The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-03-19
FROM CALIFORNIA.

The following letter recently received
by General VIM, president of the
Mechanics State Council. will no
doubt be read with interest by the me-
chauics Of Che sastesn states, % showing
the difficulties with which our fellow
laborers on the Pacific slope have to
contend, and the stamina which they
bring to the contest 4 tfAt III
SAN Francisco, March 8.
DEAR GENERAL: We have been
after Stebbins, the superintendent OF the
mint-he 10 doing al he can TO break
down the eight hour system by keeping
out all society men, and employing
outsiders in preference. Mr.. Fennell
has written to Senator Cole about it,
asking for his discharge; Cole, l I'M
derstand, has referred the matter to the
State Central Committee, and they have
met several times. W. D. Delaney,
secretary, has been before the commit
tee. and it is more than likely Stebbins
will be discharged. By his opposition
to the trade associations, he is turning
the -arublicsn mechanics over 70 the
demo- racy.
Mr.. Emmory, who il the. contractor
for the Deaf and Dumb State Asylum,
has applied to the legislature for $500
600. to cover losses on account OF the
eight hour system. The facts are, that
when he took that contract he had men
working for him at eight hours, on the
California Street Market House. He
proved twas an established rule, though
then not a state law. When the law
passed the men struck for the hours; he
said he would sacrifice everything he
had before he would give it. He went
to w. L. Barber, British Consul, and
obtained British subjects to I'LL their
places. The job was TO be clean ham
mered faced stone, but the masons say
it is nearly one-third mortar. As soon
rs Emmory was done, he turned his
British subjects over to Stebbins, on
the Branch Mint The granite for the
mint is being cut fifty or sixty miles
below Sacramento, at ten hours Tor q
day. Just now there is q strike there
which 10 delaying the building. Had
Mr.. Stebbins acted fairly with the me-
chanics, during their dull times, .
large number Of men might be en-
ployed on it. If we, as q republican
party. wish to help our prestege, our
agents must not be allowed to harrass
the trade societies. He will not employ
q man of the Laborers' Benevolent
Society this is "nuts for the demo
Gratis quite q number of the Central
Committee favor his removal The
laborers charge IS per day; he is get
ting such men as he can at $3.50 per
day, and rumor has it that he pockets the
difference.
Nothing could do the republican
party more good here, than his prompt
removal. In private affairs man may
Ostracise his personal foes, but on build
ings erected by the government, and
paid for out of the common treasury,
where all help to swell its proportions,
it does seem that the tax-paying me-
chanic, who has built up this coast,
should have a portion Of the fund to
which he has contributed.
Owing to delays, but four mechanics
are at work on the building. Senator
Cole has acted wisely, and with fairness
to US, and we thank him for it; we don't
believe he would keep Stebbins on the
mint to our injury.
Those that trife with the feelings
and interests of the eight hour men
just now, are playing with nitro Slycer
ine, nor can they tell which blow will
explode it. Your friend,
a. NJ. q.