The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-08-05
FROM MISSOURI.
ST. LOUIS, July %, 1871

ST. LOUIS, July 70, 1871.
To the Editor of the woRKnOMAH's ADVOCATE.
As | have not had the great pleasure
Of receiving your valuable paper for
four weeks l am not apprised of the
success Of the labor movement In ref
erence to our coming congress J. the
arrangements for hotel accommodations
and for hall to meet in; and now the
question comes, What are the trades
doing in the city to make the Congress
a success ?" Wake up, oh We men Of
toll bring out your strong men and
show to the world that st. Louis can
entertain the representative men of our
party, and at the same time show some
of our leaders that although they OPP
pose some movements, that others can
fill their place and the labor still 60 on e,
and after this Congress adjourns that
the political convention, composed Of
labor delegates, can meet and nominate
candidates for President and Vice Pres
ldent-Chase and Lindsey.
But enough Of this. Trade is very
dull in the city, and some Of the EN-
ployers are talking Of reducing wages.
One firm, who does large business in
painting, informed his painters that he
must reduce their wages They were
compelled to submit, and, wherefore,
because they had no Union. The next
move was that the boss painters met on
Friday last and organized Union, and
the next movement will be a still great
er reduction in wages, and higher
prices for painting. The very man who
first reduced wages was elected presi-
dent-a man, who twenty years since,
worked as a journeyman, but now
boasts $l65, 900 in stocks, real estate,
&c.
But who would starve men by low
wages? How long will God allow such
men to grow richer and still richer
from the labor of poor serfs ? No pain
ter with family can make living on
1925 and $3.50 per day, and Z! and 8
months work per year. Let the paint
ers see to it and form q Union; and
right here, is this not a clear case for
the national government to interfere
Let the political papers answer. The
formation Of X. K. K, by its monied
power to reduce wages, compel
strike or reduction. How is it Mrs
Journal who demanded 3eary's or |
Grants interference in Pennsylvania
My communication is already too long,
but one word more and am done.
Let all Trades Give st. Louis as wide
berth as possible, anu, v lIUrcr3-o9 Be !
cause too many are here for the amount /
Of work doing, and wages are very
low and no prospect for any improve
nent in that direction. Upon the whole
it Is played out city all blow, much
smoke but very little fire. Why, sir,
they seize whole railroads for taxes. No
other city on the continent would allow
such disgrace.
Come up to the Congress, oh! ye
sons Of toll both mental and physical;
men and women, black and white, and
come prepared to legislate for the good
Of the whole people, and while our gov
srnment goes begging on her knees in
foreign lands to borrow money, let us
show, in tones which must be heard, !
hat we have balm in Gilead to heal |
the financial problem, and let's lay the
wires for Chase's success, and we must
win. My motto is Chase, greenbaeks,
success, prosperity, good wages, plenty
Of work and happy laboringmen. Hoping
fol. your journal large increase in her
subscribers, l remain, as ever,
SHoo FLY.