davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
LABOR ITEMS.

THE Lackawana and Coal Company, Of
Scranton, Pa. have suspended work, throw
ing seventeen hundred men out of employ
ment.
REPREsENTATIvE Luttrell, Of California,
having received telegram from San Fran
cisco stating that the contractor for con
structIng the dry dock at mare Island Ma
w Yard had employed force Of Chinese
laborers offered resolution for adoption in
the House Of Representatives, directing
the Secretary Of the Navy to put stop to
such employment Of coolie labor on govern
ment work.
The Massachusetts Labor Reform Party
will make no nomination Of candidates for
state officers this year, bat will draw up an
hour Law for all classes of men, women and
children, and present 1t to every candidate
for office this fall, for an explicit answer as
to whether he will support it. The labor
party in this state holds the balance Of pow
er, and will only use it for the election of
men favorable to its principles.
THE new mines started at Franklin Fur
mace New Jersey, . few months ago will
cease operations about the LIST of July in
CONSEQUENCE Vi the UTILITIES VI inc run
trade. All the workmen Of the Franklin
Iron Company will be put on short time
and only sufficient employment given 70
the married men to afford them . means of
subsistence.
Two hundred and fifty dollars viii be
offered at the next Georgia stated fair for
the man who will produce the best living
for family Of eight persons on the email
est number Of acres.
The Journeymen Tailors Of New York
have recently been Agitating the matter
of calling . trades convention for the pur-
pose Of considering the best means for uni
ting all the trades unions in that city in q
. central body. At . meeting recently held
for the purpose Of obtaining IN expression
on the question the project was defeated
by vote Of 500 for, 70 5l4 against.
A SAVING OF FIETEEE PER CEEr.-The
July issue of The Machi,ists' 4 Blacksmitks'
Journal says The attention of our crafts
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
MAPLEToN, PEORIA Co., ILL.
June 20, 1874.

June ~, 1874.
To the Editor o. the woRKNsNASs ADVOCATE
Having few leisure moments, thought
best to let the community know how we
get along at Mapleton. Our bank Is only
working about half time, and the men
average about thirty-hve tons per month
in the rooms. We have four or five men
at our bank that claim to belong to the
entries, and when the entries have to be
worked they say they have a right to
them, and if they cannot have them hon
estly they will have them dishonesty, 80
they have them any how. The entrymen
and yet they call themselves union men.
| claim to say that union is to live and let
live. but it is not so with them,
We have Company store here, and if
our men do not do their entire trading at
this store they cannot work at MaPletOn.
If a man puts too large . bill on he is
grumbled at, and if his account is too small
it does not suit Besides this. they charge
the miners higher prices than any other
store in the county.
Mr. Gillfoy is our coal proprietor, and
George Bethard is his partner in the store.
The latter is self -conceited and know
nothing and sluggard, as the Bible calls
such. We all blame Mr. Gillfny for allow
ing him to do SO, as he Mr.. G. has to
stand good for all mems accounts left back
on the store account. l think we need a
cooperative store here, if any place in the
country does and when we dig sixty tons
at Mapleton, which is $50, and take off for
the powder-3t kegs at $3.50 keg-
$15 10, and house rent, 81, and fuel, y. 80,
and sharpening, 81 90, and oil, 81. 10, and
So tor keeping the tools in repair, and
last Of all pay discount on our goods IN
store Of about % per cent, ant cash
business at that, we have the net I'M left
Of $50 10 to maintain our family o. TAX
ing per cent of this, we have only SO. 10
worth Of goods for our $50 10 income. We
have great many horse backs in our coal,
for which We are paid only about one-ifth
their value. / will say our bank Is accord
ing to law, and our pit-boss understands
his duties as far as he is allowed to 90 with
his boss. | will bring this note 50 a close,
hoping it will find its way to your valuable
paper. Yours truly,
MAN OF Coon MEANING
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
FROM OHIO.
A MAN OF Coon MEANING,

