The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-06-12
SAN FRANcIsco, Nav 23. 1s


Of California. The telegraph has announced
that full cabinet meeting has decided ths,
congress did not intend 10 reduce wages one
fifth in consequences Of the passage Or the
Eight-Hour Law. The most illitera.e mud
sill III the land knew the fact months ago
out you know that government officials
nowadays, don't acquire a knowledge of
facts OF this character as rapidly as might
be expected We rejoice because deem
Il victory Of the intelligent trade unionists
over their opponents, who have resisted the
demands OF the toiing masses, with PERU
nacity worthy of a better cause. MAY we
not hope that tbs workingu-sn Of our coun-
try are awakening to a full realization OF
thOir importance in the land, and the power
they WELD at the ballot box The struggle
has been weary one ut times j. scouTag-
iug, because OF the lack Of courage and zeal
among the men who were most interested.
1t is to be hoped that they have learned
lesson that will not soon BE- forgot ten-that
union of thought and concert Of actor
among those who labor, VIII accomplish any
legitimate object.
| cannot help giving expression to the
thought that has SO 1ften OcOu4 red 10 me
when reading OF the struggles Of the work
ing people OF Europc, particularly Of Eng
land, that, "were there no property qnaii6
cation required, and the ballot free 10 all,
how soon would they huTl from power the
arist0cTatic lords,' those legislators VINO,
until recently, passed laws prohibiting labor
organizations, and who, to-day, try ID com
bat that winch they can no longer preveat
When will the wOrkiugmen " the United
States learn that the object Of government,
or political parties, should not be the pro-
Pagation Of abstract ideas, quite impractica-
BILE, but the adoption Of such laws as will
confer the greatest good 70 the greatest
number When will they cease 10 shout
Repnbhcanism on one side and Democracy
on the other, at the command Of professor
al politicians, who, in this State, az least,
were never particular as to the means, 81
long as they kept themselves on Lae "in-
side 7" VIII they ever learn that the mon
opOlists are not particular which party wins,
so long as their tools ara in office This last
proposition is exemplihed il this city, BY
the subscription Of candidates from the 0g-
posing political parties for those In their
own, who have been the advocates OF labor
reform measures.
The Council issued a circ liar, or letter
sheet, April 10, addressed to the working
ingmen and women Of the Eastern States
and Europe, which you have probably seen,
to which the attention Of all wOI ing people
is called, and the journeymen shipwrjghts
issued one on the 20gh Of this month, d copy
of which you will ind enclosed. These Cir
culars have been called forth BY the great ill.,
Aux OF mechanics from the Eastern States
and Europe, who are induced to come here
by the flaming advertisements Of the Cali
fornia Labor Exchange and kindred insttu-
lions, that are supported BY the capitalists
and speeula ors who wish u "HO0d the la-
Dor market
| wish 10 call attention to "Bll Of Fare"
or the hotel, where ii u said man can get
a good meal, with many Of tne luxuries Of
life, for from thirteen to fifteen cents.
would like TO know where the author 0f the
"luxuries Of life vas raised he ontertaius
a singular opinion Of what constitutes A
sqaare Hsoai al tAs flnxrr14s ef life IS W.
would rstmaiiy him to be a China
man, but we are assured that be is-M hite.
In the "bil Of fare We are offered beefsteak
"a small dose) at from 10 to - cents, and
potatoes Zone medium sized or two very
small ones) for cents; plate Of salt cod
fish, boiled, for 10 cents no dish Of meat Or
fish for less than 20 cents, nor vegetables for
less than cents; two eggs for 20 cents;
plate Of buckwheat cakes Tor cents, mo
lasses thrown in.
A good meal can be had for 10 cents, and
and nights lodging in a good house will
cost from so to IS cents, or one dollar; IN
the interior the cost of meals is double
that ia this city. The table Of wages is IN
fair, nine ont of ten getting but the lowest
given rate, the tenth man as a foreman get
ting the higher rate. There are thousands
OF men idle in this city at the present time,
who are willing TO work for almost any
wages laborers, when employed, getting
but $25 per month with board, or 81 per
day and board themselves. Nearly 1900
Chinamen arrived within the last Ten days,
and some 200 more are on their way they
will work for one dollar per day and board
themselves; If they cannot get that they will
take less.
The Mechanics State Council has pre-
pared and had printed in eloquent style a
covenant" between the trades, the object
Of which is to bind more closely the work =
ingmen Of the Pacific coast 1t has been en-
dorsed by several Of the trides societies,
and is being eloqnc ntly fraF ed for presen.
tation to the associa ions az a meeting to be
he'd on the evening Of the 80 Of June, at
which tiHs lecture will be delivered BY
Mr.. B. +. French, a member Of the house
carpenters ei .ht-hour league Of this city.
A grand demonstration by the working
men Of this city il expected on she 4th Of
July; several Of the trades are making pre-
partitions.
The shipcarpenters and caulkers have had
pretty rough time of il since J1ly 1867
The steamship companies, under the leader
ship of the agent Of the p NJ s. ;. compa-
ny, are trying 10 break up the associations
Of those trades. We're it NOT that there IL
and has been for the last six months a
good many employed in the Man Island
Navy Yard, much suffering would have been
experienced in these trades. IL ia said
there are double the number Of carpenters
aud caulkers in this city that there was 8
ma shs zgo, and ffasn ten to twenty arrive
by each steamer. Employers here are CIV
mig new corners preference for a month or
two, believing that TO be an excellent way
TO demonstrate the fact that work is plent-
~, as the emigTant naturally writes to his
friends thar be found employment on his
arrival. He also sends the first $50 or 500
tallars be gets to his family, but be soon
fads to bis grief that he is not liked better
then the man who has been here ten OF IF
tetL years, and is displaced BY some new
arrival There are great many carpenters
and saulkers idle, and the prospect anything
but encouraging. ID.
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