The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-11
yindication Of tslc Butchers Union
No Extortion-Eair aMd EIOnOrabE.

yindication OF the Butchers CniOa-
No Extortion-Fair and Honorable
Dealing.
Messrs. Editors,-An article appeared in
the Saturdays issue Of your paper styled
"A Complaint Against the Butchers
League Our active business engagements
of that day prevented any notice of this
scuriIouS article in time for Mondays paper :;
and even now we hesitate as to the necessity
or propriety Of attempting the least defence
to an attack so groundlesS. unauthorized
and mmcritcd. We do not believe that the
public have any taste for, or desire to hear, u
discussion upon the subject introduced by
this Mr. Ciyis," and we would gladly not
obtrude ourselves did we not feel impera-
lively called upon to deny bis many misstate-
ments and absurditieS and while stripping
the subject Of the false covering he has given
it, ct the same time offer To the public some
explanation Of the object Of this association
which "Civis" denomnates rs infamous
league,' with the Cry Of bastard" "eXtor-
tion," &C., &c. II it were such one rs
"Civis" and of his friends, the "indepen-
dent" for which we write. we could only
suit by retort in the same character Of eX-
pletives which be SO thoroughly masters.
But it Is for the better public that we write.
1t has been found wise and expedicnt by
printers, painters, bricklayers, and, in fact,
by the mechanics Of almost every trade i'll
Guiding doctors and other professionals, in
order to obtain system and concert Of action
in their business, as protection and safe
guard to themselves and the community, and
also to elevate and if possible dignity labor,
TO thus unite themselves into associations for
such support, the practical results Of which,
everywhere for good, fully attests their wis
dom. This, with all of its good results to
buyer and seller, has long been in successful
operation by the butchers of the northern
cities. Here this class had long been imposed
upon by lot of pretendcrs with their adj
juucts. Their was no system or regulation
In their trade. Every sale of stock witnessed
an unseemly strife among them. They were
completely ut the mercy Of brokers who pro-
fited by their division. They were thus allied
to men without any skill, knowledge, or re-
straint In the prosecution Of Legitimate bust
ness, and whose conduct but served to retain
the unjust stigma which seems to follow
their trade. Therefore, to elevate this btlsi-
ness, II possible, and give to it that charac-
ter and responsibility which 1t is as much
entitled to have as any class Of mechanical
trade in this city, we formed this association,
published to the world its records, acts, and
dongs, not concealed, but ever open to the
investigation and scrutiny Of this commu-
nifty. Even in SO short time the sensi-
BILE and right-thinking public will bear
witness to the good results. 10 our
selves it has allayed strife, added cour-
tesy and respectabilty in our dealings.
To the public there bias never before been
exhibited so full and choice selection Of
meats, and at prices not greater, but in some
instances less, than heretofore ut this season
OF the year. The charge made, that we ara
BY this means practieing eXtortion Is simply
untrue. The instance cited Of one of us, by
means of this union increasing his profits
5000 in one month, is simply without founda-
ton, whatever may have been. jocularly or
boastingly said.
No, Messrs. Editors, we are class of poor
mechanics Git such wu may be called, hard
working, claiming industry and honesty in
our trade, exposed as few Others are to Sum-
mer's sun and winters cold. AS q general
rule, we have accumulated nothing, toilins
hard for profits which simply give support. to
our families.
Surely no reproach should attach to us be-
cause Messrs. George Schwalm, Peter Burk,
L. DIVER, and freedman's friend Brooks
choose the association of such as "Cigis
and his independents rather than us:
Election Is the only door to our union, and
for this purpose we do not seek them. They
possibly find more congenialty in the com.
pany Of the independents" championed
by q Ciyis," who affect much public good by
cries of league" eltortlon,' Sc. Yet
can the laif and honest people of R;enlnond
be tleluded by this great zeal aud iutsrest ne
mauifrsts In the.n? Will they not stop to
INQUIRE IL he is disinterestedg This lest
cause is, I'VE scaH certainly spend our little
nss.es sr.th the independents.'