The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-02-14

obligations, it became an object to bring
Mr.. Jones into disrepute with his en-
ployers, and the superintendent of the
works was told that he (Jones) had pro
cured employment in another establish
mCnt. In consequence Of these rumors.
Mr.. Jones, Of his own accord, quit work.
He was, subsequently, requested by the
superintendent Of the Murray & Butteray
works to resume his position, but refused
to work with men who had lost their man
hood.
Shortly afterward he obtained employ
ment in the Govan Bar Iron Works. in
Glasgow, where he remained sometime
While here in the year 1857, he was promi-
nent in organizing the Govan Bar Iron
Works Cooperative Association, for the
purpose # furnishing provisions etc, to
the stockholders. Mr. Jones, in company
with five others, whose names were John
Forrest, a machinest John Forbes. a
blacksmith Morrison, an engineer, and
Joseph Parks, with T. p. Jones, were the
first members Of the association At the
second meeting twenty new members or
shareholders were added to the association.
They advertised for a salesman, and rented
a store. The first week sales netted
t25. After the first six months a
larger store had to be provided. In less
than one year the sales amounted To 600
a day and there was added to il boot
and shoe, a baker, butcher, and a
grocery store, all # which were doing a
thriving business. and the store is still in
existence
Mr.. Jones still continued in the employ
ment W the Goven Iron Works until 1862
when times became ~ duh he determined
to come to this country. On the 18th OF
June, 1862, he sailed from Glasgow, and
arrived in New York On the 18th While
stopping at the Eagle Hotel he was ltfered
a situation in - company's works but de-
clined to preferring the West to the East
On his way from New York to Cleveland
he got into conversation with a shareholder
Of one Of the iron works around Buffalo,
and was offered situation. and again dc-
clined, being still determined W w " est.
On July ,, he arrived III Cleveland. and
from there he went to Newburgh, " here he
got employment at Stone, ChlsOlms a
Jones works As a heaters helper. He was
not long IN this position when ne was
offered the charge of furnace by Brown
a Bro, Youngstown, Ohio. Gave notice
to the tirm that he was going to quit, and
his reasons for So doing. when they offered
him the same position in Chicago, where
their mills we're about 70 start. accepted
the position and came to Chicago in the
July, 1872, ana Was employed in their
works al BRIDGEPORT, South Chicago. About
this time the first Heaters Union was
started, and MIR Jones learning that there
was a Union at the North Chicago Rolling
Mills paid them a visit, and, subsequently
with the assistance of few friends al
Bridgeport, succeeded in getting the meI
at Bridgeport To- Join the Union. Owing t,
the difficulty Of the Bridgeport men getting
to meetings on the North Side. the herter.
of bridgeport organized Union Of which
David Reese was President aud Mr.. Jones
the subject of tins sketch, was Secretary
This Union encountered many difficulties
and was hnally dissolved. Many Of It'll
members suffered for their supposed
connection with the Union, but Mr.. Jones
was directly charged with being the pro
moter Of the Union, and was discharged
ON that account. For two years he wa
out ot employment. during which time h,
worked on his farm. In 1869 through tn,
influence of Mr. Hugh Mclaughlin, h,
obtained work as laborer at the Nortl
Chicago Mills, in which occupation Il,
worked for about SIX weeks, when he 20
shore Of furnace at pudding At tn,
request OF the superintendent, he went /,
Hamilton, Caneda, as heater, (the com
Z pany being Interested in some works there.
and worked in Hamilton two months on
single turn, and returned to the Chicag,
mills, where he worked at pudding for on,
year, when he got charge Of furnace as
heater. On his return to Chicago Mr.
Jones found there was no Union in exist
ance, and set about 10 organize Friend
ship Lodge No. |, of Chicago" 81 which
he was elected President. He now se
about to organize the Heaters Nationa
y Union, corresponding with many prominen
heaters through the country, and through
his advice and councils, a circular calm,
a convention 10 he held ON the 3lst o
August, 1872, aPermanent National Uniol
was established, and Mr.. Jones was electe,
President unanimously. He was re -electe,
at the Second Annual Convention. III
represented the Heaters National Uniol
at the Industrial Congress held at Cleve
land, Ohio, and was appointed deputy 70
the State Of Illinois He has taken
prominent part in all the difficulties tina
have occurred at the North Side Rollin
Mills, always contending for the right Z
the men
He is a strong advocate Of cooperation
system which he firmly believes vi
eventually elevate labor to its proper pos
ton IN the social scale Of society.