The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-08-08
FROM ILLINOIS.
La SALE, III, Aug. 3. l87

LA SALE, H., AuS. o 100 L.
To the Editor Of the woRKSeNANs ADyocArE.
1t is with unfelgned pleasure | announce
to your readers we have started the Eight
Hour system for miners working in the
mines. In establishing this system We
met with less opposition from the operators
and miner owners than we expected. This
may be attributed to the fact that We did
not interferfere with the day men but con
fined it exclusively to the men who are
digging coal.
There can be but little double that the
system viii become general, and that those
who are working out since, or What is com
monty known as the
DAY HANDS
will soon adopt the same principle. With
these we have not meddled we leave them
t. manage their own affairs.
THE NATIONAL UNION.
1t is the general opinion here that the
Miners National Association will become a
power IN the land yet. If our men will
only wait patiently, and work earnestly
much can be accomplished. 1t must be
admitted there are many drawbacks to 1t.
Lodges have been formed in many loca-
tons and while some have worked in strict
Accordance with the principles, and inten-
tions of the National Union, there are
those who expect more than 1t Is possible
for the Union to accomplish. At the next
meeting Of the National Association the
defects Of the past can be remedied, and a
brighter future looked forward to.
THE GOOD TINE COMING
We are looking ahead 70 better times
coming, when our miners will be running
full time then it is the intention of the
men Of this district to do something for
your valuable paper. At present our
hands are tried as most Of us are either
idle or only half employed. And even
now those who dare speak up for their
rights, and the rights of their workmen,
are victlmized. | myself have been dis
charged because had the temerity to de
mand the rights OF my fellow workingmen.
| do not make this fact known from any
desire to place myself before my fellow
wOrkingmen as a MARTYR. | assumed the
role in which | am now laboring from
choice. ] am not sdjdried pensIOner,
50 do not tire Of my work.
To-day there are men in the labor ranks,
whose devotion to it can only be compared
to the self-styled patriotism of so many Of
our pot house politicians. Men whose
ideas of suffering in the cause of labor is
only imaginary, men who never had the
first concertion Of what it was to suffer in
the cause of labor, and who have not had
the moral courage to stand the storm when
it comes, but will desert it for more lucra-
tive positions. 1t il thus that labor is in the
back ground, because those who can advo-
cate its cause do it from pecuniary stand
point.
But there is class of men yet among
the working people who are determined to
fight the battle to the bitter end-men,
who like yourself will stand by the labor
movement through thick and tmn men
who have espoused it as the cause Of JUS
tlce and humanity, and no offer Of emolu-
ment can swerve them from their path Of
duty.
| cannot close without saying q word in
regard to your valuable paper it Is truly
what its name indicates, the WORRYING
MANS ADVOCATE. 1t is liked by every
person that sees and reads it, and when
times gets better, you can rest assured q
that you will have 3 goodly number of sub
scribers. | herewith send you few names
and more will follow in a short time.
Yours in the case Of labor Y. w.