The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-19


Dear Er:-At the time I sent you the
circular calling the ninth annual session
of the New York state WorkingmenS' As
sembly, had no idea that you would more
than notice the same, or ct most give it
one insertion, but instead, manifesting
liberal spirit, you inserted the circular in
full for several consecutive weeka. At the
Annual Convention Of the Assembly, 1
called particular attention 20 your liberal
ity, and also presented the resolution
since published in the Advocate. The
report of the proceedings Of the Assembly
N publshsd in the Albany papers, was
very meagre. In accordance with your re-
quest sent you the papers containing the
fullest report, but did not see any notice
taken thereof in the Advocate. =
have taken back seat, and well back
at that, but have not deserted the cause.
shall continue to be an Interested observ-
or, il not an active worker, generally
speaking. My only connection with the
labor movement now, being ~ member
Of my local union, and acting President
and Secretary of the National CarpenterS
and Joiner Union.
As you viii observe in the New York
papers, We have a strike on hand, of much
interest to the inhabitants Of this city,
that Of the I" GdsmeH. for eight hours
labor, and a uniform scale Of prices
throughout the several gas houses and
companies which furnish light t. our city.
The New York Gas Company, where the
strike originated, have secured force Of
recently imported Italians, with a few
other other nationalties intermixed, whom
they colonize On their premises, to fill the
places Of their late employees, and from
present indications they prove but poor
substitute, as last night Sunday in the
section Of the city where | reside, tsouth
Of Grand street being the district lighted
by the n. u Gas Coz the lights in store
windows, public halls, churches, dwellings
and street lamps, began 70 wink and blink
about 9 O'Clock. Then they seemed to be
seized with a faintness; the Illuminating
powers growing beautifully less, and at ~
o'clock all gas illumination had ceased,
and candles were at premium. The New
York Su, Of this morning informs as that
two Of the new recruits have committed
suicide from the docks ON the premises of
the Gas Co., where they were employed,
from fear of the work they were called up
on to do. VIII the Gas Company hold
themselves responsible for the hives Of
these intended employees, strangers in our
land !
As vet there is but little else stirring Of
note in the labor field. As the spring ad-
vances have no doubt things will become
more lively, as most 81 our Unions are
strengthening their ranks and getting
things in shape generally.
The stone masons employed by cen
tractors on the relaying If the Harlem
railroad track, within the city limits, es-
pecially upon that portion between 100 and
Hath streets, which requires the labor Of
large number of masons, are on a strike
against the ten hour men, brought upon
the work by the contractors to avoid the
eight hour rule of the stone masons Of this
city. These ten hour men have been gath
cred in from the neighboring and distant
states, and from Europe A large proper
tion Of these ten hour men are non-citize. IS.
Many Of the Trades Unions take a deep
inter est in the strike Of the stone masons,
in support of the eight hour system Of
labor A deputation from the Unions Of
the building trades, have waited ON the
Mayor t. ask his intercesslon.
The horse shoers have also had little
difficulty in few shops among which was
one Of our city railroad shops. The horse
shoers being pretty well organized, they
will, no doubt, he well able to hold their
own.
Painters Lodge No. 10. young organi-
zation, located at lonkers, n. T., have
also been having a recent strike, with what
success am unable to say. have noticed
several advertisements Of late in "'ir city
pagers emenating from YonLors employ
ers, for good painters, While at the same
time, a notice appears frol' Lodge No. 10,
advising all those Interested in the we'll
fare of their craft to keep away from their
locality literally meaning: mo Painters
need apply.
The Master Builders Association are
very DESTROYS Of forcing strike with theE
EN- loyees, by compelling them to work BY
the hour, now that long days are at hand,
and spring trade commencing; their pur-
pose being "a break down the eight hour
system, 80 successfully won by the csrpen-
tiers and others Of the building trades last
spring. The men are decidedly opposed t.
any change, and if the matter is allowed
to rest quietly, there will be no strike OF
the carpenters tins season, of their own
seeking, but should the employers persist
in attempting 10 force working by the hour,
they will compel the men ~ stand out for
eight hours, and nothing more, nothing
less. An effort is being made to arrange
the matter through n conference commit