The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-17
A Word With the North Chicago Roll
ing Mill Hands!


SPBINGFIELD, Jan. IL, 1874
With the opening of the New Year the
North Chicago Rolling Mill Company has
taken a new departure. Well knowing
that so long as the workmen in its employ
belong to trades unions, they are able to
prevent the frittering away of their per-
sonal rights, and meet, and if need be,
successfully resist the entertainments Of
combined capital upon those rights, that
company has taken the lead in movement
which seeks the destruction Of trades
unions, by a cunning, though by no means
new devise. 1t is seeking, and has, in
fact, induced some Of its hands to sign
what purports to be an agreement, Of
which the following is copy:
AGREEMENT
This agreement, made this first day of Jan
uary, 1874, by and between the North Chi
cago Rolling Mill Company, of the first part,
BY their Superintendent, and John Doe, par
ty Of the second party, witnesseth: That
for and in consideration of the party of the
second part being employed by the party of
the first part, he hereby agrees that he will
faithfully perform all duties which he may be
employed to perform by said first party, to
the best of his knowledge and ability, and as
may be directed by the Superintendent in
charge, and by whose directions he will al
ways be governed while in the employ Of the
| Company, knowing and believing that there
| by the best interests Of the employer and
employee will be advanced and protected.
T. Al 4
party, that in the event Of any dissatisfac
ton of any kind on his part toward the first
party, he will make proper appeal in person
to the Superintendent for the correction Of
his grievance, which if not settled to his sat
isfaction, he is at liberty to give proper no
tice Of tive weeks Of his intention TO leave
the employ Of the Company, at the expira-
ton Of which time he shall be entitled to re-
ceive the amount due him for services and a
letter of discharge from the Superintendent.
And the said second party further agrees that
he will will give q notice of two weeks to the
Superinten emit or Foreman in charge before
leaviRg the employ Of the Company for any
cause, or forfeit any money that may he due
him for services and his right to a letter Of
discharge. And the said second party agrees
to form no combination of any kind with any
man or set Of men, while in this employ, that
in any way looks to any interference whatev-
or in the management Of the works OF the
party Of the first part, and will settle all mat
tiers Of business with the Company, by him
self in person, and TO always conduct him
self in proper manner while on the premis
60 Of the Company, whether on duty or not.
Drunkenness, neglect Of duty, willful disre-
gard Of employers interests, and inability to
perform his duties, shall always be reasons
for prompt discharge from the employ.
In consideration Of and for which the North
Chicago Rolling Mill Company hereby pledg.
90 itself through its officers, to protect and
advance the interests of its employees in every
way consistent and practicable acknowledge
| ing and believing its interests and that of its
wOrkmen are common. In witness whereof,
the parties have hereunto signed their names
the day and year last above written.
North Chicago Rolling Mill Co.,
by JNo. G. PARKEs, Sup't.
JoHE DoE."
How much like the language of the
wolf to the sheep in the fable! Il will
protect you, but you must dismiss your
present protectors-the dogs" What a
transparent humbug! What man Of all
thcse who havo signed the instrument set
forth above, can say, on due reflection,
that he ''knows and believes that thereby
his best interests will be advanced and
protectedP' Gan you not see, that in the
very oct Of proposing such an agreement
to you, there i . virtual confession, on
the part Of the company, that, united, you
are too strong for itg and hence its deter
niination to disorganize and vanquish you
in detail Divide and conquer is no new
principle. In union you are strong, but
without union you are weak, and you k,.oW
i, and the North Chicago Rolling Mill
Company kROtOs It. hence this new de-
partqre. in which it 10 ooolly proposed that
each man who j. ample enough, at the
bidding Of combined capital, represented
by number Of osAfty. subtle and nnscru-
pulous plutocrAts TO give up the right to