The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-12-09
FROM CHIC.
CLEVELAND, Nov. %, 1876

the people have been cast, but the decision
has not yet been rendered. Whether it be
Hayes or Tllden who will occupy the White
House We know not, ard in my own opin-
ion it makes but little difference to the
masses.
The excitement and intensity of suspense
manifested hy the psrtizans of both sides,
during the first few days. has passed off,
like the efferessence Of a soda drink. and
all is fiat and stale. Who will be the next
President seems as much a mystery as be-
fore the votes were cast, and the answer
may not be forth coming this year The
Peter Cooper men are the only men Who
look as if they are satisfied with the re-
suits.
Our present complications on this ques-
rlon appeals to every honest voter and law
maker in the country for change ia our
system Of election Of the two chief officers
OF the Nation. The electoral college
should be abolished, and the peoples oe-
cision, expressed by majority, the only
arbiter.
A meeting under the auspicies OF the
Central Committe Of the independent
party took place here on Wednesday even
ing last Discussion was had on the sub.
ject of ''coin versus paper "a currency
between E. ID. Starke, Esq. a pract.ciut
attorney of this city. and Mr. Schilins
During the time, the strongest points IL
support Of both theories were, perhaps,
used by each speaker Tie writer did no
notice any new ideA from what has ben
printed and reprinted il he ADVOCATE IN
different ways FOR years. u Was qujte IN.
,ertaining, however to the audience, a. you
may easily conjecture when ! tell yoH thry
sat, applauded, asked questions, and r.
ceived answers TIL nearly eleven o'clock.
Another meeting of the same kind viii be
held on next Wednesday evening at the
same hour when large crowd is expected.
The committee propose to maintain the
present greenback organization, hold meet
ihgs regularly every week to propagate tie
doctrine and increase their numbers Af.er
all the arguments We have had during the
late canvass and the precvd pg one in this
State, it must be admitted that but very
small minority understand the subject. so
as to nteligently explain it. Those meet
ings therefore must do much good.
The official vote for Mr. Cooper in this
State was 1864 No. very great figure
to be sure, considering tie great stake the
toiling millions had in the issue. Bur, We
take comfort even in this morsel. These
a.en who voted for Cooper are men Of
nerve ; they possess independence and can
-hink to act for the right, as they see il,
regardless of the puppet cry of throw
your votes away, or save our party" or
"the solid south against a solid north
Three thousand men, such as those, vii
make their influence felt in this State in
tie near future, and many thousands Who
work for living will regret the vote they
cast for either OF the old parties and against
homselves. Good wages and enough of
work for all who are willing to work was
the issue the greenbackers represented, AS
against law wages and poor work by the
others. In this State, three thousand saw
this and voted for themselves, and the
good Of their families; the mass saw 1t not,
or if they did, so much the worse, and
voted in favor Of the creditor portion Of
our people, and against themselves-th
only debtors. Though defeated we are not
crushed out. The cause will go on; we
look hopefully to the future, it will bring
success.
This question aside, to an extent, an
other one Of an imperative nature has for
few months, by too many Of our class,
been lost sight Of 1t is the matter q or
ganization. The coal miners, in almost
every coal field in the land, have been
lerelict in duty on this score. In the hard
coal districts, wages have been cut into by
the Wholesale. The limit to this seems to
be entirely in the hands Of the operators /;
all they have to do Is to name the price
they want to pay, and it is accepted with
scarcely protest. Coal is being piled up
at the sea board by the thousand tons, that
will be used to force rates still Il wer. Yet
the men there DO nothing toward its reeu-
!ation. If low prices, and long hours are
to be expected, then the men will not be
disappointed by continuing the present
policy. If wages sufficient to live upon
for fair days labor be the calculation,
men must take another course. A union,
wherein every man is a member who works
in the mines is the only means. Nothing
else has ever done the work, and we know
now no other remedy under the circum-
stances.
Western Pennsylvania is no better than
the anthracite in this particular. Prices
have gone down there also. So too, in
the States Of Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and
Indiana. Why Anybody can answer ;
the want OF organization. Some operators
and many miners say prices must 60
down" and We answer We can point to the
State Of Maryland where prices are thesame
to day as before the panic We can point
also to the rates for hard coal IN our diff
ferent markets, 50 long as the combination
was in existence. Operators in Maryland
have had to compete with those in G. ar
field, Bedford and Westmoreland counties,
Pa Yet the miners in the latter places