The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-12-21

able.
Richard was asked to sing by Spindle,
Allsound, and Miss Relvason. They ask
ed him to humble hilA, because they
thought he could not sing. He declined
demurely, but looked pleadingly at Vida.
Il win play the accompaniment for
you" said Vida.
Then I will sing"
TO M CONTINUED
Common Sense Advice.
no she Werkangmen o. she AAahracise Csal
Fields.
GKNTLKMKN Il address my letter to
~ the workingmen Of the Anthracite coal
6slds, because what have to say in for
the ears and consciences Of non-unionists,
= well - those connected with, and still
iAithfel 10 the M. a L. b. A. You have
already ren4 y the columns Of the Mowi-
~ - Hep44 a what wa done st the
i>5i1 - - - Ekmsezl Gouncil, and
the reports there presented Of the condi-
tion Of the organization.
While l feel like congratulating those
who have " held their own in the face
of unprecedented "hard times and in
spite of the virulence and power Of our
enemy, l cannot avoid feeling sad, when
| reflect upon the falling off in members,
and the almost total lack Of discipline ex-
hibited in some of the Districts. need
not tell you that while in many places
the bad management of officers and the
influence of malcontents have contributed
much towards impairing our strength and
influence, the main fault lies with those
possessed with that craven spirit, moral
turpitude and dread of honest combat for
an honest purpose, that has induced them
to pronounce the union imperfect and un-
availing because In q few skirmishes pre-
hmInary to the final contest-which will
soon be upon us-we have been worsted
There is no manner Of use in longer deny
ing the patent fact that the cowardice and
lack of unanimity of purpose and action
among worklngmen Is the most formidable
weapon in the hands of our adVersaries, the
weapon without which he would find it
impossible to keep us in subjection. am
no advocate of the unlimited rule of brute
strength, nor yet Of the rule of numbers,
unless their power is directed by a wise,
honest and conscientious spirit. But we
are living in q Republican country, and
every man ia, or ought to be, convinced
Of the righteousness and policy Of q ma
jOrity government, when tempered by a
desire to confer :" the greatest good upon
the greatest number" For nearly hund-
red years this country has prospered under
a majority rule, and while it is not per-
feet system, it has assisted us to become
one of the foremost nations of the earth,
and to do better for labor than any other
country. But, while q majority of all
the people have elected those who have
made and executed our laws, such laws as
have been enacted are not reflex Of
popular views or suited to the popular
needs. Our laws are such that the capi-
talist without violating them, can visit
upon labor terrible-an inhuman oppres-
sion, and he has not been slow to avail
himself of the opportunity. The conse-
quence IL that labor is everywhere poorly
paid and lily treated. 1t is the office
Of Trades Unionism to remedy this evil,
but the performance of the task requires
a unity among workinglnen. Have we
such unity | admit you, we have a strong
organization but il it as strong, numeri-
cally, as it should be Few will have the
hardihoOd to say that it is. And why,
ask you again, Ia it not so Because
too many Of them, are COW
ards and skulkes. The man who refuses
to cooperate with the union may either be
classed under these two heads, or be
proven to have some sinister, some unman-
ly end in view. l am talking plainly.
know it the occasion requires it.
alafln hua IN faxu
mammoth corporations the control of this
entire coal region; these corporations are
in the hands of men who have neither
heart nor conscience. They have but one
aim, they make but one endeaVor to get
money for their stockholders. They care
not how many lives and limbs are sacri-
feed, how many are made widows and
orphans, how many suffer from cold or
hunger in their service. They have but
one Object-GOLD. And they are supreme
in power when We are supine but, if we
choose TO act unitedly, we can, without
doing violence to the law, either God or
the land, checkmate them in their dishon-
est moves and protect ourselves and our
families. Will We do itl That il for you,
men, to answer. Thirty thousand men in
one organization, governed by the one
law, moved by the one purpose, can make
the asstocrats of the coal fields rail
road corporations, n impotent Al q babe
unborn. And now, if ever, il the time
to establish such an organization. Every
indication points to a goOd-paying, if we'll
governed, trade hereafter. Iron il higher in
price than ever heretofore, more furnaces
are in blast than ever heretofore Europes
coal fields are becoming exhausted all
the various industries are prospering
labor in other branches Of trade 10 better
paid, and can afford to pay better prices
for coal than ever before What then il
to hinder Us from demanding and securing
our owni Only . continuance Of that to-
be-deplored disposition "to suffer ills
while ills are sufferable rather than give
little time, . little attention, little
money, little courage, TO an effort for
their removal. Remember that, fellow
workmen, voc CANNOT BE FORCED TO SILL
YOUR LABOR FOR LESS THAN 1T Is WORTH,
III YoU WILL BUT UNITE TO RESIST SUCH AN
IMPosrrIoN. THOs. w. MILES,
President Eastern Diuss.om
Cossacl M d L. B. A.
A Remarkable Expedition.
The avnadifion about IN h.e da~p~4chod