The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-06
LETTER FROM GENERAL WINN.
san Francisco, May 10, 1874

DAN fkANCISCO, May ~, 1874.
~ the Editor II rns wuEkiNaxAx's ADVOCATE.
Yesterday was glorious day for the
Workngmen Of san FRANCHISE" and the
Pacific Coast. The subject IF last night ;
meeting has been the theme If cnnvcrsa-
tion all day in the shops, at the boarding
houses, and all along The streets. All feel
better, the very cuuntenancc of mechanics
is the strongest evidenc. uf reverse
vitality for they have been cowed down al
a fearful rate.
When the news lirst came that the 18th
IF May had been fixed Tor mass meetings ~
"orkingmen, t. be held IN an tie towns
aud cities Of the United States, the opp
ncnts at labor interests began their work
Ny saying, Z" Stand from the thing 1t will
be a failure" One boss would say Ia an
other ia hearing IF Jalkative Journey man-
My men know better than t. JOIN IA such
a senscloss undertaking. lie carries the
news g. his shop mates, and adds toit, '-ali
Who take part ia that meeting viii ~ dts
charged, and 81 IN.
There was levcn enough, however, to
levcn the lump. Frank ID. Morrill,, the
Grand Secretary Of the order # United
Mechanics, q. l.. Merriam, !. NJ. Remun.-
ton, George A. Grant, UrIah Il. Thomas,
and few others quit ter shops, and from
place to place wendell then way Ia quest
OF money "a men tO carry on the work,
they did nobly, aud Won the praises NJ
thousands.
The hends Who rejoice over the poor
man misfortune, saw they hal but few
men 70 break down, and thus scat az the
rank and iiie vi w"rkinglnen T; but they
utterly failed ia Their hellIsh design. Ihv
towards kept quiet, while the men Of true
metal let no grass gr0w under their feet.
they lett no stone unturned that would Ia
the slightest degree promote the cause
The day came, the sky Was bright a.
those inside, Tut those who had done
nothing, and wanted to see a triumph,
trembled at the rldicule and PEERS Of then
mercIless opponents, and with a shake oi
the head, would say, Yes | see It, | was
AFRAID 1t would tail, and have Kept out 81
II. All, there Is no sympathy for the
coward the child, the woman, and even
the coward himself low. . brave man II
Is disgusting "a see the fawHIng sycny hall
at tbs feet Of his master, ready a. do his
bidding, even t. the abuse at his best
friend. Several years AGO, when my hands
were full la taking care of the sIck and
dying, "a man tax uoc;lsiun e. back bite and
abuse me ; an acquaintance standing by
Knocked HIM down tho Ivilnw getting AZ
SAID, : " hat dad Yea dn that Iur lie
answered calmly, ~T, | knew you Mas
lying about Nv un. .and lust thought
would remand yuu ~ that tact, As to give
you time 2" reflect upon your course 81
wicA,lncss, and Il ever hear az your
siaIticring hm again, | viii give YOU a
sound duibbiug. Like whipped span lel
the fellow sneakcd oil under the laugh u
MS comrades. | told shls IN the presence
W some wurkmen one day, who seemed
fond Of backbitIng each other, and rs
closed, am freshman at the edge of the
crowd said, = All, may he never have TIA,
rheumatism.
The reply was electric, and no doubt did
much more good than my lecture ca
DClil1 KIM 70 each bJnGf. InGTt Is
low, nlggardly me.nncss IN a man st:.ndin..
still, and by silence consenting t. tie
Islander Of his friend, such men ought w
have the measles, smallpox and rheumatic
govt, there is no punishment too great for
them. We are now making a record
against such men, as well AS those who
oppose labor reforms, loud mouthed aud
without reason.
Night came On, bonhres we're blazing.
rockets were thrown up, the band played
and soon the horticultural Hall was full of
men and women. II is very larse-estl-
mated capacity lO,OOO. II was crowded ~
that there Vas scarcely standing room for
900 more. After my explaining the objects
III the meeting and reading the resolutions.
Hon. U. q. Ierrill, the chairman, intro
ddced Professor Carr, who has charge Of
the agricultural department IA the Unvcr-
slty. He is great friend Of the work
ingmen, and maize a splendid speech.
Senator L. }. Keys followed. Being a
blacksmith, he made regular sledge-
hammer talk. Then followed the Star
SpaIlsled Banner, by J. ID. DAVIS Capt
L. }. Kahn, a boilermaker, made things
boll for about twenty-five minutes. John
nj. Days Is tailor. Some thought he
would make a goose Of himself, but he
couked the goose u our enemies before his
speech ended. q. b. Merriam sung the
p-SwOrd Of Bunker Hlll' In splendid style.
Hon. James Patterson, a cabInetmaker,
recommended adhesiyeness and OrganIza-
ton among wOrkIngmen. Music and a
short speech from Mr. Merriam, with a
finale of Home Sweet Home, wound up
one Of the most glorious mass meetings
ever held in tins city, both IN numbers and
enthusiasm.
There is nov an evident disposition to
organize the trades So that they can handle
themselves with terrible effect when
the time mes for action They are sick
and tired Of being led around by men who
promise but never perform. Last fall we
elected twelve members If the Assembly
and two Senators. The mechanics were
true, If course, bat not half Of the others
kept their word, pledged in writing to the
workingiReu, through questions Of the
Mechanics state Council.
A. M. VIM.