The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-06-18
PHILADELPHIA. JUNE Is, 1870.
G. BEN J.. RsPosssa

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and Pennybacker, boss coopers Of this city.
This is the finn that inaugurated, and has most
relentlessly prosecuted the crusade against the
union of this craft, lately organized. In Obedi-
ence to the spirit OF these resolutions, large
number of coopers have remained locked out
OF work ever since, rather than renounce al.
! legiancs TO the union. Work Is slack in this
trade, and aided by this and other circumstan-
ces, the bosses continue relentless, and pro5a-
bly,, nothing will indre them 10 succumb, until
recurrence of better times. We cannot CIR.
rectly estimate the number out, but know il
to be quite considerable. This was the condi-
tion Of things, when in the early morning Of the
| llth instant, the fire alarm announced that the
large building In use by Messrs S. 4 p, was 10
possession OF the devouring element The de-
partnent was speedily on the ground, and
succeeded in staying the flames, after damage
to the extent Of about 1900 had been done.
Scarcely had the various companies composing
the department returned to their respec-
tive houses, ere they we're again signalled to
attend another large fire. The structure upon
Oswego street, below Washington avenue,
which attained national notOrety during the
war, as the Cooper Shop Refteshment Saloon,
and which is now occupied by two firms en-
gagged in the cOOperAge business, had caught.
The fire at this place destroyed in the aggre
gate. about 81 500 worth II property, belong
ing to these two firms. Again, on Sunday,
the large establishment belonging to VIM. B.
Thomas, on Willow street. fell partial victim
to he voracious element. Until quite recent
~, this has also been a cooper shop, whereat
barrels for use Ia the proprietor's large mill,
have been manufactured. A short time since
they commenced altering the building, to
adapt it to grain elevatiug. The alteration
was not completed ct the time of the &C.
currence The story will 60 out to the COUP
try, Il 10 natural to expect, that the coopers on
strike in Philadelphia, in their maligniey
have destroyed, through the agency OF the in
cendiary's torch, three large cooperage estab-
lishments
The fact that difficulty il pending between
the coOpers aud their employers, in this city,
~'N N'~ NHN"itJ AhuuOibnuiC idStS bhat buECC
coOpering establishments have been partially
destroyed by fire, within the space of forty
eight hours, will give color to this story, and
The ranks of those who deny to the working
man bis inalienable right Of combination, will
doubtless, be considerably augmented by con
VERT whom the plausibllity Of this story will
attract. OF these three fires, which have fol-
lowed so closely upon The heels of one another,
two are believed to have been cases Of incen-
diarism. The third one, that at the establish
ment of Mr.. Thomas, was lighted by the hand
Of God, at whose dispensations no mortal has
aught of right to complain. The electricity of
heaven, during the prevalence Of a rain storm,
communicated the spark which eliminated in
the destruction Of the structure. For setting Ere
TO the old Refreshments saloon, party by the
name of Attridge. has been arrested, who has
no connection whatever with the coopers or
ganzaton, and who is alleged to have stood
trial upon more than one occasion on the
charge Of arson. Ia view OF these facts,
though the naked circumstances are of a sus
picous complexion, there is no direct evidence
as yet, that will, or can implicate in the mat
ter, any member of tho Coopers Union. On
the contrary, the coopers, as an organization,
are convinced that the Optrage-for outrage we
certainly rate it-cannot be traced to any of
their members, and we have been unofficially,
though We believe reliably informed, that they
propose instituting researches looking to the
discoV cry OF the rascal.
We are glad that the coopers have resolved
upon the pursuit Of course so manifestIy prop
er, and which looks to the refutation OF long
standing charge sgsinst the workingman, which
we believe to be baseless as the I" fabric of
VISION The sterling intelligence of this coun-
try is to be found among its working classes,
and we have the authority of the most eminent
that our mechanics are our middle classes, and
that in this mediocrity, morality is much more
popular than IN either the strata above or be-
low it. Yet, writer's in the pay of capital, DO
not scruple to make a statement with one
breath, and deny it with the next Even work.
ingmen themselves, are frequently quite willing
to confess that they are Of q class which is
neither moral ror intellectual, and yet, very
few of them would hesitate to resent, physi-
cally il need be, an accusation that their pecun-
ary betters are either morally or intellectually
such, as individuals
This, however, is but another evidence Of
that sel6shness of mankind which affects alike
all classes in all climes, and which, perhaps,
az e oha
form. IF the coopers. BY the action they have
so wisely resolved upon, succeed in ferreting
out the scourdrels who have effected no good
whatever, but whose conduct, IN case Of their
non detection, will have attached unmerted
odium upon the union, in dispeling the too
widely accredited belief, th4t trades unions
are intended to shield, and do hide volators of
the law they will deserve the thanks Of the com
nunity No matter how heiDeus may be an
outrage, wrong done in retaliation il never
justified by it Il has the effect rather Of ex-
cusing, in the eyes of people. always ready to
jump hastily at conclusions, the original imposi
ton. 1t is BY no means certain, 10 fact there
is not one item Of evidence to prove that
other particular, since the Inauguration of the
lockout, 10 view Of which, we beseech the pub
lie to suspend judgment, until all the facts are
in its possession, when, if they 60 to implcate
any trades unionist, as faithful conservators Of
the general tranquility, and Of our own inter-
ests as men and mechanics, We promise to call
loudly for his or their punishment
A MORNING daily expresses the quiutessence
of slrcasm, in an article pronourcing it un-
safe TO rive Colonel John W. Forney the guber-