CLEVELAND, o., July !, 1874.
To the Editor Of the woRKINsAAS's ADVOCATE
The miners of theWesley City Coal Com
pany, Tazewell Co., ILL.,, are on strike.
The cause for which they have struck Is
the discharge by the Company Of the lead
ers Of the Union. They have advertised
for new set of men to take the places "a
the old hands. They say in their Adver-
tisement, e. No members Of the MINERS
UNION need apply" This they might
have saved themselves the trouble Of put
ting in, as none Of that class will disturb
them in the contest with their men. This
Company, we fancy; might do better " to
bear the ills they have than fly to others
that they know not Of" 1t Is true the old
hands are Union men," but how long
will the new hands be till they too are
Union men ! Not very, or past experience
teaches nothing This is q small pretext
for q company to discharge 200 men upon,
who, at any rate, were not getting more
than half time. Union men elsewhere will
note this place in their memorandum.
At Renick, Mo-, q similar course has
been pursued by the bosses. The men
there are discussing what is best to be done
strike 10 sustain their men, or yield them
some support while idle. The latter policy
looks to us as the more discreet at all
times, and more especially just now.
The situation at other points remains
about the same as when last advised.
Braidwood has had an offer to compromise
their difficulty BY the G. & w. Coal Co.
Offering to make the reduction 20 per cent.
off and allow the pushing money to remain
az it formerly was. The men reject this,
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27

,,.n who have pot - yet connecsed tnem-
. IL. 9TH our orgpnlzatlon, ~ called To
- com uasrcial feature which gives our
members the necessaries 81 lie on an aver
age fifteen per cent. cheaper than they can
bs purchased u retail by any body outside
Of our order. We hold that it is the boun-
den duty Of every machinist or blacksmith
in the country to take hmm sdiate steps to
secure the benefits Of this important feat
ure. Ii is duty they cwe othemselvss
to their families, and their fellow working
men generally If all who are eligible to
membership would enron under our stand
ard it would DO matter of little concern b.
secure wages commensurate to the value
of our services. All that is required is in
telligence, perseverance,, and little pluck.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
Rev. h. o. Skeletons Essay.

We direct the particular attention of our
readers to the essay of the Rev. H. 0.
Sheldon, published on another page. He
brings to the consideration Of the subjec;
aripened judgment, bought in the bitter
school Of experience, an honest, heartfelt
desire to amelioraJe the condition Of his
fellow toilors and we believe that like one
of old, he has almost persuaded the out
side world to become Labor Reformers,
and the committee to award him the offer
ed reward.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
FROM MICHIGAN.

PONTIAC, June "a, 1874.
70 the Editor Of the woRKseNASs ADVOCATE.
Who ever met with a newspaper that
suited everybody While workingman
may read the sensational and literary
papers for half a century, and never en-
counter anything that will set him to think
ing or devising means to help himself, he
cannot take up single number Of the AID
vocATE without finding ample materials for
thought on questions that vitality concern
his interests. No paper in the world 80
all its aspects. 1t is not sufficient to read
it once and throw it aside. 1t will bear
reading two or three times, and the ideas
presented must be pondered over in the
mind. The fact cannot be denied that
workingmen don't think enough. What
makes the difference between the patient
drudge that goes to his toll day after day,
and the man that he works for : Brains,
or rather the right use of brains. The last
man is always devising some scheme to
obtain power or wealth. He manipulates
caucuses and conventions, fills Congress
and State Legislatures with his tools, con-
cocts banking and railroad bills, directs
public opinion through his well-paid press,
is continually elevsting himself by crowd
ing down the workingman. And what is
the latter doing while his untiring enemy
is at work 7 Drinking ale or whisky,
Harper or the Ledger, trying to enjoy
himself, echoing the party cries and voting
the party ticket which monied despot
has "ixed for him.
1t is folly for workingmen to sit con-
tentedly with their mouths open, waiting
for rich men and corporations to fill them
with bread. Look At the weekly reports
in the Advocate strike here and there,
thousands out Of employment or on half
pay, with more or less tyranny and misery
everywhere. There il an incessant conflict
between labor and capital.
Who will devise . remedy for this unsat-
factory condition Of things2 Not the CAPT
talist, surely, but the workingman. And
to do this the workingman must work with
his head a well a. his hands. All work
inRmen and women desire, and ought to
have, constant work and ample wages at
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
SAN Francisco, June "a, 1874

