The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-04-03

I -nE WOhlNNIAS , bHNMFQLhNT AbSOClAIlCN o.
scBuYLKILL CO., PA,
This association Is composed entirely OF
those whose labor 10 In some way necessary
20 the Mining Of coal. We knor OF 40
body OF men who are so greatly misrepre-
sented as those forming this association,
and strange to relate, those who should be
| lie most ardent defenders, are its most Bit
ter enemies. We refer g. the individual
operators. IL is asserted by THESE maiign-
ers that the objects Of the association are,
hrs., the securing 10 themselves wages that
would not leave the operators n margin OF
| profit for capital invested. Second, 10 case
OF refusal to pay such wages, the making
I u general strike throughout the country,
and lastly, TO plumber ana even murder to
accomplish their ends. These are few Of
the misrepresentation industriOnsly oircu-
lated By parties who know better
Having an intimate acquaistance with
the officers Of the association, and through
them With its objects, We will explain them
as We understand them. Their first efforts
are being directed towards extending their
organisation throughout Sehuylkill County,
and the formation Of similar associations
IN each county Of the anthracite region. In
this they are actuated by an earnest desire
10 benefit not only their Own condition, but
also the business Of their employers. That
they desire 70 receive higher wages, we are
vel sware, bat they know from experience
that, without organization, Gbey are al the
mercy of capital, and they farther know
tnat, even with thorough Organization, there
must be some definite and feasible plan by
Which th ey can receive living wages, and at
fh ina 4 M furr
pl0yers, the operators. AZ the outset, a.
We have before stated they are met With
the stern and Incorporating opposition Of
she operators, and Of necessity are forced
TO depend on their own unaIded efforts tt
bring sbou: this much TO b. desired re-
form.
II LuEerne County, the coal is mined
end transported to market BIZ companies
that have, through bought legislation, be-
come huge monopOiies, and these compa-
MES use every means 81 sheir command 70
sacrifice aud compel individual operators to
quit the business; they have CON plete con
troll OF the business 10 Lazerne, aad are
slowly bat surely wOTki1g their way il
SohuYlkil, and nothing but the thorough
organization Of the Workingmen's Associa.
tion can save The Q p-rst0rs OF that county.
The eight hcnr strike Of last year IN
Sch Iylkiil, would, " il tad been successful
throughout the entire r. iJn, done much to
de troy the monopoly Of these coal com
psnies, and would have been Of great ban
eht 20 the operators, as veil as the nsners,
~ reducing the supply of coal 10 proper
zion TO the demand. We do not propose 70
discuss the merits Of the eight hour system,
but SO il- a. the mining az coal 4 cen
cerned, W. think Il must be apparent %
syeTy operator, that If the Law was Carried
ont faithfully IN the entire anthracite dis
trict, IL would inure greatly to their benefit.
That strike failed through want Of thorough
JrgaDiEa alton. This the miners aim 70 &c
cUmpllsn. 1t has been, aud is now, the
practice of boss miners, 10 discharge any
sni every miner who takes an active part il
exposing any wrong imposed OF the miners
as q body. The miners prove thelT man
hood BY sustaining the brother who has
been 40 injured iUT defending them. Here
l0fOfe, The practice bas been for all hands
% gus work OF strike when such things
happened, but the association nave adopted
plan whereby strike IL not necessary,
and the brother 50 discharged does nor SUI
fer IN their account They remain al wOrk,
aud lhe brother Is susta ~ from the funds
VI the ASSOCIATION, not IN weekly " dribs,'
but sum suthcleuE al once u place him, if
properly ased, beyond the enmlty Of those
WHO would starve man for daIing to aues-
ti0n their iutallIbiiIty. ii q wrong is a.
tempted on the body of the aployees in
any mins, after It Is properly disclosed and
efforts made 70 have ii remedied, shen If the
renee il refused, the men quit 10 a body,
not oser the entire county, as 10 asserted,
but IN the eolllery, where !ue wrong has
been attempted, and they sill ~ sustained
By the OH er branches in the county. As 10
tie assertions Ut murd-r and p,uuder, We
dare assent that, there is as little crime
among the miners, as there Is any other
trade, profession, or calling, Of any kind.
IA proportion to their numbers. And When
We taAe into consideration the wrongs per-
peirated on tbe miners, such as the burning
OF them out OF their home for daring u
suIke, the odious store-pay system, the
accusations brought against Them wiGhoa ut
The shadow Of cause, the wonder X not
at the amount Of crime committed, but taat.
goaded Oh by a sense VI their RrOngs. they
nav not arisen as one Ean TO drive out
their opp esaiFe task masters.