The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-01-04

SAN Francisco, Cal, Dec. 20.
70 the Editor 4 the wosknsNAS's ADVOCATE
We have two investigations now going
on in this city. a "a one other that has re-
Gently taken place, exposing the reeking
corruptioR that exists among both S ate
and Federal officials. In one case-though
well known that certificate was withheld
unjustly from an opposition steamer con
tending against cooperative monopoly
who were III the habit Of putting their
steerage passengers and hundreds Of fat
hogs IN the same .en during the trip from
humboldt Bay To this port, the Govern
Inent official charged with the investigation
held it in secret. This important and re-
sponslble officer with whom the interest Of
our commerce anu the comfort and lives Of
the passengers and the rights Of citizens are
thus tritied with, ls = Dutch jew, as some
would say, OF rs others might term him n
German, of the lsraslitlsh persuasion, who
formerly kept tobacco and cigar stand.
but who having found favor with politicians,
has been promoted to a post, confidential
agert OF the GuvernInent), of whose duties
has knowledge and experience 50 far AS ma
rlne matters were concerned were acquired
IA the steorage If some vessel during n
trip across the Atlantic
The other two cases are defalcatlOns Of
wharhngers and cruel punishment OF INDUS
trial school children. During the Investi-
CATION, which dlscloses cruelty, drunken
ness, lewdness, profanity aud indecent
levIty GA the part Of the Principal he is
defended by two of the slperiOrs, Forbes
and Story. One witness was asked to try
and remember what the profahe wOr,ls
were Mr. Forbes did not want u know
what he thought they were, but IN few
minutes Afterward he wanted to know If
the witness thought the punishment was
more cruel than necessary This consisted
IN standing a boy three days and nights N
n safe, without sleep, and feeding him ON
bread and water, after being hrst severely
logged, for being suspected of stealing a
teachers pistol, but OF which he Was proved
to be innocent. Keeping them for hours
Ia STOPPING position, bending forward
with their hands touching box elevated
about one foot, and IN tins condition strip
ped and tIngged on the bare back, with raw
hide and upo.
The other case, defaulting ~hartingers
Ono, not a deitulter, demands to know
why he is dismissed. The reply, very per
tlnent in these days, Of civil service re-
form, | quote from the CdH MIR. o.
Farrell said he had asked for the dismissal
oi Walsh because Mr.. Bercnneld had the
rsyI.t ~ put SOME one elise la has place ; he
had the same right himself. lie had dis
charged some very good men and put in
hIs own frienas."
What a condition Of moral turpitude
have we come IT, And this has grown out
II our political system. II reform don I
come soon tho American people will be
ready to hce from this 10 any thing Rev
olutlon may come, and despotlsm follow,
unlcss the honest laborers rise in their
might and hurl from power and place these
cormorAnts. whose least offence ls that they
are gurging themselves with plumber they
are demoraliElng the whole country by their
examples, and their conduct, II much
longer continued, will make Imperialism
inevitable.
You say that the workingmen must or
game into labor unions. This is true, and
they must not exclude any class Of opera
tives because they are not first class work
men. DJ IOASWhAk JtAiS OouiSOy VIC hhiOA
layers of this city were able to maintain
the eight hour rule, notwithstanding the
persistent efforts Of Mr. Stebblns, bdildIng
superintendent Of the new mint, to destroy
their organization by looking up bricklay
ers who were no members Of the Union in
hopes the others would strike, and thus
give him and the Government Architect
vt Washington an excuse to send bricklay-
era from the East, which Stebbins was fool
ish enough to express his determination to
do. Stebbins went 50 far a. to threaten
to discharge the men he employed If they
joined the Union but they were all adj
united privately, and Mr.. Stebbins was
headed OF in his efforts to turn hundreds
Of honest workmen, with their families, out
to stArve.
The Unions must abandon their rule Of
refusing to admit any but first class work
men They must also abandon their hmi-
tation Of apprentices. These ara weak points
that destroy the efficiency Of their organi-
Nations. One Of these points was argued
at length in my Last, and upon both of
them ahAn most Gladly answer any OBJ