The workingman's advocate., 1870-04-23

front, who took their lives IN their hands, vi
planted the Gag Of victory over the bayone
that cleaned the brightest. and shs bulle
which few the thickest-had . nobleF purpo
in view than to enrich the pampered few at Il
expense Of the telling millions. Il vas to d.
fend and perpetuaIe our republican institution
| and Il behoves you 10 see that their lab,
shall mot be in vain.
ann frequently told that American mechan
| ics have more privileges than their Europea
brethren. and consequently have nothing |
fear. But It 70 well TO rememb,
that It is not the possession. bs
the proper use Of these privilege
that can avail Aught in the struggle for u
mastery that the same causes vii produce th
same results, and that Il American institution
are not the same a. European INSTITUTION
American human nature ia It Il true, how
however, that IL these privileges are used wisel
and dull. the evils which now threaten to d.
stroy the liberties OF our people can be re-
moved, and that We need never have the horror
Of . French revolution. with their inevItabl
attendants, the barricade and the gullotine
enacted in our own favored land
I assure you il will give me great deal o
pleasure to announce to your fellow-craftsmeI
throughout the country that you have triumph
ed in the contest, and any effort OF mine
whether BY voice or pen, which can in an,
measure contribute to that result, will be cheer
fully and promptly given. Let every man pres
ent work as though success depended on hi
individual exertiOn and my word for It, D.
next Saturday night you can establish your owl
rate Of wages for the ensuing year.
Before sitting down, permit me to say dt
not believe in or advocate an indiscriminat'
denunciation of EMPLOYERS. rhev are no bet
ter or worss than other men. Bot If you ex
D ct to win. you must act on the good ole
democratic idea that God helps those who help
themselves. thank you gentlemen for the
kind attention you have shown me.
At the conclusion Of the address. Mr.. Cam
eron was highly spplauded, and, IL tact, was
interrupted several times by lOudeapplause dur
ing the delivery Of the address.
Mr.. John Norton said that Mr.. Cameron VS.
entitled to the gratitude Of every plssteEer tor II
was evident to every man who knew him, that be
had bee the champion Of the lsboring classes.
Re hoped 10 see them all united, for in unity
there was strength, and without unity there was
no cooperation. He informed The meeting that
he had inserted an advertisement in three OF
the daily papers, the Times. Republican
and Tribune" notifying the plssterers OF
Chicago that they would meet next Tuesday
evening 10 st. Georges hall, No. 926 Clark
street.
1t vas moved that a general strike Of all the
plasserers il the city should take place on Mon
day morning, but after more serious consider
alton the matter was deferreduntil next Tuesday,
when all VIII, had signed the obligation should
be admitted free, as members OF the Chicago
Operative Plasterers' Society, and then If they
thought proper to do so, they could have d
general strike on Wednesday morning.
The Secretary then read a reply to an article
which appeared in to-dsys edition Of the Tri-
bune." The reply was as follows:
CHICAGO, ILL.,, April 2, 1870.
The many plAsterers who were formerly
" rking in the Insurance Exchange Building,
have read with unfeigned disgust the abomina-
bic lies which were printed in to-days issue Of
the Tribune" and deem it their duty to
answer them.
Tn the first place, when the men struck, they
asked for 81 per day, and we're ordered out Of
the building like dogs. That building was not
heated solely for the accommodation of plaster
ars alone it was done for the protection oI
the owners Of property it was done on purpose
"a nreyent the frost from injuring toe work
and there was less wages paid to the men work
inc there than several other boss plasterers had
Maid all winter, whose names can be given
whep il becomes necessary TO do 10. Before
the plastering in that building was started, tvc
of our number asked the superintendent fol
work in any shap,, 90 they needed il he gave
them two DAYS labor, and paid them rs pei
dav. few days before the superintendent
himself ready to start the plastering
,oanv of our number applied for job, but they
were ordered out Of the building, as none o.
them had ever been done so before. Severa
were employed, and because it was thought
that there were too many, they we're dis
charged without an hours notice, and then not
paid until pay day, which was several day
afterwards
The geutlem IN who wrote the article in ques
ton. Il ct aware Of the contumely, sh tme, anC
DEGRADATION that the name of scab" implie
ann %. all honorable mechanics th;oughou
the United Stairs, or else he would not hAv,
considered il as being light punishment 70
the men who deserve is; it Is enough for th
men themselves who will have the name o
" scabn attached to their name forever Il
know the meaning Of the word.
The PIasierers Association have not an,
never will use their charter and the seal Of th
State OF Illinois attached thereto, for the puE
pose Of covering or sanctionlng any act Of vic
ience, That body Is composed Of honorabl
men, as to-dsys proceedings ought to testify
The men went there In a body to receive thei
wages. and although policemen we're statiole
in, and around the building, dressed i
civilians clothes, We are happy TO state tina
their services were not ctllei into requisition
for we are determined to fight the battle 8
manfullV begun, to the bitter death, and thl
battle will be fought in the true spirit of man
hood, and no other than Just and lawful mean
shall be used to accomplish our ends. We
not attempt to check any Improvements, bu
we consider the Improvement of our own condi
ton to be Of more material value to us tha
any other in the universe.
| PIssterers cannot be had just yet for % De
day, although It was boasted on that buildin
that they could be had for that sum. Az ther
are not negro plasterers enough In this city {
finish the job, they had better send to the Sout
for a cargo of men, whom the Almighty in hi
wisdom never meant to be equal TO white mer
In any shape, form, or capacity in life
By order Of the committee.
The meeting then adj Durned, to meet in 8
Georges Hall, on Tuesday evening, April 6It
1870. JANIS JERyREYs,
Recording Secretary.
CHICAGO, Ill, April 4, 1870.
| At meeting of plasterers on strike, held
s.: Georges hall, 926 Clark street, Mr.. Jane
Jeffrey, Jr., in the chair, the minutes Of th
previous meeting wereread and adopted.
member having brought word to the ha
to the effect that he had been speaking wit
our employers, and that they had signi6ed wi
lingness to come 70 terms, the chairman az
pointed q committee OF three, who were reques
ed to ask Mr.. Dickson to come to the hall. NJ
Dickson came and after having spoken a fe
words to those present. in regard to the strik
he wished to know whether the society me
we're determined to have one or two rates
wages, as be did not think that those VT
could not cornice were entitled TO the same pa
as those who could. The chairman informe
! him that there should only be one rate Of va
ges, as in every other city, that both he and Il
other members considered it but right and ju
that those who did the heavy and dirty part
the work, should receive the same wages
those who did the 6ne part; they were 8
needed In the building. The chairman furth
said that l27 men had bound themselves BY
most solemn oath, not TO work in that buildiI
until there was a guarantee given that oil u
men who struck should be employed again, al
receive 81 per day, and they (the men I
strike) had also pledged themselves that tn
would not work for el0 per day TO any 9th