The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-06-27
FROM ILLINOIS.
CUBA, June %, 1874.
Yours for Humanity,
J. G. TRUMAN.

VIVA juno $Oy AOt1
To the Editor Of the woRKasnAS's ADVOCATE.
PETTY rYRRASY.
1t would seem there is species Of the
human family which can exist in condi-
ton only. 1t matters not in what condi-
ton of life you find them, if you attempt
to remove them from that by elevating
them to aother and higher condition, they
at once loose their identity, and assume au-
thority, which does not rightfully belong
to them. The petty tyrant, or would-be-
tool, is the most pitiable creature on Gods
footstool He is hated and despised
by the men under his control, and by his
employer he is desplsed, and mlstrusted.
Such is the character Of our boss at this
place He has been lately elevated to this
position, and like all similar characters who
do not understand their business, thought
he would make some changes 10 the adj
vantages OF the operators and dlsadvant-
age OF the men.
His first attempt was at the long wall"
work, in which he wanted the men to
brush down, two feet and half Of slate
in their road and build their own cogs or
props. This he wanted the men to do for
nothing alleging that such work was not
paid for in Braidwood To this the men
demurred at first, but taking the condi-
ton Of the country into consideration,
they consented to accept his proposition
for the time, being and resumed work.
But man proposes and God disposes,
and so it proved in his case. The men
we're not long working ON the bosses new
system, when the roof began to show
symptoms of weakness, and it had to be
turned into rooms, and the men work on
the old system. His next effort Of over
Zealousness was to
KEEP BACK THE MEMS PAY.
On the 18th inst, he notified some of
the men in the bank that they would not
receive their pay until the 18th Of July.
They had not yet been paid their wages
for the month of May, and this would have
been making them wait two months for
one months pay. So when the 18th Of
the month came round, they went to the
Office to get their pay, and were told to go
and bring their tools out. This they re-
fused to do, until they got their pay,
which they received on the following
Monday. On that day the men were paid
separately and discharged. The only
cause assigned by the boss was that they
had demanded the months back pay,
which was due them, and for which they
had worked hard, besides they were de-
pending on it to support their families.
BLACK LEGS.
The action taken as above stated was pre-
dicated on information obtained from per-
sons better informed ON such than miners.
1t was rumored about town that the
company was about to burst, so the miners
thought one morths pay was AZ much a.
they could offered to loose.
There was a few dollars coming to each
of the men for the month of June, and
they refused to take out their tools until
they were paid all that was due them. So
all the miners came out together, and stood
for their pay, and would not go in again
until they would all 60 in together. He
took out our tools himself and we were
paid the following week. He then hired
two out side men and few boys to fill up
the loose coal. His next step was to hire
five bricklayers, who with himself, and
few boys are digging coal. will give you
the names of the black legs Dugald
Stuart, who is friend of the would-be
tyrant Charley Parke, who was disa-
bled to dig coal about a year ago, by
reason of rheumatism and for whom we
made collection, q short time ago, to
keep him from starving. David Wright,
one of our mule watchers, and farmer by
trade, and three men with them. There
were three stragglers came here the other
day, and they too were employed. One Of
them is q Dutchman by the name of
Dausch. He has butty, but his name
We do not know at present but will find
out soon, Is they claim to be union men
from the Oak mines.
This would-be-tyrant, some months ago,