davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
SAN Francisco, Feb. IS, lS7

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. Is, 1871.
To the Editor Of IT, WoEKSGMASs Advocate
y our paper comes to hand somewhat
irregularly, yet ] know i j. not your
fault The last one i dated Feb. III I;
another should have been here three
days ago. Why it il, | cannot say.
There is fault somewhere, and your arr
ticle headed IA Popular FaIlacy" may
in some degree be an index to tile
proper cause. wish every man HI ;he
United States could read that article.
1t u one Of the very best | have read
upon that subject. That we are tend
ing To central government there can
be no doubt, and unless change i,
had in some way, We shall soon find
ourselves totally disarmed and the rome
around our necks. 1t il really lament
able to think Of the terrible whirlpool
We are trying to cross, without thinking
that we are only running around its
edge and coming to the center with ter
rible rapidity, merely to be swallowed
up in the fearful center Of political deS-
tructiOn.
Our labor associations are in A most
unpleasant condition. Many, very
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
FROM ILLINOIS
A. M. WIN
BATAVIA, ILL.,, March 10. 1871

BATAVIA, ILL.,, March 10, 1871.
TO the Editor of The woRKINGM,S's ADVOCATE
Al present ] am III The northern part
Of the State and | have been talking
reform to the people There seems u
be an intelligent class here, and they
think that reform j. needed among
them. There arc painters, carpenters,
machinists, blacksmiths and machine
shops, one paper mill, three churches.
one CongregationaliSt, one Methodist
Episcopal and one Disciple. Plaiufeld
il quite an interesting little town, stu
attd eight miles north Of Joliet, and
contains about 800 inhabitants.
Further on We find Oswego, a small
village situated N the Fox rivcr branch
Of the 4. b. q @ r. r.
Aurora, beautiful town lawn. 30
miles north of Joliet. contains about
5000 inhabitants Two miles north
Of thi- the branch runs ou thc
main track II is not very often that
We have the pleasure OF snch beautiful
scenery a. can BE- seen along thr III. w
x g. X. X. Times are dull ami mon
ey scarce, and people arc beginning
u wonder what the future Nil ~
Let all those who have been aroused
from their lethargy "a 70 work in good
earnest and try 10 enhghtcr them.
w III they have rnc rhangr? EVERY
where, IN group. ~ cIu hcar rr.rl.
tors talking III, fhn. over. and putin.
forth every "A w. II t,lt -l,. WrfkIi.u
classes. In thc town IF .Iolir' 3D. w. D.
z woOleu factory which employs about
1870 hanHs-myu ana women: Tow men
receive Sl.5n IRAN laN ami thc Women
"A per week. They work eleven hours
per day they IT appear to think % T.,
not rlght. But-thpN INV what In vr.
TO 10 Wc strike they viii Get other, nv I
our places, and the operators tell them
when they are tired working Them Jmc. .
hey can quit. Now, we would not All .
ise them to strike, but form them .
selves into a society and talk thc ding
m, and try tn work together tor their
rwn good. How long thi- state uf.
hings viii continue We canrot tell I.
1ut let a. put forth eyr.v -ffor in fho
advancement Of this cause lToumr
hat different feeling will soon exist
between employers am employed.
remain true to the cause,
LABOR RFFnuV
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
@ e.
COOPERATIVE NEWS.

