The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-09-04
The Stone Cutters, Strike.

1t becomes our duty to be the chroniclers
of another trouble between the employers
and employees Of the Stone Cutting Trade.
1t is needless to enter into detailed account
of the troubles that have existed between
the "bosses and jours for the past two
years. Like the private quarrels in families,
the outside world would not understand
them. The important point in controversy
was the point of wages.
The vast surplus Of labor left after the de-
mands Of the fire was supplied, was taken
advantage of by the contractors and employ
ers and turned against the lahorers them
selves They claimed the supply was more
than the demand, and by defending to trick
cry and fAlsehOOd, succeeded in causing q
dissension among the foreign and American
element Of the organization, and SO worked
it that it had an existence only in name. This
was followed by systematic reduction of
wages until the latter was brought SO low
that men could no longer subsist upon their
earnings Both wings of the late association
saw the situation they were reduced to, and
felt that, demoralized as they we're, nothing
but starvation wages could be expected this
fall. They had learned the bitter lesson that
Generalization teaches The Germans, es-
pecially, had been treated like so many dogs
by the German bosses, many Of them not
receiving the hard earned pittance that was
coming to them. and probably never will re-
ceive cent of it. Finally a reconciliation
was effected between the English speaking
and German branches and a reorganization
was effected. Due notice was given to the
employers that on the first of the month they
would expect their wages to be raised to s.. 90
per day. Little oTno attention was paid to
this notice; only a comparative small number
asserting their willingness to accede to the
damaLds of the men, and thus the situation
stood on Monday and Tuesday Of this week
As usual, without enquiring as to the justice
or merits Of the case, the daily press, true to
the instincts of its nature, cried down the
workingman and arrayed themselves on the
side Of his oppressors. There may not have
as much blood and thunder, as much scurility
and billingsgate slang in their assaults as on
former occasions, but there was sufficient to
indicate their willingness to open their froth-
bags if there was going to be contest, hav-
ing interviewed the employers and being
given to understand that they did not intend
to make fight Of it, they were satisfied with
throwing off the everescence of their "bile;"
even little evening periodical could mot re-
frsin from joining in the howl Of its more
respectable neighbors, the Times and Tribune,
and offer its servihty to the pap" that gives
it suck, by throwing cold water on the efforts
of men who ask for nothing but an honest
days pay for an honest days cork.
We are proud the Stone Cutters won the
day. They asked for nothing but what was
right and reasonable They can afford to
laugh to scOrn the taunts and jeers of the
daily papers, though we are free to admit it
is powerful weapon for good or evil, but its
potency becomes impOtency when used in
bad cause
We hope the Stone Cutters will profit by
their first experience. They must have
learned that bosses are no respectors of per-
sons, no matter what their nationality may
be. Let unity be their watchword, and sue
cess must always follow in their trail.