The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-05-08

SAN Francisco, May 3, 70.
A WARNING To EMIGRANTs.


WARNING To EMIGRANTS.
BY GEN. A. NJ. VIM.
To the Editor 81 the woRkiSaNASs ADVOCATE.
Your paper Of the Sd Of April has only
just arrived, twenty-five days is a long
from Chicago, more particularly 50 as We
have New York papers not more than ten
days old The first thing that attracts
our attention is the speech Of Horace II.
Day, before the Harrisburg Convention.
There IS much truthful ci,n in il and all
Of us would be better of if We would read
1t carefully, understand its purport apd
act upon his suggestions. Your editorials
and correspondence are all good III this
number, We do not mean to say All the
arguments are IN accordance with our
views but they 90 TO make up the degree
II agitation necessary to direct the opln
Ions Of others, and thus keep alive the
questions that most interest the labor ei,..
ment Of our population.
propose to contine this letter "a tbs
condition OF our migration. The street,
are tu!l Of strangers, they are runnipo 70
and fro IN all parts of the city hunting
employment, while our papers are full Of
suggestions how t. provide for their iudi-
vldual wants as they pour in upon us. II
Is a pluful sight to see hearty. stout.
healthy men begging for bread. because
there Is not work for them. IL takes finn.
70 prepare manufactures III new city be-
fore We can employ such an Immense IN
nuN Of extra population, it takes large
capital 70 build the houses and buy the
necessary machinery Capitalists must
see that consumption will lie sufficient "a
pay them good profit before they viii
invest, hence We have large surplus II
mechanics
We arc MT unmindful Of the fact that
immigrants are having great deal Of ad
vice administered to them at the present
time Many Ut them doubtless think adj
vice IS statmtous aud uncailed fYr AZ
cust"med t. take care If themselves n tba
old states, they are confident az their
abiIty to do likewise in California Rnt
there is one error which MANY i,uu,iorants
fall INTO on their arrival m this State
hey seem I" regard the relative value of
money ana labor as established on a differ
st basis on this Coast than elsewhere
ne freedom "ith which every day people
wa" are rlch spend their money creates
the impression that money il cheap, and
that more oi ID should he obtained for SER
vice than elsewhere. The time has been
wheI this was true, hut 1t Is 50 no longer
! The Industries IN this State are on A level
with the industries of other States Our
| products compete with theirs m the SAM,
markets. Wheat, our great staple IL sold
IN Liverpool by the same firms who sell
wheat produced on the great Western
Praries. II there is any difference ii
| price II Is because 81 difference III quality.
| me same rs true ot almost everything
O"ill"rhla produces, except. perhaps. early
| Iruit, or some other trihr peculiar 10 tins
| state. our manufacturers have "a com.
| Pete With the manufacturers uf the
East Their goods are ranged side by
SIDE with ours ~ the same market.
cur mining Industries are exception.
al, but the his Oy II mining Ia III,
state, m the last tarnty wears. does not
prove It ~ hr more profitable than other
! pursuits. Every ounce III yuid ur silver
when ont ~ IA" ground adds 50 much t,
the material on which our currency i.
based, but It costs nearly its full val
ue ~ Eet ~ The countries which
trade with gold-produclng countries
receiving mprrishable metals IN r.
turn tor pcrIshable fabrics derive nor,
| advantage from the mines than the &C
tuai owners. While the number IL min
ny enterprises that have more than pai,
| expenses can almost be counted M one
hueers, the number which have proved
dead loss Is almost incalculable. Gold an,
silver mines enrich other countries than
those IN which they are located We ia
not mean Ia say that these mines have n,
local value or do not contribute to tn,
prosperity # the State. On the contrary
they are leading source Of our rapid,
accommodating wealth. Every pursui
which employs labor al current rates Is ;
source q wealth 70 the State. If not t,
its conductors. But what We mean t. "a,
Is TINS Mining is not sufficiently prutita
bic as business t. justify higher wage
lah"rers. Il does not warrant an excep
u"iIal rate II wages ia California
II tins view Of our industries compare,
WITH those Of other States is correct. labor
crs hay 10 substantial basis for deman,
ior much higher wages than they can com
maud elsewhere
We have expended considerable none
n giving warning TO our fellow mechanic
cast, but they do not seem to have givel
much attention to our notices This per
haps arises from the fact that the paper
pervert our reasons, by saying We have
good thing here and are unwilling to iii
vide i with others that Is not 81. we fee
Il duty To do ali We can to benefit tn
working classes everywhere, the rich car
take care Of their own interests, but tn,
poor must help each other.
Men Who come here with money I.
carry On business must do we'll, but thos,
"ho are without money aud come here /,
labor for living are running great risks
especially those with families The,
should have some arrangement made hen
Tor employment and not leave A good HON,
Tor an uncertainty
FROM MARYLAND.