A COOPERATIVE union is organizing
in California, for the purpose Of cult
waiting and manufacturing silk on a
large scale. The capital stock of the
company is fixed at $4,000 600, the
working shareholders TO pay for their
stock in labor, and property near the
mission Of San Jose has been purchased
by the union for $3.50, 900, comprising
about 5000 acres Of land, mostly good
soil for the cultivation of the mulberry.
THE Portsmouth, n. H., Cooperative
Boot and Shoe Company are turning
ont their first samples Of work this
week. They will make fine grades Of
sewed work.
The Chesapeake Marine Railway and
Dry Dock Company, of Baltimore, is an
association Of colcred caulkers and car
penters, having ship yard Of its own,
and doing a prosperous business. 1t
came into existence because Of the ac-
ton Of their fellow white workmen in
forcing them out Of the yards a few
years ago. Without capital they or
gained, held meetings, solicited aid,
and ten thousand dollars were raised in
five dollar shares They wcFc offered
one Of the yards for the sum of SAC, 900.
After the 500 had been raised. a
friend loaned them $4,000, taking
mortgage as security, and the purchase
was made. They were TO pay their loan
of $50, 900 in six years. It is a sufficient
comment OH their business success and
enterprise to state that in five years
they had paid their Indebtedness. and
that in addition to repairs and improve
ments, they have now on hand sink
ing fund OF about $4,000 in excess Of
dividends.
The warmest friends Of cooperation
have seldom thought of it as applicable
to any but mechanics and agriculturists.
There Is, however, no reason why il
should not work equally well in the at
fairs Of commerce 1t may even be in
trOduced among seamen nay, it has al
ready been introduced among se. men.
and with the best results. Speaking of
the island City Of Hydra, which was
coloDized by Greek boatmen who took
refuge there from Turkish tyranny, Gait.
in his Voyages and Travels il the Me
diterranean, says:
In paying their sailors, Hydra and its
sister islands-Sporzia, Paros, Myconi
and Ipsara-have a peculiar custom. /
The whole amount Of The freight il con.
sidered as a common stock, from which
the charges Of Vsctualing the ship are
deducted. The remainder is then divided
into two equal parts: one is allotted to
the crew, and equally ared among
them without reference TO age or rank.
The other part j. appropriated to the
ship and captain. The character and
manners of the Hydriot sailors, from the
moral effect Of these customs, are much
superior in regularity. They are sedate,
well dressed, well bred, Shrewd, informed
and speculative.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
TO OUR TRADE ASSOCIATIONS.

AS most Of our trade unions, at
least those whose members are en-
plOyed at oW door work-generally
lapse into cOmstOse state during the
winter months-a little extra exertion
i requisite on the advent Of spring, to
rouse them to a realization Of their du-
ty and position. In few weeks, per
hapS a few days, the hum of industry
will again resound throughout the land
contracts will be put in hands, work
men will dOff their coats, and the rate
of wages for the season will be deter
mined. In what condition are our
unions for such a state OF things q?
Why, before their eyes have been rub
bed, $500 or $3.50 will have been es-
tablished as the standard wages-after
which Organization, resistance and a
strike will avail nothing. Remember
an ounce a prevention is worth a
pound Of cure. Organize nOao-nsoc-
let every proficient workman join his
Trades union, and your seasons work
will progress, without the word strike
being mentioned either By yourself or
employer. Tn Il and see.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
COMPOSITION OF THE NEW CON-
GRESS

To our Republican and Democratic
friends who oppose the formation OF
third party, as unnece ssary, and who
claim that The Labor Reformers can
accomplish all they desire through
these, the two facti Ons, we commend
the following statement which we CLEAN
from the New York Globe.
Out of 3I2 members, comprising the
new Congress who have been elected,
l4l are acknowledged as professional
lawyers. Every representative from
the State of Maryland is a lawyer, and
the same is true Of Kentucky, with two
exceptions, and of Tennessee, Indiana,
and North Carolina, with one exception
each There is one business man In
Congress, one contractor, and of the
other occupations in life we have two
clergymen. four doctors, five manufac-
turers, the same number of farmers,
seven planters, the same number OF
teachers, eight bankers, eleven editors,
and twenty merchants Pennsylvania
and New York send nearly all the
editors to Congress, there being four
from each State. Alabama and Ohio
send one minister each. Three out OF
the four representatives from South
Carolina are black men. The State
which has the largest number Of trades
and professions represented in Con-
gress, is New York. Among them we
find brokers, editors, lawyers, mer-
chants, bankers, manufacturers, and
farmers.
Thus We may 60 through the entire
list, railroad and bank presidents, spec
ulators and representatives Of monOpo,
lies, are found on every hand, but &c,
look ia UGin for one man rhO represent,
or tohO claims to represent the interests OF
labor. Yet, we are cody told that the
wOrkingmen are rt-sighted-becaus'
they are in favor Of CLASS LEGISLATION
Friends, cut this item out, and the mex
time you hear any such twsddle-de-
mand the proof!
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
THE MINER.

