The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-06
CHICAGO DETROIT AND CINCINNATI SATURDAY JUNE 1874

Johnstown are out ON strike against OPP
precision and state Of slavery worse than
that of the negro Of the South before the
rebellion. We believe our cause to be
Just, and that il we had our rights we
should long ago have been ut work. instead
Of being placed in such an unenvIable posi-
tion as strikers. We also know that we
have power to deal with that il un-
scrupulous IN its dealings in this unequal
conflict If might and wealth on their part
against right and poverty ON ours. But
the greatest enemies we have to deal with
are those who should help US in this com
bat ; whose interests are identical with our
interests who, il we fail, will at some
time share in the failure with MS. We re-
fer to those of you who are mining the coal
which is being sent to Johnstown daily to
supply the mill, thus prolonging the strike
and keeping hundreds cut of work, whose
only crime against the Cambria Iron Com
pany is, that they are lighting for pUn-
ciple. We therefore ask you to consider
over this matter, and do not let few
dollars earned ut our expense in prolonging
this difficulty cause you to act against prin-
ciple and against the fraternal ties which
should exist between workingmen every
where, knowing as you all do tha' union
there is strength; but, if we a all
united on this question, and act e,Ainst
each other, we are playing into the hands
Of capitalists, whose sole object is to enrich
themselves by grinding still lower in the
dust those whose only capital is their
labor
We hope better things of you, and that
La i la
your spirit of manhood but that you will
show yourselves men, and not try to injure
your fellow workingnen by psndering to
the interests of a monopoly which already
groans under its weight of wealth, wrung
out Of the hard work and low pay of its
employees.
Brothers, whether you are Union men or
not, remember that our defeat, which you
are directly contributing to, means your
defeat, our success, your success ; your
interests and ours are 30 closely blended
that what Injuries us will at some time in
jure you in like manner. We ask you
therefore to refrain from sending any more
coal, and do not let anyone call you de-
moralized niggers
Should this appeal of ours pass un-
needed, you may at some time, not far dis
tant, hnd yourselves in the same condition
as we are now, and you will be known
among men everywhere AZ the towards and
knaves who helped TO injure the cause Of
the men of Johnstown."
1 trust their anticipations of an early and
triumphant settlement will be realized.
The men of Minonk, Ills, are still in the
held. The dull season there as in the
other cases, is telling on them in protract-
ing the struggle. Many of the men have
left and are scattered all over the country.
The remainder keep out man to man, and
believe the black legs who are digging
there, have about ruined the shaft and
cannot much longer be kept running.
the Lincoln men still hold out, and have
very quietly resigned themselves 70 a strike
Of a whole summer, and allow it to run
surrender their cOlors. They are peculiarly
situated, being so fixed tnat if the reduc-
tlou can be forced upon them, it then
passes over the entire district. No other
work in that region has rs yet, mentioned
the propriety Of reducing. Thus it be
hoyes the whole rejoin to support and as
slst them, for in 80 doing they are but
keeping their own prices intact, and yet
have more work and money than they
otherwise would have.
The Danville, Ills, miners are still in
the condition as when last reported. They
stand against reduction of 20 per cent.
The men IN this case AS in some Of the
others, have offers t. compromise the
dispute by accepting 10 cents of reduc
ton. Then they are willing to dig the
coal for 80 cents per ton instead of 30 cents
as offered. They have been getting 81 per
ton heretofore.
One Of the mines at Snoddy's Mill,
Indiana, have also been forced into a
strike under circumstances similar to those
as related Of MInonk. If they succumb
the other works must come to the same
figure. From every part the cry Of dull
times comes, and | think you will agree
with me when you read the following,
which is a sample of hundred such that |
have in my possession.
B., Ills., May %, 1874.
DEAR SIR: 1t is with regret that ! am
obliged to write you this. We are not
getting sufficient work to support our
families we have collected the statements
of the earnings Of some Of our men, who
have worked every day there has been any
since last December. These aggregate
from $50 to 500, some have fallen short
even IF that estimate. Understand me,
this is for four months past, and for the
present month the time has run - to 20
cars at 80 cents each, take from this 81 for
rent, $3.50 for powder, IS cents for oil,
and IS cents for smithing, and $3.50 for
fuel, and we have the handsome sum Of
%3 10 to supply the uecessaries of life for
our families, or perhaps our board If
single.
Does those men need reduction in their
wages We might ask those who are
always inveighing against the miners and
their big pay, without knowing anything
about the facts, and who are ever ready to
blame because they form unions. If this
state Of affairs does not justify general
combination of the miners from one end of
the country to another, then cannot think
Of anything that will justify. If the
miners had been prepared the way they
should have been, they could have con-
trolled ut least the price of their labor if
they could not the quantity. | cannot
think of any better reason to advance in
behalf OF the miners rolling themselves
into one solid phalax, and be prepared at
the very first chance to take possession Of
the lest ground, than pointing TO the above
note, which is fair reflex of the condition
Of our mining regions generally at pre-
sent Very truly yours,
JOHN JAMES, Sec. M. U. A.
ARBITRATION.