The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-11-06

opoly, with it's almost illimitable power, Il
not only control the man who consumes
but he also who produces. But while
appreciate the arguments used on genera
principles, | cannot as a trade unionist
be consistent and condemn its members
because, what they now are doing, we, in
a large measure, aim to do for the purpose
of maintaining "a fair days wage tor a fair
days work" When our miners will put
themselves in position such as those com
panies have done, in the management of
their supply to the demand, then shall
they have attained to such a standard of
perfection in organization as will be of real
practical benefit to them, and which all
comprehensive unlonists have striven to
reach.
You understand, to keep wages up is the
leading object of trade union. The
means to be employed to accomplish this is
to put ourselves III a position whereby we
can intelligently regulate our labor to the
demand there is for it in the markets.
When We are not organized, this duty falls
alone upon the men for whom we dig, and
this is what they claim to be alone their
prerogative. They designate themselves
1.-The producers, and claim they only have
the right to say how much they shall pay
to the miner, who burrows into the rocks
and runs all the risks to life and limb, and
for how much they shall sell the coal to
those who use 1t in any capacity. This
place Is not only claimed by them, but it
Is awarded by common custom in too many
Instances, and trade unions are denounced
because they aim to enable the workman,
the Joint co partner with capital IN every
species of production, to have some say in
the division of the profits. If there is any
war existing between trade unions and the
capital that employs, it is over This ques-
ton. As union men, we claim the right
to 50 manage our own affairs as to bring us
the greatest returns. THIS is what employ
ers very often refuse, and this refusal
makes turmoil and trouble. Our labor is
our own, and if we can make the better
bargain by combining together, the right
To- do SO ought to be as readily conceded as
that which allows any number of cap
ltailsts to associate together, such as the
anthracite combination, for this purpose.
But this right is not accorded us, and there
IS surely no hope that we can ever have
this till men do put thems elves in position
by combining to compel it,
WHERE OUR MEN FAIL.
In organizing themselves into the Mi
ners National Association, the miners do
not give the ulterior object of the Union
the important position III their councils it
should occupy. Neither do they study
sufficiently the means to be used with that
thoroughness that is necessary to success
| will illustrate the manner of doing things
which they usually adopt. In district Of
SIX hundred miners, two hundred will
probably JOIN the Union, pay their initiation
fee and their dues for a few months, per
haps only weeks. They attend the meet
Ings and discuss their little petty griev-
ances, which, IN many cases, are purely of
an Individual character, and between them
and the mine boss and superintendent.
The affairs which individuals will bore a
whole lodge with for nights should be set !
tied there and nowhere else. frequently |
the members Of the Union will be persu-
AIDED into actual interference between the |
employers and the employed, and even a
personal question, an lmprudent poking |
into other peoples business, involves a Sc
rIous rupture which has a most damaging |
effect. This conduct is really reprehensIble |
in members of the society who have not |
the good sense to see the IMPROPERLY of |
dragging In their personal grievances which |
have no place there, and IN the lodge as a |
body, who will allow these things To dis
tract them from the legitimate purpose Of |
their organization. Distinguishing between |
what "a titsubject of lnvesti CATION and what |
IS nothing but an Individual affair having |
no business there, puzzles, and sometimes
works wreck and ruin This is a very i'm
arta ant a
upon it the consideration they should. In |
fact, it is the direct cause of hostility in |
places by the bosses to the organization, |
and often leads to conflicts that result ia
tally TO half-organized districts. Another |
evil practice prevails In some districts under I
precisely similar circumstances. 1t is the |
question Of wages. A change is con
templated by the employer. Unfortun-
ately the changes have chiefly been all of |
a ones sided character since the establish |
ment Of this INSTITUTIONAL going down (;
but in the middle Of districts organiza-
tion proposition to reduce is made. Here |
IS tit question for the lodge. Submission |
or resistance, one or the other must be de- |
termined upon, and frequently little time |
is given for consideration. The lodge is |
conscious Of the ill-prepsred condition of
the district. Two hundred men in the |
union out of six hundred affected those |
III the union as ill-prepared to. stand
siege, in so far as having any funds on
their own account is concerned, as are
those not organized. They feel that their
wages as they are do not enable therA to
get decent living, and they also realise
the hardships a strike will entail. They
have already borne reductions, and they
reason themselves into the honest belief
that a strike of few weeks would prevent
this attempt, satisfied that there is no
power pressing the employer to this step.
except the wish to profit out Of the help
lessness of the workman's condition. The
men not in the union are as much dis
turbed by this cause as the union men. A
general meeting is called, fusion takes
place, and without any further parley they
resolve to strike and work no more till
the old prices are restored. This position
once assumed, it is scarcely ever evacuated
til want coupels. All the constitutional re-
quirements prescribed by the National are
here thrown to the winds in a moment.
And yet men so acting look for it's support
and sympathy. In this way nine tenths
Of the strikes Of the last year have been
organized, and invariably the Miners
National Association was held respon-
sible for them, and its mem
bers made victims when it was
over There are other cases where our
members are so few in section that they
take no part, as such, in forming any
policy. but are controlled and act as indi-
viduals only. For example, last spring,
about April first, the men Of Westmore-
land County were reduced. 1t is large
mining district. We had one little lodge
of members, sixty nine being the number
in good standing, when the district agreed
to strike. That little body could do moth
ing whatever in the matter of determining
what the course Of the whole should be,
and what the rest did they agreed to do.
Now all this is wrong under the constitu-