Ar Ayondalo Pa. 80 men have returned
u work N violation of NV Injunction
Of their brethren. that they shall net
resume, until all are willing The Avon
dale horror even failed to convince those
men that, except IN suspension, thor. .s
10 salvation for them.
4 VEIN Of coal has been discovered
three miles West Of Fairfield, in Flee
stone county, Texas. II has been dug
to depth Of eighteen feet, and sam Tho
vein has not been gotten through. Thc
coal is said TO be Of a superior quality.
AZ il burns readily and creates intense
heat.
TIE Pennsylvania railroad compa-
MES announce that they will carry sup-
plies for the suffering French people
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
FROM CONNECTICUT.

At meeting of the Labor Reform
ers of Connec ticut, held at New HaveI
on the 22d Of February last, Of which
A. W. Phelps was chairman, the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted
We, the workingmen of the State OF
Connecticut, holding these truths to BE-
self-evident, that all wealth is the pro.
duct Of labor, and that every man is en-
titled to the legitimate results of bis
own toll and while we cannot close
our eyes to the fact that the wealth OF
this country is fast being concentrated
in the hands OF the few, the conclusion
forces itself upon our minds that under
the present system of business ar
engagements gross injustice is done the
tOiler in tho amount of compensation
awarded him for his toll, at the same
time he has under the system and for
nation OF the different parties, no fair
and legitimate voice in representation
affecting his interests we therefore
believe that it is our duty to form ].
State Labor Party, knowing that any
amelioratiOn of our present condition
must be mainly accomplished through
our own efforts, in order to enable US
to advance to that state of moral and
intellectual culture TO which all work
ingmen are capable of attaining there
fore be it
Resolved, That we earnestly invite the work
IDurppD AZ fhir Gtata tn ,pst /,
our endeavors to unite All tradesmen in the
State as one man, to demard that class legisa-
ton and legislation solely in the interests Of
capital should entirely cease
Resolved, That in our opinion the only way
to obtain ourjust demands is BY electing repre-
sentative men from our own ranks, who will
have the subject at heart and the courage and
will to carry out the principles that actuate us.
Resolved, That idle promises carelessly car
ried out by the leaders Of any of the great po-
Htical parties, have not the charm for us that
they have had heretofore.
Resolved, That we appoint a State Central
Committee from the cities and principal manu-
featuring towns 10 the State, to take such ac-
ii as they may think proper 10 regard to
calling State Convention and forming a State
Labor Party, and also looking 70 the securing
Of Representatives in our State Legislature,
and any such other business as may be advan-
tageous to the general labor interests Of the
State
The following State Central Commit
tee were then elected:
New Haven, James A. Peck; Hart
ford, Willis b. Franklin Meriden, o.
f. Williams Middlefeld, Ossian At
kins South NorwaIk, Nelson ] Graw;
Bridgeport, Luther b. Hart; Windsor,
George Nawschatfer Norwich, Fran
els Freckelton ; Windham, William P
Gates Danbury, George H. Davis
Derby, Joseph Moore. The Committee
elected James Grogan chairman Of the
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
LEIPZIG, Jan p, ISL
pr q the WoRKISGsAN's Advocate.

LEIPZIG, Jan. p, 1871.
I To th- Eder " ne WoRkNGsAN's ADVOCATE
CONTINUED.
The notices and articles written by
them arc used in different ways Some
are published in two separate sheets,
one Autographed and the other printed,
the former (Zeidler's correspondence
independent-that is, not acknowledged
by the government, and therefore able
to move unrestrictedly; the other-pro-
Ilnclal correspOndence-otficial: that
Is, avowedly Influenced or inspired by
the government, but without being Of
fetal. These two correspondeuces are
sent At q small charge-only nominal,
or, if desired, gratis-to every news
paper in Berlin, in the Prussian prov
lnces, and in the rest Of Germany.
Being a specifically German and
rather local, character, they are not
sent u foreign markets of far great
cr Importance are the direct relations
81 The Press Bureau with the newspa-
Pers and newspaper writers not actually
in the pay Of the government. These
relations are If two kinds Firstly, The
members Of the staff provide the edi-
tors with articles, long and short, more
or less liberal or conservative, conform.
ably "a the POLITICAL shade Of the re-
spCctivc papers, but always with the
same tendency The operation per
formed very diScreetly, and il is quite
possible that an editor may not be aware
of the true nature of his well-inlormed
Berlin correspondent though such
naiUete lingeniousness) can in no case
last long, since the cuckoo's egg, ~
ounnlngy dropped in the nest, must in
due time burst and disclose a young
bird of a shape not to be mistaken In
this manner at least hundred German
newspapers and reviews, amongst them
the larger ones almost without excep-
ton, are served and if we add the
little papers that live upon
the big ones, can say with
out exaggeration that the majority Of
German newspapers print what is
written by members Of the Berlin Press
Bureau.
Secondly-and this is perhaps the
department Of their activity most
fruitful to the Prussian government
the members of the Press Bureau are
either a. body or AZ private ndivid-
uals, in regular communication with
the reporters and newspaper CORE
,pondents Especial and non-speciaD
together at Berlin, furnish
hem with the necessary mate ias, and
make them the channels of Neo-Prus-
,ian Bismarckdom.
There are few hundred newspaper
in Berlin, of all politi-
;al opinions, writing in all languages
md to all parts OF the world, and of
hese few hundred not dozen keen
themselves free from contact with the
Press Bureau. Even for a man of prin-
,iple, who loathes the system, it Is not
Easy TO escape all contact; and as for
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
LABOR ITEMS.

