The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-09-04
From INDIANA.
Disgraceful Issue of the Clay County
Strike

KNIGHr~,ILLE, Aug 23d, 1875.

| send you synopsis of last Friday s
transactions The meeting opened as
usual, but the bold, defiant, as well as the
threatening and detected attitude If some
Of the men denoted an upshnt, SO We felt
satisfied the result would to- a bad one if
not a dlsgraceful issue which ! am sorry
to say proved too true The conduct If
the minority Was not only hurtful, but
showed that each individual hoped to hnd
his own personal safety. G. Adams Tits,
Patrick McCryamor and others, made stir
ing appeals To the chair, not to abandon a
lust cause, and renounce brave and gener-
Gus men who had undergone 81 much, and
were still ready tJ face every danger to
overcome an accurscd drspotIsm. These
appeals had no effect upon the men on one
side 81 the house, who, as | sand before
thought of nothing but their own personal
safety on calls for division there we're
IN favor of continuing the struggle Ia
against ~ II would be impossible to note
the detection ot the vanqulshtd Nexa-
tious discussion followed VA both sides
This was carried on for some time, until
some person utimated if they had voted
by ballot there would be a majority for
work
A motion for balloting was made, but
strenuousiyopposcd. At this juncture there
were several leaving seeing this, re-
marked II 0gre best tn accede little To
one anothers PrrJudIces IA such a vexed
and deplurab.r situation, and if defeated,
let all meet their fate with good grace
The vote vas taken, and declared as fol
lows. 81 for work, - against work.
may add here without fear Of contradiction
during the whole If these transactions not
one Of the minority left the house, because
it was quite PLAIN they had recourse to
every stratsgem to overthrow the majority,
so that If those who left remained they
would undoubtedly cast their votes to con
tinue the struggle. However, the deep
and bitter harraugues that burst forth at
this luucture surpassed anything | ever
witnessed. one member said that the Car
donna men were the only men who wanted
to maintain thy struggle but he wondered
not at their persIstency when they had no
work to % to- beg to state here that
this attack vas as weak as it was al geneT-
Gus; the Cardonia men retorted to this
wanton attack with warmeth aud rehem-
ence. They stated their case was not yet
Yet come, but If they waited patiently the
month It september would bring them an
easy victory, but continued they, IF We
give up the struggle nov, We have nothing
to expect but reproach and shame, and be
the subject Of calumny, treachery and in
fanny 1t is only the mean and object
that sink down in despair, and yield with
out All effort. These and such like
speeches Kept every body in a state Of
agitation. 10 cure them of this Infection
| made a motion To adjourn the meeting
until the following Monday, remarking,
perhaps BY that time the minority may
gain more converts and If total over
throw was our ut, We would have the sat
Isfacuon Of falling together. | also re-
minded them that thousands would be in
volved In our fall, and that they were I'M
gentleInuIly IN forcing majority to sur
render. The minority were memorable,
but you will not be surprised at it when |
tell you that many OF them had asked for
and received work previous to the meeting
This added to Linn remarks, the majority
could no longer stand -r shocbs 50 the
miners Of Clay County must nov wait Tor
their oppressors to grow merciful. Sir,
there is no person who will not admit that the
state Of affairs here are deplorabIe, yet if
We review our position we will at once say
that the Clay County miners have sub
mitted one way to be starved another.
Their courage and suffering did not merit
this. For my part cannot see why the
struggle could not be maintained. We all
looked forward to the months of Septem-
Der or October, to force is from the iron
grip of despots ''or make" better ter ms,
but all our hopes have been broken into a
thousand fragments, and our poisoned cup
have been filled to overlooking, and all
this done IN a moment, without a moment S
consideration or reflection. The whole
thing seems mystery, Just if some in
carnate wretch were at the bottom Of it all
Two months ago, yes even three, black
legs were more numerous than what they
are to day The men on strike no less /;
if some Of the strikers went away they
came back again. Therefore the time to
succumb to AFFECT submission was ill-judg-
ed and out Of season say this and say 1t
Faithfully, and defy contradiction. If the
meeting was adjourned as | wanted il 10
be, We would then perhaps see the moons
sity Of not only giving any, but We could
save hundreds of members for the M n
A. But, now what is the result Wbv
of only getting one IN every hundred.
We have no doubt but the letters Of Enoch
Downs and l. Heel has effected our condi-
ton, as well as to outwit our great lead
ers, and to prejudice many others against
sending in relief, but if the donors Of our
support we're to know that the above two
men we're the object of public contempt
and disgust, they would not withhold their
support one moment. We have read Of
men triumphing in the calamities of their
country, and rejoicing in what thing can
excuse, but this is the first time we know
of, that men who have blackleged more oc.
casions than once should attempt TO gain o
lost and rotten reputation at the cost Of