SAN FRANCISCO, June "a, 1874.
this city are on the increase, but still there
are plenty of hands to do III the work re-
quired letters have gone east giving the
most fiattering account Of our want of
hands it Is not so, and my advice to
mechanics is to stay where they are, If
they have employment at reasonable
wages.
THAT OUR CITY
is a great center Of commerce all must
agree, and that improvements will increase
in accelerated ratio, there can be no
doubt, but l have never seen so many
strange faces at any time in the last TWEEN
ty-6ve years. Our population keeps pace
with the demand for labor. If young
men come, and cannot get work, they can
travel men Of family must stay, unless
having enough with them to shift about or
go back.
THEY MUST
bear in mind that they have not very
long but expensive journey in getting here.
and if they do not start with enough to
get back, they are taking desperate chances.
The man willingto work at anything for any
price until he can do better, is apt to make
his way through the world anyhow, and If
q single man unencumbered, | like to see
him put his energy to the test, it may
make man of him.
THE FIRST FIRE
in battle, shocks the nerves of most men,
but becoming familiarized with the sound
Of cannon and whizzing of bullets, they
forget their own danger in the patriotic
desire to win the battle So it is with
men who start out for themselves they
become more self-reliant when they know
they can paddle their own canoe. . The
world will need such men, and particular
ly will labor require their daring, industry
and enterprise to insure success.
SINGLE MEN
can lay down on the ground and sleep
sound, If they cannot get q bed, but the
man of family must leave them provided
for, if he goes out to hunt new lead for
future action. He cannot sleep sound on
q rock, il he fears his wife and child are
suffering.
I have been through the mill, and know
how it il, but az would not learn from
the experience and advice of my father,
don't know that / have any reason to hope
that others will learn from the little
have found out
FOR MANUFACTURING.
This IN the greatest country in the world.
We hsve no winter, no summer, and moth
ing 10 prevent success. III man in indus
trious, ingenious and energstio with the
money 10 be independent, he il sure Of Q
fortune, unless the damon. Of dissipation
should obstruet his pA1h; on that account
hundreds have fAllqm BY the wayside in
this country and hhiadrsds more are fast
digging their own graves.
A. III. VIM,
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27

and offer 10 take 10 per cent. of. There Ia
now 8 cents per ton only between them.
Siney 10 In the East ut present, working
NJ the interests Of the Association. He
will be all of Q month there. unless some
nportant occurrence at some other point
should call him away.
During the week past We have had large
accessIons u the Association.
Truly yours, JOHN JAMEs-
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
What is thought Of the Advocate.

Our agent at Colchester, H., under
date of June %, writes as follows
Your paper is very well liked by every
one that takes it here. And on Tuesday
evenings after the mail is distributed you
may see crowd gathered around one who
is reading aloud the mining news from
Ohio, around another Who is reading Mr.
James letter while at different places
may be seen others more selfish, devouring
all to themselves its interesting contents
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27

took religious inclinstion, and joined the
- church. He cruld not, however,
be full member under three months
time. As theps are no liquors Of any dis
cription- neither malt, nor sPirituons
sold in this place and his trial
w.a more than he could stand, he paid
visit 10 u neighboring town. Bryant had
became imprudently familiar with John
barley corn, and "old rye" in consequence
Of which he could not join church, because
he black legged it, and now he is trying 70
be revenged on the coal diggers. Time and
patience works wonder, 50 We will wait
and see the result.
A CUBAN.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
A CUBAS.
OuLEsBY. j nne %. 1874.