The iourneymen painters of Detroit
are on a strike because their employers
refuse any longer to allow them to quit
work on Saturday afternoon one hour
earlier than on other days, privilege
they have enjoyed ever since the war.
They held a public meeting Thursday
evening, and resolved to resist the in
Dovation, and to form a cooperative
union.
S. 2. Cummings and f. H. Haywood
discussed the Trade Union question at
Marlboro, March eth, and at Hudson,
March 9Th.
THE Brooklyn workingmen are de-
sirous Of consolidating their unions
for united action in securing eight
hours.
The Printers Union of Albany have
amended their constitution so as to pay
500 towards the funeral expenses of
deceased members.
THE journeymen Coopers' Of Detroit
held 2 mass meeting on Thursday eve
ming last, which was addressed by Mr..
A. M. Foran, president of the Coopers
National Union, at the close Of which
a branch society was formed-number.
ing 60 members
THE Painters of New York are advo-
eating the formation throughout the
United States of secret lodges Of paint
ers, similar to the Crispin organization,
bringing into such lodges all painters
throughout the country.
A letter recently received by Gen.
VIM, from New Orleans, gives the
following as the average rate of wages:
Mechanics about So per day; some get
four and as high as FIVE. River pilots
\ get $3.50 per month, between here and
St. Louis walters, $3.50; deck hands,
S45. LabOrers on the sugar plantations
get from SIS TO $50 per month and
found. On cotton plantations they get
less-frOm $I2 to SIS.
The report of the Massachusetts:
Bureau of labor Statistics is already il
the hands Of the printers, and will b,
issued in a few weeks.
In France they have an established
system OF legal tribunal, for deciding
contests between workmen and manu-
fsoturers. Both parties : represent
ed. There are four councils, covering
as many departments Of industry.
AT a meeting of Industrial Reform
recently held in San Francisco, Mr.
Campbell, got off the following telling
point in relation to Chinese impOrta
ton
"The steamship company running
vessels between here and Panam;
found they were not making as mucl
as they would like, and threatened t.
stop the line; but new thought sprung
up, and they have applied for doubI,
subsidy on the Chinese line, 50 as t,
double the trips. In that way thev
can kill two birds with one stone. Tn,
Chinese steamer could bring doubl,
the number of Cinnamon, and thereby
drive away the larger number Of whit,
people, which would be carried to I'll,
Atlantic States by the Central and I'm
ion Pacific Railroads. Seeing that tn,
one and the same set of men own Their
all, they, by this means, make a splen
did Sp eculation off the sutferings Of tn,
masses
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
FROM MASSACHUSETTS,.

