The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-10-03
CORRESPONDENTS.
FROM ON 10.
CINCINNATI, Sept. 70, "a.

CIScINNATI, Sept. 20, "a.
To the Editor o. the wokKRsNASs ADVOCATE
Mr.. EDITOR The labor movement in
this city is at a stand still, with the excep-
ton of the usual efforts Of the old unions
to increase their numbers doubt much
If the movement receives even a moments
thought from the large majority Of wealth
producers. Efforts have been made at vari-
times to reorganize the Trades Assembly,
] regret to say without sufficient success to
| warrant the continuance Of the effort.
There are few unions always ready to Co
operate i'll such a movement, always ready
both with delegates and money, but there
| is a spirit Of arrogant selhshness in the
majority Of the unions, that will never per
nit such a co-operationsof the several
unions, as is vitality essential to the &C
complishment Of any desired end. The
printers, the machlnists and blacksiniths,
the uphoisterers and and thu mOulders, can
be relied on at any time, for both men and
MEANS, to forward the labor movement
but the fifteen ortwenty other trade unions
eithef know too much, or too little to be
drawn into any movement that would be
calculated To show them their likeness. Per
haps the most compact union in the city is
that Of the bricklayers, but they know
nothing, care nothing about any other of
the sons of Adam, except bricklayers. The
plasterers, once upon time, were Just as
powerful and selfish As are the hricklayers,
to-day they are the lowest If the lew. Such
pride is sure to have fall
Business has not to any great extent re-
covered from the effects Of the panic, the
number of idle men is not noticably large,
but short hours and shorter ray is the
rule.
There are nov three large " rat" news
paper offices III the city. The i CONNER
cial' has been one for some years, and
lately the good Deacon Smith, the lead
| ing proprietor OF the Gazette, by one of
the dirtlest tricks on record, made rat
Office ont of the Gazette and the
Evening Tunes followed suit The
other trade unions, apparently hold their
own, but the unorganized trades have suf-
fered terribly; in some cases wages have
been reduced fully nifty per cent, while
the average would not be less than twenty
FIVE per cent There is not a trade union
list in the city who does not realize that
during the past year he has received many
fold, all that he has ever expended on his
trade union. Verify, they cast their brsad
upon the waters, and it has been and is
now returning To them.
Our annual exposition is now IN full
blast, attracting many thousands froEI the
surrounding towns and cities it Is certain
| ly well worthy a visit. the average daily
attendance is ABOUT %, 900. There has
been some talk Of having holiday towards
the close of the exposition, to be devoted
to grand procession of the wOrkmen Of
| the city; the trade unions 10 be invited to
turn out as such. Such a recognition of
trade unions will not, however, be hsd-it
would be too great concession on the
part Of employers who run the exposition,
and might be the means Of reviving to
some extent the spirit Of independence,
which has become extinct in many
trades.
We are now in the midst Of our political
campaign; there is but very little interest
manifested in any Of the several contests,
except the race for Congress in the Second
District. The Democratic nominee is Gen.
H. b. Banning, the present incumbent,
who was elected two years ago as Liberal
Republican.
The republican nominee is Hon. Job.
Stevenson, who represented the district
! previous to Banning's election. | doubt
much if it was possible to name a man in
the district who would have a ghost of
chance TO beat Banning, unless it was
| Stevenson. True, Stevenson was a salary
grabber, although he fought against the
steal before its passage, yet he Is the most
| powerful man on that side Of the House
Banning has both in the Legislature Of
Ohio and ~ Congress, proven himself a
warm friend of labor, ever willing to lend
his influence when given the opportunity
The same can be said Of Stevenson, so that
the votes Of thinking workingmen will be
cast according to their personal like or dis
like for either If the candidates.
see by the newspapers that the Ma
chinists and Blacksmiths Convention, at |
Louisville, have determined to put an or
ganizer in the field. | bespeak for Gin
cinnati, the first visit; we have few thou |
sand Of those trades, who could and should |
be organized. One weeks faithful work |
would make the NJ & BIS of this city |
have powerful union, and if ever place |
needed such all institution, that place must |
he Cincinnati. H. j. WALLS.