OGLEsBY, June %, 1874.
To the Editor q the woRKIs0HAS's ADVOCATE.
Life ia the present day is apt to degen-
crate into one cesseless round Of constant
work We fancy that the virtues Of in
dustry and perseverance, Of whose praises
w. have heard SO much are best exemplifed
by an untiring and unintermittent apphca-
ton to our own particular occupation.
The age is one of constant high pressure,
and we are fools enough to adapt ourselves
to it. Like mill horses plodding round
and round, in our various paths of duty
caring little for anything beyond, truly 1t
may be said all work and no play make
Jack a dull boy We pass through life
with our eyes upon the ground, for fear Of
missing q stray dime that may perchance
lay at our feet, while all the time we are
blind TO the glorious glimpses Of a grander
and nobler life, which we must obtain by
occasionally looking upward. We keep
the bow on the stretch all the time live
laborious days, until we lose all our love
for the beautiful, all our admiration for
the noble and grand. | don't mean to say
all men are alike D, no, some are laugh
ing in their sleeves at us. Those men are
our employers I; those capitalists, who labor
nor toll only when there is a chance to
rob and Cypress the poor. Then they are
diligent enough. Don't think for one
moment that disparage work. To those
unfortunate beings who are always at
leisure advice of q contrary nature should
be given leisure for men of business and
business for men Of leisure, would cure
many complaints. Above all | would APP
peal to those who follow my occupation for
a living mlnIng-Or the term In which
they are generally called coal diggers
this class of society which is hidden from
the sight of the world the greatest half Of
their days, and only called tO notice when
they resist the tyranny and oppression OF
their employers or by some awful calamity.
The III many Instances the press, with the
aid Of the operators greenbacks will man
aye to make the public believe those thta
suffer are entirely and wholly in the fault
They proclaim throughout our ignorance
| and the want OF common sense. Truly
we have not had the time or the means to
improve our intellectual capacities but
what is required Of rs is work, work, day
after day increasingly Yin the bowels Of the
earth, deprived of sunshine and pure air,
catching glimpse and breath Of either
IN the summer evenings, when the days
are long while in the mines mourning
disease, danger and other ills, not living
out as the saying is half our days: We want
a better state Of things to exist and am
glad to be able to witness the twilight o.
brighter days amongst US by enforcing th'
eight hours among us and better ventlla
ton Of the mines. Then probably We may
be able to acquire a nobler and better life
time to improve our intellectual capacities
and time to devise the best means to ge
free from the clutches Of the capitalists.
Yours truly,
JAMES WILNoT.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
The Iron Molder's Union.

In the present issue will be found the
brief, though appropos remarks Of the
Hon. Moses W. Field, Of Detroit, in
advocacy Of the passage of the bill incOr-
porating the Iron Molders' National Union.
In our next we will publish the equally
effective speech Of the Hon. E. B. Standi-
ford, of Ky, ON the same subject. Honor
to whom honor is due.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
Our Correspondence.

For reasons expressed in another para
graph, we surrender the present issue
mainly to our correspondents. Ia all
kindness, We urge upon their attention that
BREvITY Is THE SOUL OF Wit" Ia
future We cannot and tc,H rot give inser-
ton to any communication-exoep in
special cases-where the matter exceeds a
column i'll length, aud chen only on extra
ordinary OCCASIONS Friends, do as the
housewife does-boll down basket full of
cherries to bottle full.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
Our New Story.

In our next issue We will commence the
publication Of an original Trades Union
story, entitled, "A BOLD GAME, or WOVEN
OF MANY THREADS" by Weldon j. Cobb,
jr. X IS replete with thrilling incidents,
telling points, and illustrations in the life
Of a wUrkingman.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
THE CIGAR MAX Frs.

CAV win unions desiring changes N the addresses VI
corresponding please sa.e the name ~ the
former secretary.
The follo~ing persons have made applications for
membership in the several unions. Any union having
charges prefer will forward them within thirty days
from the date Of application.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27

Miners National Association, Ill. Lodge,
No. 6, Distcict No. 2, meets on the first
Monday evening in each month. Richard
Graham, Pres. L. Potter, Vice Pres.
Jacob Graham, Cor. and Rec. Sec. George
Galloway, Fin. Sec. f; William ManieAl,
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
Twelve Dollars for Two Dollars and .
Half.

Having purchased the plate of the mag
ulhcent steel engraving Morning in the
Valley painted for Hon Schuyler ColfaX BY
Elkins, of Chicago, the copies of which sold
for SlO.0O, We viii send post psid to any
address in the United States copy Of the
same, with the ADVOCATE for one year, TO any
party sending Us the full proe Of subscrip-
ton s. 30
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27

TIE Annual Convention Of Heaters and
Rollers meet in National Convention in
Et. Louis, July 9TH.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27

TEN Unions in Indiana have recently
obtained charters under the Indutrial La
Dor Congress.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
CORRESPONDENCE.
FROM CALIFORNIA.

We do got hold ourselves responsible for any OPT
expressed BY our Correspondents
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
CHICAGO
THE S.fT.E.FGS Bank.

