The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-06

this compromising kind of work, but free,
independent citizens of the American Re
public must, and will run their own ma
chine at all hazards and under all circum-
stances. No meeting ON half way grounds
with them seems To be their motto every
where. Their edict must be Law, and the
workmen must submit to it with meekness
and without objection.
know an instance where the men were
politely requested by the company 10 sign
a certain obnoxious contract without any
conscientious scruples, mental reservation
or evasion or their part whatever, and
unless they could afford to do 50, they
were desired to leave their employ. This
is all very well at the present time, but it
is sowing the seed that will produce an
hundred fold Of such crop as the sewers
may not be prepared to reap.
Everywhere throughout the mining dis
tricts of this country observe a strong
disposition ON the part of the men to make
liberal concessions, and submit the various
questions ~ dispute to the independent
DOdAuS W lnOoC nave p6tl
invariably rejected, and the workmen pre-
senting those requests, in too many cases
| am sorry to say, treated with disrespect,
and often with contempt.
If times are hard with operators, and
we know they are, trade being really pros
trated III some cases, is it not also hard
with the workers Most Of them have
been cut down to three days a week, and
besides have suffered heavy reductions in
their digging price, ranging from 20 per
cent to 40 per cent OFF their wages Does
not such change in their condition de-
mand word Of sympathy and kindly
treatment, even though they do appear
restive under the yoke that is CALLING them.
If those who blame for this fault, Or that
fault, on the part of the workmen, saw
only from a distance, and in many cases
looked at from the midst Of plenty, would
put themselves III the place of those whose
seeming misdeeds they 50 loudly decry, it
might enable them to perceive with clear
vislon, and alter somewhat the bitter and
vindictive tone in which the unfortunate
toiler is denounced.
Fancy man making So day before the
panic set in, AMI working tive or SIX days
days a week, having first reduction Of
ten per cent taken from his wages, and
work only four days out Of the six then,
IN another month twenty per cent more
taken off and another day less work in the
week. Shortly after ten per cent more
comes off, and a further reduction in time,
could any reasonable man expect from
such a being a solid sensible survey of the
circumstances which compel tins state Of
thiu.ra and that ba Sb.uId a,,.ti,- ...,I
grin, and take in all without a word III ob-
lection To be pleased and good natured,
and disposed to deal kindly under such
load, is not to be expected from human
nature. Such is a true state Of the case,
and all tnis remember, without any per
ceptible diminution in the cost Of living.
The marvel to me is, that there is not riot,
murder, and anarchy everywhere.
The above Is no picture Of the lma-I ina
tion, it is actual, stern, undeniable fact /;
the proof and examples are on hand at any
time for whuInsucver might feel inclined
To be skeptIcai on the matter. In fact
there are a lew cases where whole works
have been smut down for SIX months and
the miners during that time have not earn
ed a cent.
Is il crime to be a miner, and caught
IN such All unfortunate condition As above
described One would think SO froi. the
statements we see IA the daI,y prints every
day. If instead Of continually abusing the
poor fellows who are not deserving of 1t,
know nothing Of ii, these people Who make
1t their business to abuse, would deYute
themselves to assisting in establishing a
system, or devlsing one that would bring
the ol,erator and the nnaratiVe uanra close
ly together by stricter adherence to JUS
tice, they would certainly be subscribing
the cause of civilization, and doing good
for the cause Of those whom, by their op-
position, they are only injuring.
Respectfully yours,
}. JAMES, Sec'y M. n. A.