The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-02-28
OFALLoN, ILL.,, Feb. 81, 1874.

O'FALLoS, ILL.,, Feb. 81, 1874.
70 the Editor Of the woRKINax ANS ADVOCATE.
With your permission, | will say one word
in regard to our real condition at the present
time.
Permit me to state that since the month Of
September, 1872, tins district, which is large
one, and number one at that, has enjoyed
fair share of prosperity, and peace has been
within our borders Now and then some little
petty annoyance will be spoken of supposed
or real), which causes a ripple ON the surface
Of the otherwise placid waters. With these
exceptions We have beenenabled to sail pref
ty smoothly along This section is greatly
overcro ded with men. aud work Is so very
slack that there Is a number among us who
are unwilling that each shall have an equal
share These men have been making attempts
to reduce the price Of labor, thinking that by
so doing they would obtain more steady EN-
ployment. such course OF action is lnJu-
rious to the miner, and III direct antagonism to
union principles Ia orier to prevent this,
meeting of miners and operators met in coun-
Gil a few days since to discuss the question of
forming basis for one year. After mature
elaboration, and both parties adopting the
principles of the system about to be lnaugur-
ated, meeting was called, to be held in East
St. Louis on February 23d, to establish basis
for mining, and also to regulate the price of
coal in the market
One word in reference to the Miners Nation
al Association Previous to the convention
of miners from the Western states, at Spring
field, in the beginning Of the present year,
action was taken by the respective lodges IN
this district about joining said association.
Lodge No. ) voted in favor Of it but when
the vote was taken, our representative, &C
cording to instruction, voted against it. Hence
our disappointment
IL is said that charity begins at home.
We fully agree with the sentiment but may
not the question be asked, must charity re-
main at home - We would rather have that
charity which would embrace ali those who
labor,
Down in the coal mines underneath the ground,
Where no nay u sunshine never can he found
from the shores Of the Atlantic TO those of the
Pacific fron the snow-clad hills of the North
30 the sunny chimes of the far of South from
every point of the cOmPass-we would say TO
our fellow miners let us rally our forces, WELD
the power, and exert what influence we have
in persuading all to join our ranks that our
motto is Zone and all !; then we shall witness
such . mighty change brought about by the
united effort OF the sons Of toll, will startle
the anticipations of the most sanguine.
We are pleased to see, through your valua-
bic journal, that our brethren, in different
sections Of the country, are standing up for
their rights sLch as Braidwood and LaSalle,
where they were brought down, partly by
| themselves, to the worst kind Of tyranny and
| oppression who, on being convinced that IN
order to be freed from the shackels by which
they are bound themselves will have to knock
off those shackels. By a united and deter
mined effort, they soon began to realize that
they possessed moral power by which to work
out their own salvation. 80 much the better
can this be accomplished by uniting together
to promote their well being. and to secure that
protection which cannot be obtained single
handed. This is pa ent to every one what
would be the condition Of our brethren to-day
in the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania,
were it not for the protective element thrown
| around them by the Miners National Associa-
ton! We congratulate them on their success,
and give them friendly shake by the hand,
| through the WoRKINGMAN's ADVOCATE.
May we not report progress! Humbly APP
preciating the privileges to be derived, and
benefits accruing from connection with said
| Association, Lodge No 8 has decided to report
at headquarters, asking for a charter and to
be placed on the register Of the Miners Ma
tioral Association ct Cleveland.
Yours, respectfully,
Coal MINER.