The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-07-20
Appeal to the Machinists and Black
smiths of America.

Prom the NAehlsss and Blacksmit h. Monthly JounAI
FELLOW CRAFTSMEN The object OF this
appeal is to lay before you the true condi-
tion Of affairs in the city Of New York and
vicinity in relation to the organized effort
to reduce the hours of labor to eight per
day, the position we should occupy in refer
ence to this great social question, the bene-
fits we shall derive from a prompt and lib
eral support Of the brave men who are
now standing the brunt Of the battle,
and fighting our fight, while we are call
cd upon simply to furnish pecuniary aid
to enable them to carry to q snccess-
full Issue the contest for not only our anne
Iteration, but the elevation and emancipa-
ton Of our children and posterity. 1t is
unnecessary to enter into the details con-
nected with the Inauguration Of the gigan-
tic struggle of our brothers in New York I;
you are no doubt fully acquainted with its
origin and history. We will therefore,
simply refer to the Statute Books Of
the State of New York, the pages Of
which contain a Law declaring eight
hours a legal days work throughout
the state. Up to the commence
ment Of the present contest the law has
been dead letter. 1t was plain to be seen
that laws enacted in the interest Of capital
were executed promptly and TO the very
letter. WOrkingmen must obey them no
matter how injurious they may be to the
interest Of labor They dare not violate
them, for if they did the iron doors of the
dungeon would gapingly await their recep-
ton, while capitalists can violate laws with
impunity, and. yet no punishment awaits
them.
The workingmen Of the Empire State be-
came disguised with this pArtiality, and re-
solved to organize to enforce the laws of
the land, and, at the same time, secure for
themselves and children the benefits
contemplated by the Eight Hour Law
The building trades took the initiative
step, and were entirely successful,
as will be seen from the fact that the
men are receiving the same wages for
eight hours work that they were previously
receiving for ten. The stone cutters
and brick layers are receiving from "a to $5
per day for eight hours work while the
machinists and blacksmiths were receiving,
on an average, less than S2.75 per day for
ten hours work. These men, believing
that their labor was as profitable TO the EN-
: ployers, and as valuable to the country At
large as the labor Of any other class of me-
chanics, deemed it essentially necessary to
make move toward the extension of the
eight hour system to the iron trades Of the
United States. A mass meeting of the iron
and metal workers of New York and vicin-
ity was called to take the question into
consideration. and . resolution to demand
eight hours for days work on and after
I June l3, 1872, was unanimously adopted.
The employers were accordingly notified Of
the action Of the meeting. After consid
ering the demands Of the workmen for one
week they rejected the resolution of the
meeting for the adoption Of the eight hour
system.
Several thousand iron and metal workers
quit work Immediately upon the rejection
of their demands. Their numbers kept con-
stantly increasing, until over fifteen thou
sand iron and metal workers Of New York
stood in line, shoulder to shoulder, in
fierce and bitter contest for a reduc-
tion in the houn oflabor. The strug-
gle had lasted hardly two weeks, when
tfty-nine shops had acceded to the de-
mands Of the workmen and if you
respond promptly, we shall, without doubt,
be able, in few days, to inform you Of one
Of the greatest victories ever achieved by
the workingmen of any country.
The immediate benefits to be derived
from the adoption Of this much-needed re-
form, will be an opportunity to acquire in
creased knowledge-to improve our moral,
mental and physical condition, we will be
given an opportunity to become acquainted
with our families, in short, we will be given
an opportunity to become better men,
better husbands, better citizens, and bet
ter mechanics. FurtheHnore, prompt and
liberal response from you at this moment
will do much to build up our organization
in the East. In New York city alone we
can, by proper effort, increase our mem
bership to at least five thousand. 1t be-
hooves US, then, to put forth every effort,
exert all our energies and direct our whole
attention toward our struggling brothers
in New York
Eight hour leagues have been numerous
ly organized in the East, the members Of
which subscribe 81 each per week as long a.
the strike lasts Those who have gone to
work on the eight hour system contribute per
week the sum Of - each To those on q
strike
AS further proof that the men engaged
in this struggle are in earnest the MACHIN-
IsT AND BLACKsMITs' UNIcN and the ANAL.
GAMArED SOCIETY OF ENGLAND associations
that have heretofore been antagonistic t.
each other, have clasped handsupOn . com
mon platform and under one flag to battle
for labor's rights and independence. Thf
differences Of the past have been buried IL
oblivion, never to be resurrected. These
two powerful organizations hereafter vii
know no country, creed or sect, but hAnC
in hand together they viii 90 forth to con
quor or perish upon the battle field. L
will be readily seen that the men engaged
in and those near the scene Of action are il
earnest-they are heart and soul in th'
cause. All they require to make their Of
forts a complete success is your aid anC
sympathy. We hope no man will Hvu
grudgingly, but give freely, and what yo'
do give, give it promptly, we have not
moment we can afford TO lose. WhAteve
we do, must be done quickly. Send al
money to this Office. Send none except b,
Postal Order, Draft or Express. Send M
money In IN envelope, as We viii not be re
sponsible for losses unless sent in the man
ner above named. We win publish week.,
detailed statement Of the amount receiv
ed and disbursed II Is not necessary 3
send the names Of those contributing unit
the struggle is At an end. The money, q
soon a. received will be forwarded to tn
proper parties in New York. Let ever
, man, whether member Of the organization
or not give whatever his means viii Permi
} him TO give. The amount that each mA
} subscribes should be collected each week 0
/ long as the strike continues. We hav
! about ten thousand men TO support, com