The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-02-06
CORRESPONDENTS.
FROM CALIFORNIA.
SAY FRANolsco, Jan. /, 1856!


70 Tie Editor Of the wosKSaMAEs ADvo7.rE.
Believing that your redesrs would be in
terested in knowing the progress the labor
movement Is making on the Pacific slope, |
have determined, from time to time, to
make them acquainted Herewith. | believe,
without desiring to dispsrage the efforts Of
our eastern brethren, that the mechanics Of
California have struggled more p, rsistently
recognition and enforcement of the Eight
Hour Law; and though they have not gain
ed all they desired, they have certainly made
their influence felt in the right direction.
At the last meeting of the Mechanics State
Council, the decision Of Attorney General
Evarts was discussed at length, and his
opinion severely criticized A committee,
consisting Of W. Delany, Of the shipwrights !;
John B. Levitt, Of the house carpenters !;
and George VI. Miller, Of the ship joiners, ,
was appointed to devise WAYS and means BY
which the laboring men, on both public and
private work, could unite and establish the
eight-hour system BY association. At the
same meeting President Thin reported that
be had communicated the wishes Of the
council to the board Of Supervisors, il reIa-
ton TO complying with the law by letting all
contracts for public works in accordance
vita it's provisions, and that Col. Smith, the
commissioner Of highways, had promised to
insert such stipulation in all future con-
tracts. The general also read the address
Of President Sylvis, end stated that be had
been appointsd a mi lber Of the executive
committee for California. A delegate from
the ipwrig hts thereupon gave notice that
be would offer, at the next meeting, mo
ton to unite with the National Labor
Union.
A few evenings since, a meeting of the
mechanics Of this city was held, to consider
the formation Of classes for evening schools.
The president, after stating the objects of
the meeting, introduced MIR o. r. Eitzger-
aid, state superintendent, who made a very
good speech upon the subject, and was fol-
low ed nv General Cobb and Colonel HOlI,
school directors, whose remarks were very
encouraging. They were followed BY Hon
John Sweet, principal of the DeDman school
and Or. Luckey Of the State Normal school
both u them gave much practical informa-
tion, which was well received. After the
close of DIR. Luekev's speech, the president
brought the meeting TO a close, and the
speakers retired amidst the cheers of about
hree ndred mechanics who were present.
There il a move talked 81 among some OF
the young house painters Of this city, in re-
latioB TO the formation Of a Co operative
Painters Association. We are informed
that the way seems TO be clear, and the
prospects are good.
Tue shipwrigbts held meeting last Thurs
dav night. That association, like all other
O. xOrking societies, mas been cOntending
st the determined opponents Of the
t.sut-h0ur system TOR more than year, they
are now recovering, and doing much better.
There $ not quite adhesivemess enough
among them.
Tie Women's Cooperative Union, is do
ing admirably. Although established but
few months, they already give steady EN-
ployment to one hundred and sixty women,
and sometimes more, while their stock on
hand amounts To the handsome sum Of So
600. They have made s 600 in the first six
months. The Agricultural AR at Sacra-
mento gave them two diplomas one was
"for the largest and best display Of chill
dren's and ladies' clothing y the other, the
"frst premium for custom made shirts and
general needle-wOrk." They also get sill
YER medal from the Mechanics Institute
Fair, Of this year. Mrs. NJ. w. Parker is
their business director, and Mrs. NJ. +. Pen
ileton is the assistant and saleswoman.
Such an enterprise deserves more than Ordi-
nary patronage. Long may it wave.
Society balls are all the rage just now,
each one trying to outVie the other in max
inn them model entertainments.
Wishing you every success in your worthy
enterprise, your readers can rest assured
that, ID future, they will be kept posted
little better than they have been heretofore
bY PAGFIc.