior workmen
who sell their manhood for a nominal compen-
saton But it may be asked why refuse to
work with any man thai is not q member Of cur
Union. Simply measure OF selt-pr0teclon-
Unless we did so we have no guarantee that
our rights would be respected for an hour, and
this il sufficient explanation why the request
was made for the removal of the mach Ainist
who not only repudiated any obligation 20
the Union, but whose retention was a defiant
menace, from the fact that he was pledged an
der all circumstances, to retain his position.
Independent OF this requirement, no dictaticn
is attempted. Who shall be employed is a
question entirely at the discretion of the en-
ployer. As an eTidence Of this he creature
now acting in the capacity Of foreman on the
Tines, who has 80 basely surrendered dis
manhood and Union obligations az to betray
both, has been foreman Of that Office ever
since Mr.. Story has been in Chicago and was
originally imported by him from Detroit
As it may interest some 10 know the exorbi-
tant rate Of compensation which the publishers
pay their employees, it may not be amiss to state
that, while the necessaries Of life have advanced
from l50 to 800 per cent, our increase in wages
have not exceeded 40 per cent. Two years ago
compositors received 80 cents per 1000 rms, and
10 cents per hour after 10 clock, and 20 cents
after II, p. NJ. To-day they receive 50 cents
per 1000 without any extra compensation. If
we draw comparison between Chicago and
other cities, we find them receiving IS cents
per 1000 in st. Louis, 4S cents in Detroit, 60
cents in Cairo, rs cents in Memphis, and 60
cents in New York. These statements are facts,
and can be corroborated by indisputable testi-
mony. So much then, for the plea Of extortion.
In the article alluded to, Mr.. Storey states
falsely, as usual-that no question Of rates was
involved in the change, and that they have no
desire to injure the Typographical Union. Now
is it not self-eyident fact that no proprietor
would pay the same wages to girls and disrepu-
table men that he pays TO frst-class reliable
workmen. If so. then why does he now pay
one-third less those in his employ than he
did two weet 70, With regard to the second
statement. ally necessary to state that the
af6davits q men formerly employed in the
Tsmss Office can, and win be obtained, an
| published, showing that Mr.. Worden again and
again declared that the principal object they
had in view was the dismemberment and des-
truction of the Chicago Typographical Union:
/ Again, when it is taken into consideration that
no advance has been made for months--that
none was contemplated that ever since Mr.
Storeys residence in tbs city he has persistent