The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-06-10

These prices were fixed upon by an
umpire, and, while not regarded as
fair, we believe they will be religiously
adhered to for the balance Of the year,
1871. We have estimated the wages
up as high as 1925, but the most
sanguine do not expect coal to average
more than &2.75 for the balance of the |
season, while many predict that 1t will
fall to $2.25 in two or three months.
Neither do the men in the other regions
believe that they are receiving their due,
but the truth had as well be told; they
hare been literally starved into submission
to the terms herein named Our readers
are all doubtless familiar with the fact
that on the 18th Of February, up to
which time the consuming public had
not been put to any serious inconveni-
ence for want Of coal, the men, through
their council, decided that all should
resume who could agree upon terms
with their employers. Many took ad
vantage Of the offer and resumed, and
others were preparing to follow, when
it was announced that representa-
lives OF the several r. r. Companies
leading out of the region had been in
secret conclave, and as a result Of their
deliberations, had announced stimuli
taneously an increase of tolls that would
effectually prevent any shipments of
coal. Readers of the ADVOCATE, this
was the most hellish conspiracy that
ever was organized against the labor
ing man in any enlightened country.
Without warrant, either in law or
right. the money lords Of Pennsy lvania
consolidated their might and strove to
break up the miners organization, which
they had begun to fear. Guaging their
expectations of what it would effect in
the next three years by what it had
effected in the last three, they saw in
the Workingmen's Benevolent Associa
ton an enemy to their wicked schemes,
whose proportions were not to be de.
spi-ed, and so they made one grand
effort to kill it. But rather than sur
render their organization they agreed
to 90 back to word on terms at which
every sense of justice revohs. In this
voluntarily mourning present hardsbips
to perpetuate the organization to which
they owe so much, the miners of Penn
sylvania have set an example that
should put to shame workingmen in
other sections and other industries.
Their organization is yet intact, and
its vitiated strength and depleted trea-
sury will be re-invigorated during the
time for which they have accepted the
terms on which they are now working,
and when that has expired, there is no
reason to doubt that they will again
come out for right.
There one thing else for which the
miners OF Pennsylvania should be
earnestly commended. The spirit Of
national labor unionism is strong and
still strengthening among them. They
have powerful organizations, separate
from their Benevolent and Protective
Association, the members of which are
pledged one to the other to lay aside
all their old political prejudices and
fight the battle of the laborer at the
ballotbox &C well rs in their trades
union. Those "rough, uncouth, ig-
norant, debssed foreigners" who delve
in the mines, who are regarded by
many as merely a connecting link be
tween brutes and men, We feel justified
in saying, are paying, to day, much
closer attention to the labor movement.
to the bad actors, the maladministr atOrs
of the men now in public Office than any
other class Of men in the country. They
read more, study more and debate more
among themselves upon those matters,
matters that are Of vital interest, not
only to them, but to all working men,
all honest men, than any others. They
have evinced and do evince a faithful
ness to one another that is not merely
commendable but glorious, and instead
of being rated, as they generally are,
among the lowest of laborers, they
should be taken as exemplars by all
who love theiIcountry and their fireside.
We cannot close without making
mention of the fact that out Of the SO
delegates to the grand council of the
NJ. & L. B. A., 20 are total abstainers
from the use Of all Intoxicating drinks.
Here, again, is a noble example for
other working men to follow.
A FRAUD.-We understand frm in
this city is advertising in some Of the
Eastern cities for 200 bricklayers. We
hope the officers of the various unions
whose attention may be called TO this
announcement, will inform those inter
ested that there are already more brick
layers in Chicago than there is employ.
ment for.