The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-24
THE MINERS NATIONAL UNION
Its Gratifying PrOgress---Intsrestin
Letter from Secretary James.

CLEVELAND, O., Jan. -, 1874.
FRIEND CAMERON Yesterday | got
INTO M office for the first time. Business
will now % on, you may rest assured
This morning | sent you letter from Mr.
Slney, giving a complete statement Of the
trouble IN Schuylkill county The object
OF publishing it Is To get the matter fairly
understood by the reading public. Many
II our miners Do not understand what the
- % basis means, thinking that the
miners get the s.. 30 for digging, while the
fact is they get only 40 cents per ton,
when the basis is - %. The public have
lo conception Of the mere pittance that
falls 70 the share of the man who risks his
life hundred times an hour so that he
can earn bread for his chIldren, IN furnish
ing them coal. You Chicago folks. like
many Others, no doubt, think that the
high wages paid to the producer is what
raises the price of coal iii the market, but
if all the 40 cents which the miner gets for
digging ton was taken away, and he did
the work fer nothing, the difference to the
consumer III price per ton would be almost
Immaterial. We want all the people to
have true idea Of things as they are.
l iiNAlNN WI 1AitN . lCbtCI We NOulu Inc
All papers favorable 20 the miners and
workmen generally would copy it, as We
desire the case Of the Schuylkill men to
have all the publicity possible. that the
consuming public may know the exact
state of things there.
There are blacklegs working at Risher's
Shaft, Mercer Co., Penn. where the men
have been or strike against a reduction
of 40 per cent, for the last three months.
The men at Crawford's Shaft, at the same
| place, are still out, and likely to remain So
for some time to come. They have been
on the field for three months Some of
their families are considerably pinched for
the necessaries of life. If some OF our
districts, which have been more favored
during the winter, could send them little
assistance it would be kindly received.
To-day have Just had handsome in
crease If members TO the National Associa-
ton from Schuylkil Co, Penn, number
ing S74 Considering the times there, this
is doing very well for one day. They
promise leglons more in a very short time
We say let all come. There is yet room,
and all are welcome
The miners at Usage City, Kan, are on
slilhe. INeuuCtlOn III prices is the cause.
Some Of the rascsls who own the mines
there issued notes and due bills to the men
for their pay, and then went around the
stores and other public places urging the
dealers not to take them in exchange for
goods or discount them, as means of
beating the men. A law requiring the
payment Of wages in currency only, in
Kansas, would help TO teach such bosses
their business. Let the workingmen Of
Kansas go for such statute.
Lodges in connection with the National
Association were formed last week at Bur
lingame, Ossage City, Kan. Syracuse and
GIrard, Ohio LaSalle, ILL., ; Swarm and
st. Clair, Penn. The work goes on nobly.
meeting of 500 miners was held in
the West Belleville District, ILL.,. in regard
tn a reduction of prices or a suspension Of
labor. | am not advised of the result The
meeting was addressed by Messrs. King
horn, Morgan and Owens. | am informed
that the meeting had the good effect Of
more closely uniting the men.
Miners will please address all communi-
cations in connection with this office to
John James, Sec'y., Room No. II, 91l
Seneca St, Cleveland, q. Respectfully
VpuTS TpuN IAMES Soy