The following Eight Hour Memorial
has been presented to the Massachusetts
Legislature:
Whereas, poverty is the great curse
of majority Of the people Of the com
monwealth of Massachusetts, and
Whereas, the knowledge by which
poverty can be made impossible
would be worth more than the cost
of the experiment herein proposed, and
Whereas, The abolition of roverty
means a more equal distributor Of
wealth through the natural and ac-
ceptable causes which have already
secured It's better adoption in America
than in any other part of the world, and
Whereas, the worlds wealth is dis,
tributed through the wages system, and
to increase wages without increasing
the cost of production is to secure a
more equal distribution of wealth and
Whereas, to increase wages until they
reach the point where they represent
the exact earnings Of the laborer is to
effect such a distribution of the future
accumulations Of capital as to render
cooperation in its production possible
and
Whereas, a reduction Of the hours OF
labor to eight per day wonld increase
wages upon the same general principles
that our educational, political and pro-
gressiye institutions have made them
higher in America than in any Other
part of the world and
Whereas, to prove to the entire salts
| faction of the masses that the genera
adoption Of the Eight Hour system
would increase wages considerably
above the rates secured to labor by ter
or more hours toll per day, they mus
first DC satisfied by actual experiment
that wages cannot possibly be reduced
by the reduction proposed; and
Whereas, the adoption of the Eigh
Hour system by the state, cities anC
towns of Massachusetts, would prove
the soundness OF this claim and thu
Justify the succeeding Legislation neces-
sary TO secure a more general reduction
1hdO wages may DtSlH W lHClCdSC
wealth be more equally distributed, AM
poverty sufficiently reduced to iustif,
the still greater reduction in the hour
Of labor necessary to It's final extinc-
ton
Therefore, the undersigned, com
mittee appointed by the Boston Eigh
Hour League, respectfully ask fer tn
enactment Of law hy which all me
chanics and day laborers, employed b
or on behalf of the commonwealth o
Massachusetts, whether directly or in
directly through persons, firms or corpo
ratiOns contracting with the state, shaI
conform to the reduced standard D
kigh Hours a Day, recently adopted b.
Congress for national employees, and als
for an amendment to the Acts OF III
corporation for Cities and Towns, b,
which all laborers and mechanics en-
plOyed at their expense shall conform {,
the same number OF hours.
EDw. Ii. ROGERS,
GEO. +. MCNEIL,
IRA STEWARD,
EDw. Il. PLACE,
ELEANOR ID. RoCKwOOD,
Committee Boston Eight Hour League
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11

ined his bank account and found that he
had on deposit 1921 Sc. In the five years
be had not lost day from ill-health. Three
out of Eve of his fellow workmen had in
the meantime become drunkards; were
worthless as workmen,a d were discharged.
The water dinker then bought out the
prin ting office, went on enlarging bis bu-
siness, and in twenty years from the time
he began to put by bis money was worth
100000. The story, whether new or old,
teaches lesson which every young mechan
ic should Law to heart.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11

National administrations. The Democratic
party has existed in active organization since
the commencement of the present century
There Is no just demand Of the lsboFina men
which II Is not prepared to indorse. Ia fact,
the democratic party is the laboring mans
party. Il has always opposed legislation whose
tendency is to Cypress labor II has always
set its face against the creation and fostering
Of great mOnOpOlies and greedy corporations.
we defy the citation Of a single act Of the
Democratic party injurious to the interests Of
the laboring men. We defy the naming of an
instance where il has failed to respond fsvors-
bly, to their demands. To suppose, therefore,
that this great party with al its glorious ante
cedents, with its bright record Of honorable
deeds, will surrender its organizatO IN to any
10 valuable addition 70 its platform, is an al
surdity.
Well, well, it's too bad that the mem
bcrs Of the National Labor Union don't
look at matters in the same light, and
possess the common honesty on to
throw that organization into the hands
Of corrupt, antagOnistic and almost
defunct party, in order to give It new
lease Of life. But there is no room in
this country for more than two polite
al parties Very well-the Labor u ion
proposes to be one Of the twO-and
fight il out On the declaration that
there are but two-the sKINNERs and
the SKINNED When the masses re-
ceive Justice at the hands of either the
Republican or Democratic factions, it
will be by a different class oAmen than
those who to-day control the action Of
both, and who are too well satisfied
with the old jog-trot labor rO6bing pro-
cess, to destroy the system which ere
ateS ii.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11
A Lesson Worth Remembering

The following item, clipped from an ex-
change, is worthy the attention Of those who
don't believe in saving five cents:
The New Orleans Picayune tells the
story of a printer, who, when his fellow,
wOrkmen went out to drink beer, during
the working hours, put in the bank the ex5
act amount which be would have spent if
be bad gone out to drink. He kept this
resolution for five years. He then exam
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-03-11

these gentlemen will soon leave with
flea in their ears. If the National La
Dor Union cannot stand on the merits
OF its principles, the sooner it goes
to the dogs the better; but no man or
class of men can make 1t the tail OF
either the Republican or Democratic