The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-31

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own hook Since he has been in this
place, he has laLored strenuously In advo-
eating the disenthralment Of his class, and
has been chiefly the means of bringing
Mr.. Trevellick among us on several Occa-
slons; whose appearance with his
telling speeches, and graphic descrlp-
tons Of the wrongs Of Workingmen, stirred
us up, aud We formed ourselves into a La
Dor Union, consisting Of somewher, about3O
Since its formation, there has started
among US the Miners National Assoocia-
tim, IN the formation Of which, Mr.. Roy
was one of the chief Instruments and was
appointed delegate TO Youngstown, to
meet others from different parts of the
Union, 10 frame constitution, &c. Mr.
Roy, like many more Of the friends of
worklngmen, is not without his enemies,
especially If they take a prominent part in
the deliberations, and to give you an illus
tration Of the scurrihty and narrow
mindedness Of his oppressors, and to show
you what capitalists would do if they
could to extinguish the sparks Of human
ty that are bnrning IN the breasts of men Of
the same stamp AS Andrew Roy, | will
refer to a case which | can verify.
There is system IN this place since the
commencement of the mines, Of keeping
workingmens' wages back IN the office for
goods they may have contracted for IN the
store partly owned and controlled by the
company, commonly called the Truck
system and for stopping the same, there
is per ceutage Of > per cent paved by the
store keepers Of course the consumer has
70 pay that. Lately the men have made a
move in this business, and have petitivned
the Company to desist from stopping their
wages in the office, thinking they can pay
their own debts, without the interference Of
any coal operators ;, or any one else
Thus Just petition Of the men, greatly
eXasperated the operators and storekeepers,
and they spent their spleen and venom on
Mr. Roy, accusing him uf instigating, and
agitatrng this movement, but | hope, and
do believe that workingmen will rally
around HIM and stand by one who has
stood by them through thick and thin.
panic which troubled this place consider
ably one cause of inconvenience was,
there was no money in circulation, and as
substitute, the clerk told the men that
he had Instructions to give orders on a ~
store in Church Hill or oungstOn, or any
where else, except Ot,e-wlthout naming
that one but when some of the men
wanted orders on Andrew Rpys store, 10,
and behold there we're ! one t. be got
So YOU can Judge, MIR. Editor, who the
scapegrace is This Is not enough for them
to do, but they have gone step farther
| have drawn my conclusions IN regard to it,
let every one do the same for himself, -
When Mr.. Roy commenced in the store
business, and when at Cleveland buying
goods, he was recommended to go to q. A.
Chllds a co., Boot and Shoe manufac ur-
ers. He purchased goods to the amount
of, from $50 to 500 Since that time
owing To the hard times, nc has not been
able to send more orders. until recently he
sent an order for 500. 90 worth Of goods,
RENTING the money, but instead OF shoes,
he received the following, which explains
itself
CLEVELAND, Jan %. 1874.
Mr. Andrew Roy, Church Hill, o.
Yours 81 the 2lst, is at
hand WAS received yesterday and the book
keeper through a mistake, deposited check
You sent us for nifty dollars, and We herein
enclose you our draft, No 50l7 on Third Ma
tional Bank, y. \ , Tor same amount. fifty
dollars, as We cannot I'LL your order We are
already selling many II our goods in Your
town, As we think ought to 70 iito one place.
u the same kind OF goo : When too many
men keep the same siud II goods. 4 gets up
to much compeuuon. We therefore respect
fully decline Your order
uurs, truly,
-. A. CH1LD & 60
In conclusion, am happy to report pro-
gress as regards our organization. The
Labor Union numbers from 90 to 40 mem
bers, and were II not for pane times, we
would have double that number. The NJ.
n Association IS increasing very rapidly,
and men are full Of enthusiasm, as a rule,
and our watch word Of action Is. Forward
to Victory" | am, sir,
Respectfully,
JOHN G. JENKINS