THE S.9T.E.FGS R.a.SK.
Both departments, the SAVINGS BANK (which
lows interest dePosts) and the SAFE DEPOSITORY
under the special direction and supervision
THOMAS B. BRYAN, founder % the Depository,
JOHN q HAINES.
PRACTICE SAVING, and encourage your children
domestics and friends to
Deposits II FIVE CENTS and upwards reeeiyt-i
INTEREST allowed therenn
INTEREST ALLOWED
On deposits II One Dollar Anf upwards.
MAY deposit Money from time time and before MAX
ing the first Deposit may Provide by Vote, how and b
Whom II shall be drawn out and provided a copy st
the Resolution be furnished 70 the Savings Bank,
money will be paid, unless its provisions are strc
complied with.
| OFFICERS.
| JOHN e. HAINES. Presido
| THOS. b BRYAN Vice President
JARED GAGE Cashier
/ CHARLES j. HAINES. Asst Cashier.
DIRECTORS.
| THOMAS B. BRYAN, joins 4. HAINEs
JUDGE T. 5. WILLIAMS JARED GAGE,
FRANK b. TOBEY.
Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-13
ADamsel.

One midsummer day, when Eo-
lus slept and the thermometer stood
in the nineties, a lady entered a
store not a thousand off and in
quired for parasols. The obliging
proprietor spread out before her
samples of a large and varied stock.
"Have you any of this shade of a
size larger said the lady. The
size larger was produced. al think
on the whole l prefer the size small
ler." The size smaller was present.
ed. "Have you any of this size of
a lighter shade of blue?n The re-
quired shade was brought out.
"Haven'tyou any of this kind with
a crooked handle The shade
with the crooked handle appeared.
Have you any with the crooked
handle not quite so heavy?" said
the lady, and so continued her in
quiries for every conceivable size,
shade, and weight possible i'm the
line Of parasols. After nearly an
hour had been thus consumed the
fair shopper gathered up her hand
kerchief and gloves, and moved for
the door. "Can't l sell you a para
sol inquired the exhausted pro-
prietor. 80 dear, no." replied the
lady, al was merely inquiring the
prices. 1 am going into mourning
and have n for sale,-NeW Bed
ford Mercury.
Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-13
The Coming Harvest.

From the San Francisco Chronicle
For the past few years California
has been gaining the reputation of a
great wheat country, but the coming
harvest year Of1S74-75 will not only
more truly entitle it to the term
than ever before, but will place it
ahead of any other wheat growing
country on the face of the globe.
The late rains have rendered a fail
ure of the crop impossible, and as
there are two million acres sown,
and the average yield in California
Is twenty bushels per acre, it is GER
tain that there will be a yield of
forty million bushels, or twenty-five
million centals. Taking these
figures, there will, after deducting
five millions centals for local con-
sumption, seed etc., remain nine
teen million centals for expectation.
This is nearly as much as the whole
quantity exported by the United
States last year to Great Britain.
And it is about twice as large as the
exports from Russia for the same
time. Short crops cut down the ex-
port surplus of Russia somewhat but
making all allowances, it is a sig
nificant fact that California will
within the next year be ahead of
the country that has been hitherto
known as the granary of Europe.
1t will take $50 ships to carry
away this vast surplus of bread
stuffs, and for this service there will
certainly be paid S19,OOO,OOO. All
this is very gratifying, and predicts
good to all classes of the population.
AS time rolls on, and as we grow
even larger crops, it would be wise
to spend some of the freight money
in the establishment of manufac-
lures for which the coast is suited,
and to keep more of the wheat at
home to feed an increasing army of
workers.
Omaha daily bee., 1874-05-13
Siamese Twins In Nature.

Mr.. H. G.. Cardwell has a double
tree on his farm which presents the
same anomaly in vegetable that the
Siamese did in animal nature.
There are two distinct stems stand
ing ten feet apart and joined to-
gether at a point twenty feet from
the ground by a ligament, if we
may so call it, passing from the
body of one into that of the other.
The ligament is uniform in size, and
it is impossible to tell from which
tree it is a branch. This Msus na-
tur0 is a strong argument i'm favor
of capital punishment, forming a
natural gallows, perfect i'm construc-
ton and beautiful in design.-Mel-
6y (Ky.) COurant.