The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-02-20
FROM ONO.
D. G. d.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, FeD IL, 1875.
To the Editor Of the wOaKNoEAx's ADvocarn
DEAR Sir Permit me through the
columns Of the ADVOCATE to draw the
attention of the miners of Illinois to
real danger that is looming up in the dis
lance, and threatening their interests.
Many may think, because they are not
now affected, that they are secure and
will not be disturbed This is a false
position to assume, and is equalled only by
the characteristic Of the ostrich who, when
he gets his head in the sand thinks he is
safe from his pursuers. Every district and
miner in the State, if he examines care
fully, will find he is as much exposed as
are those men who find themselves now in
the whirlwind Of reduction.
The Peoria District has Just been no
ticed for a reduction of half a cent a
bushel to take effect on the first Of March.
This is one Of the largest districts in the
State, snd an important competitor in
many markets. Men in Streator, Braid
wood, Bloomington, and Springfield may
think they have no cause for alarm be-
cause Peoria is good distance from them.
1t is q goodly distance removed. but ID
does not prevent them from being in
tiuenced as much as if they were located
in one and the same district Every point
is affected by this proposition, and they
should all he alive to ii.
This district should not be working for
less than ~ cents bushel at this moment.
taking present prices Of coal, in the Peoria
market as guide. Nor let ME add would
they be if the men there were united as
closely as they should be. Last month
they were reduced there from 4.c to 4c
per bushel, and the only reason it was so
is the fact that only one half Of the men
had any organization and that but slim
and Intellectual. So Intellectual that the
non union men control the Others. To
have opposed it under those circumstances
would simply have been failure Hence
it was allowed to 20 by default.
la such case as this, who ask is
to blame The Union men ! No. They
could not help themselves. The bosses
J say no. Ii is the rule Of trade To buy
az cheap as possible. Who thenl | saw
the non union men, and these only are re-
sponslble for the dropping of their own
wages and those Of their fellows.
Will they now stand by at this iuncture
and suffer another sinking in the price !
When this one is accomplished another
will be asked and still another, and an
other, ~ has been the case in Western
Pennsylvania, and elsewhere in the coun-
try. l would not have them think this is
the only one, for it is not, unless they
form a full and complete compact, not
only there but all over the State. This is
the only one way by which they can escape
what Is now as apparent a. if it were told
every man in person.
Shall the men Of illinois sit quietly by
and allow the next few msnths to pass bv
and make no effort to avert the trouble
If so on their own heads be the blame and
on none others.
Sufficient unto the day in the evil
thereof some may argue No need for
Us to stir till We see the trouble with our
own eyes" =" Men are often disappointed
IN thus sounding an alarm when there is
really no danger" say be it SO. Paw
no attention to this note Of warning, and /
shall not be disappointed in hearing those
self same parties who will excuse them
selves with pshaw Pshawi till stthe
Assyrian comes down like a wolf on the
fold, crying out for strike or some other
rash means to resist the troubles that
skillful measures nov put in force would
prevent. This is the time to work to re-
slst the troubles that are sure to come If
affairs are allowed to follow their own
channels. An engineer discovers q leak
m his boiler and notifies his superior that
such is the case, and asks it be repaired.
No heed is paid to it, and few days hence
terrific exposion shocks the community.
Cannot we learn lesson from this; We
see the leak in Peoris now, and in CLAY
County, Indiana-that if allowed to run
will surely produce general disaster fer
those States unless checked now in its in
ception. Can it be avoided | say yes, if
efficient means are at once instituted.
What would be effective measures. some
may ask Aud what can we do to get
those men into union who are not now IN
| would suggest that every district insti-
tute a vigorous campaign, and place
man in the field to assist Mr.. Daniel Nc
Lsughln, the able State Vice President
and official organizer Of Illinois. He has
been IN the field for two months and has
done excellent service. His labors and
their results bear ample testimony that
the miners only need to be shown the ad-
vAneages OF organization to have them
ally themselves at once to the National.
The cost 70 each man to keep . good man
IN each district for month or two, would
be trihe, not TO be felt, and / am con-
hdent would be the means of fortifvino
themselves that thsir wages would remain
undlsturbed, and it would be an excellent
Investment. II man Of any judgment
could zee BY the Investment of one dollar
q day. hs would make three in couple of
monthA, would he be likely to hesitate
1 think not. So must the miners look on
TINS question now before them. II they
wish to make, they will each man feel it
his duty to take action ut once. 1 would
say to them : Do not wait till somebody
else takes action. Every man should say
to himself am the man who Ia interested
ard ON me devolves the responsibflity. a.
much 10 on amy other, Of talking This
question, and the remedy" Shall he do
Ttf hope he viii, and that he shall not