The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-08-14

party Of the first part to suspend mining, the
sum OF two ~ dollars per day while said
strike continues. The amount Of said dam
aces shall be retained from any moneys found
due said second party on final settlement,
and il no such amount shall he found due,
the same shall stand a. just debt, due, and
liable 10 judicial adjustment
Said party Of the first part reserves the
privilege, however, for closing the mines at
any time, or of reducing the number Of MI
ners by discharging them, or such OF Ohem a.
the superintendent or foreman may think
proper, including said second party and no
claims shall be made under this contract,
by said second party. for slack work, OF for
suspensions Of any kind whatever.
Such conditions, Mr.. Thompson said,
was never, in his memory, presented to |
American citizens before. 1t leaves the |
men no choice they have either to submit
to unconditional slavery or starve. This
il the issue presented to them. Our men
do not want to be idle. They have pre-
sented to the company the following prop
ositions
81. JOINS, July 9th, rs.
To the I. C. l. & NJ. q. Co., of st. Johns:
GENTLEMES :- Having carefully lookt d
over your copy Of agreement, we lind that we
cannot subscribe our names for the carrying
out Of the same, without barterIng away our
| rights free citizens Of this great Republic.
| First. You require two weeks notice,
| which we are willing to give whereas, your
agreement binds the miners only.
You also stipulate that no more than 10
men can give notice in the same week, which
III. A .
weeks notice, as 1t might occur that there
might be so many in advance that the notice
Of some parties would not be accepted for
nearly u rec months.
| Ia respect TO that part of the agreement
which states that we must not belong to any
organization, combine with others to pro
tect our own interests we are Of opinion that
no company has the right to assume the pow
er to dictate on that point
In respect TO the price proposed to be paid
-one-half cent above Prairie prices, and the
coal to be screened over a one and a half inch
screen, instead Of three-fourths inch screen,
as heretofore-we consider that as a great
drawback instead Of an advantage, as from
the nature of the screen 10 width and length,
and the softness Of the top coal, more than
half cent per bushel Of difference exists.
1t is also stipulated that you have the
power to amend the rules or regulations at
your pleasure, and the same would be bind
, ING after such amendments were made, with
out consulting the miners agreement
which no sensible man could enter into.
We are willing to work for the following
rules
LIST. We are willing to work for the same
price that rules the rest Of the Prairie.
{ ID. That the screen be the same as former
", three-fOurths Of an inch in width.
3. That tool rent and sharpening be the
: same as elsewhere the Prairie.
4th That we receive 30 bushels Of nut
, coal, per month, per man, free, same others
in the District receive.
, 9Th. That we work in single rooms
T 9. That we are willing to sign an agree
ment that Is days notice shall be gwen by
either party to the contract, when amy alter
alton in pices or working arrangements are
z to be made.
It'll. That we have the the privilege Of
having check weighman, as heretofore.
8th In conclusion, we are willing to work
t for the l. g. l. & q. M. Co under the same
. rules and regulations that govern the Prairie
and hereby promise to do all in our power t
advance the interests Of all concerned.
! The Miners Of the LC.L&C. &c. Of St
Johns.
Mr.. Thompson was followed by the fol
lowing prominent citizens Of the place
Messrs. Parks, Capt. s. G. Parks, r. "
S. Wheatley, F. G. McLain, John Short
Mr. Peart, and Mr.. Patten, who delivere,
short and well timed addresses, in whicl
they announced the arbitrary and unjus
exactions of the Company A COMMITTEES
of citizens was appointed to draw mp reso
buttons, expressive of the sense Of tn,
meeting.
The committee presented the followin,
resolutions
h Resolred, That we the miners and citizen
Of Du Quoin, in mass meeting assembled
IS having heard read the agreement proposed By
n the /. q. |. & q. NJ. Co., to be entered int,
! between the Company and the miners, are y
the opinion that to ask citizens of fire.
4 country, to place their signatures to such al
e instrument, is unjust and uncailed, and W
"a hereby express our disapprobation Of this at
tempt to deprive the miners Of said compan,
\ of their rights as free citizens.
/. Resolved, That having heard the propo
sition made by the miners OF st. Johns I
- the ]. e. l. 4 G. NJ. Co, we are of the opin
n ion that it at least offers means whereof
It the difficulty now existing between the Com
| pAny anu the miners may De alnlcaDlN an
fairly adjusted and trust for the benefit Z
5 the community at large, that the Compan
y will give this proposition due and proper con
sideration, with view to a speedy settle
i ment of the question now at issue
}, Resolved, 4 hat the publishers Of the ID
3 Quoin Tribune are hereby requested to pub
i lish the agreement proffered 70 the miners &
IL the Company, in full, as well as the entir
r proceedings Of this meeting, that the pub
y lie may be able to Judge understandingiy a
to which of the antagonistic parties IN tn
4 difficulty is is the right and which is Is tn
e wrong.
d After passing the foregoing resolutions
|. and rendering vote Of thanks to Mr.
Thompson, the meeting adjourned.
Something over two hundred person
g were in attendance, and everything pas
e sed off without dissent or discord
n MINER