The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-06-23
TUE sToNECUTrERs' STRIKE.


craft in the city Of Chicago; and also that
the employers ha6 refused to comply with
the demand. We have now to look at the
merits or justice of that request, and the ex-
traordinary action taken by some of our
capitalists in relation thereto. Before doing
so, however, 1t may be well to state that the
question of wages was never preached, and
there is not the slightest foundation for as
sorting that the men demanded as much for
nine hours work as they had received under
the ten hour system. We make this en-
phatic denial in this manner, because 1t has
been industriously circulated by the press
and interested persons, that such was the
case.
1t is well known that at this season of the
year especia ", the work Of a stonecutter is
probably the most exhausting and laborlous
of any mechanical trade. That the constant
drain on the physical system is more than
nature will permit or humanity should
exact. This orsr-tar has been felt for years,
evidence Of which is furnished by the num-
Der Of decrepid and prematsrely old men
who may be found in that profession. Be-
meath burning sun, sometimes in the shade
but oftener exposed, with the body bent in an
unnatural position, mallet and chisel in
hand, these men are compelled to labor from
seven to six, and are now insultingly denied
the right to inaugurate reform, the justice
and necessity of which is recognized by
every honorable employer in the Eastern
States, where it has been in successful oper-
alton for several months.
Strange as it may appear the opposition
to the movement does not come from those
most deeply interested, but from outside
parties. At a meeting held last Saturday
evening, to defeat the claims Of the men, the
principal actors were Mr. Phillips, the New
England woman starver, whose name stinks
in the Dostrils of every mechanic Of the
northwest Mr.. Van Osdel, an employee,
better known, however, as the designer Of
that model piece Of architecture, the hen
roost Of the old court house, yclept cupola !;
the representative Of the notorious Wilbur
F. Storey, who owes every dollar be pos
sesses to the patronage and ignorance Of the
working classes, and Aid Talcott, or Turn.
coat, who was willing for once to do gen.
erous action, viz. give his horses what
they probably never had before-as much as
they could eat-by turning them out to
grass, sooner than have them convey stone
to those firms who allowed their men to
work under the nine hour system.
Our list, however, would be imperfect
without recognizing in an especial manner
the modesty Of Mr.. Deakmau, a Tcutonic
scab, who wants to know ash vat de tyfer'
right they had to bring an supported" lee
turer to enlighten those to the manor born.
Now we want our readers, and an unbiased
public to carefully peruse the proceedings
of that meeting, ard the spirit manifested,
and then ask themselves who are liable to
the charge Of conspiracy-the men who re-
quest in peaceable, orderly manner, . re-
ductiOn Of the hours Of manual labor. or
those who invite the cooperation Of outside
parties to help crush them at every hazard
and by every dishonorable means.
Not content with taking this course we
understand a movement is now on foot to
lnaugurate grand crusade against trades
unions in gen eral, in which the cooperation
of every capitalist is invoked. Now while
we are well aware the ADVOCATE is not sus-
tanned by this class Of men, nor reflects their
sentiments, we know it is read by men Of iu- !
fiuence and wealth, and to these we now ar |
peal. We ask them to withhold their sane |
ton and endorsement from measure which |
is fraught with far more danger to their in
terests than our own. The request made
has nothing Of revolutionary or danger
Ous character, and we knop there is more
han one employer in this city who has long
acknowledged its necessity. Are they viii. |
ing then, under these circumstances to givel
their appreciation to a combination which
has neither provocation, principle or plausi-
olity to sustain it We know there are
gentlemen in this city who would scorn to
DO 50, were the facts known, but who have
r~en led by falsehood and misrepresentat
70 give it their support who have imbibed
heir sympathes from the daily press, which
las invariably become the mouthpiece Of the
'ppressor in every contest in which the in
erests Of labor and capital have been in
'olved. 1t has been favorite expression
with that press, that while it was opposed
10 strikes, that is-a Han refusing to accept
he terms an employer saw fit to dictate,
hey were enthusiasts on the subject of co.
operation. Now what win they say when
hey learn that the representatives of coop
'rative associations were informed that no
tone W0uyd be sold to them on any sermsg 90
cng as the capitalists were unwilling they
hould obtain it. Can, dare tyranny 60
arther Z
We want each Of them, in forming an
pinion Of this matter, to adopt the golisn