The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-05-03

tain our National Government. every dol |
Lar sPeculated upon by gorged corporations,
has tirst to be earned by our workingmen;
and coal miners freely contribute their
share. speak Of revolution; it is not
bloodshed. Sudden death would be too
merclful retaliation for our wrongs, be-
sides 1t would not give proper restitution;
It would not bring retributive justice. No,
we desire TO see them live to see the sordid
power of theirs and past generations; the
Baronlal power that has darkened the steps
Of progression and civilization, dating the
beginning away back to the dark and mid
die ages; dwindle away inch by inch, step
by step, until brought to their senses they
at last realize that the foundation Of all
their wealth and power rests upon the
shoulders of workingmtn that honest
labor is the creator Of all their earthly en-
joyment; nor do we desire the extermina-
sweat that fall from the bodies of work
lngmen. Capital We must have as long as
labor exists, but we mean that capital will
have its reward. and no more.
The foregoing may appear strange to the
most Of your readers, hence an explans-
ton: ! speak Of our miners, though it
may be applied to every trade organization.
In National organization, lies our only
safety. | am well aware that great many
of our miners who have suffered in the
past, will condemn me for suggesting the
idea Of national organization Of miners,
but they must not forget that | have suf
fered all they have suffered. 1t must also
be remembered that the rock on which we
ar.ltt f..xu Va h.. .taal
con light to guide us past the dangers Of
the future. The more numerous our num-
beers, the more power we will WELD Separ-
ate miners lodges, or districts may or
game; nay, may effect good local union,
they may be successful for year or two,
but there is no certainty when their de-
moraEZation will occur, let them be ever
so well organized. They cannot prohibit
other men from coming amongst them
whose principles are antagOnlstlc to their
own, and Just as soon this foreign ele-
ment is introduced, they begin to lose
confluence in each other and down they
20, step by step until they find themselves
cropping about IN degradatian and poverty,
when from the very force Of opprc ssion,
they are compelled to again organize. No
one to aid or assist them, unaided and alone
they must battle against an overwhelming
power, to be again and again defeated; and
whilst the poor workIngman is mourning
over his loss and defeat his wife shedding
bitter tears of sorrow, his children crying
for bread; all the money he has paid into
what he once thought relief fund, to
afford and III case of such tro uble, all gone
to assist the more INDECENT and needy, no
support to come from any other source,
hope dies, despair comes, and at last the
giant that might be, II associated with his
fellows nationally, the noblest handIwOTk
Of God, the only creator of the oppressive
power that gsinds him to the dust, must
succumb to the tyrant. How many miners
will bear me up III this ! ALI. Then BY all
means let US have a Miners National
Union. Not Capitalization of power in
the hands Of few Individuals but Ma
I tional Organization where the humblest
miner may let his voice and vote be heard,
and felt. The paternal affectionate ties
that bind the members of family, should
I also bind u.s. Are not ali our lives spent in
/ the same element Are We not subjected
| to the same damages Do We not huck
/ ike sheep before the shepherd to
any place where wages are represent
. eel 70 DE bcltcI lntu where we may
/ be employed. regardless of being instru-
mental IA bringing injury upon those who
have struggled To gam, victory that We
he .er lost a moment 5 sleep t. and IN get
/ ting, and after crOwdIng them out. have
\ them to hight their battles over again. How
| is 1t that where perfect local organization
exists that men are only required {" work
I eight hours, whilst there is no organization
men are compelled to work from twelve .,
1 thirteen hours Why cannot a miner re
/ ceIve the same price for has labor performed
in one place as well AS an another without
having to work twice the amount of hours
/ How Is 1t that miner, coming from Penn
\ sylvania or Ohio, to district No. ! II the
Y illinois miners Il. a y. a. has tn pay
500 to become member Of our organ
zation and then have to wait SIX months
\ before he can become beneficial member,
or entitled to benefits III case Of accidents
/ How is 1t, that If a miner should Jom our
district and pay Ia two or three years a
considerable sum Of money, and when he
7 leaves this district or State, land in a great
many places III our State It is worthless
and goes beyond the limits Of few dis
V tricts. travelling card is worthless Ii Is
simply because We are not united IN a solid,
compact national body Ii American mi
ners we're united nationally. We could rep
resent at least half million Of men II
our employers were once taught To know
I that If they made an attack upon the rights
Of any one single member 81 the Associa-
\ ton they would have to contend against
/ the whole body Of American miners, they
would consider well before they acted As
1t is they laugh at our local unions. just
50 long as we remain isolated and alone.
each lodge and district left separate 10 CON
tend tor itself, -just 50 long will We BE-
subject TO the dlctation Of Capital. and
| lust SO long will We be slaves to our own
/ bIgoted selishness. Millions If dollars
have been spent not reckoning the months
Of lost labor to organize and maintain ~
! cal unions and all 70 no purpose, for as
soon as the object was accomplished II
successful, 1t would gradually fall back 70
its old condition, Submissive Slavery.
| If miners we're united as a national body,
working under one constitution, sailing IN
der one banner, miner would find home
wherever he went, throughout the length
and breadth Of Americas broad soil
Again, If any portion III them engaged ia
A strike for justice, or IN defense Of ma
tiOnal union principles, American miners
would sustain them, which would lead them
To victory instead u defeat Ii American
miners were all united in one common
body and We're compelled to engage in a
universal strike, how long do you suppose
it would take Capital to nil our places with
negroes and Chinese, computing our entire
strength at halt million And if we
were united with our brothers and sisters
Of every other trade, and all working uni
teddy for the protection of labor against
the unjust oppression Of Capital, Why,
not even when Gabriel sounds his trumpet
They would not dare to do it. 1t is be-
cause poor ignorant labor has 50 long al
lowed itself to be an ahlect slave that Gan