davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
CHICAGO. DETROIT AND CINCINNATI
SATURDAY. MAY 6, 1876
Call for an Independent National Con.
vention.

WHEREAS. our legislation, both State and
national. for the last few years, has been al
most exclusively for chartered monopolies
against the people, in favor Of foreign inter
ssts. and for the eNchau-er to the detriment
of the producer; and.
WHEREAS. such legislation has resulted in
almost entire prostrduou aud dlsIntegratiuu
II our industrial interests. while az tile same
time enormously stimulating parasitic deyel-
opmenJ and,
WHEREAS, The civil service Of the country
under ihe old party leaders has become thor
oughly aud yillainously corrupt threatening
to subyert our government; therefore, be 1t
E+So.rfd. That we demand:
/. Tie repeal Of the specie resumption and
national bank acts
,. The perfectIng N a monetary system
based upon the faith ana resources 81 the ma
ton, and adapted to the demands Of legitimate
business which money shall be legal tender
in payment Of all debts, public and private,
duties on imports included. except that pOr-
tIon Of the interest and principal Of the pres
ent public debt, that Is by the express terms
OF the law creating 10, made payable in me
talic money! This money to be inter-
changeable at the option &c the holders with
registered government bonds bearing a rate
Of interest not exceeding 3 6j Yer cent. per
annum
3. The thorough reform Of the civil service
Of the country by the expulsion and punish
ment Of all corrupt officials aud a rgid per
sonal accountability of every official.
q A Rigid economy III the expenditures in
all the departments If the government
>. Rigorous laws regulating and controlling
moneyed corporations, and their vigorous en-
forcement
Therefore We invite all legal voters Of the
United states who Ind0rse the above pream
Bile and resolutions to meet IN delegate con
vention in the city VI indianapolis, % We'd
nesday, May IL, 1876. to put in nomination
one candidate Tor the office of President and
one candidate for the office ~ Vice President
of the United States.
Hon. MosE, W. FIELD, Chairman.
Hon. ALIEN. CAMPBELL, Vice Chairman
I. j. BuCHANAN. secretary.
y. a. Oileman, indianapolis. lnd.
X. r. Trevelhck, Detroit Michigan.
jackson II. Wright, Cleveland OHIO.
John Siney, st Clair, penna
A. e. Cameron. Chicago ILL.,
4. J. Durant, Washington, D. g.
M. NJ. Hooton, tentrala, iii.
Egbert IIasard, New York Cit,.
Robert Schilling, Cleveland, Ohio
u. Il. buchanan, indianapolis Ind.
+. Nj. Smith, Kewanee Henry Co, III.
DIR. VIM. q. Crooks, 529, South 18th St.,
PHILADELPHIA
J. Il. Mccain. Nashville Tennessee.
l.. =. Linn. Piqua, Miami Co, Ohio.
Jas. l.. Mcorehead, Parkersburg, West
Va.
VIM. Elliott, Rochester, Olmstead Co.,
MINI.
Samuel Leavitt, a CORTLAND st, New
York
John G. Garretson, Salem, Henry Co.,
Iowa.
j, Cope, Cross Timbers, Texas.
}. X. Winston, Milton, Caswel Co, n. c.
Henry Hales. East Saginaw, Michigan.
A. Warner st. John, Carthage, Mo.
f. NJ. Chamberlin, Adams House, Boston.
Mass
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

Each of these pound sterllngs of paper
money were different from the English
pound sterling, although they were each
derived from it, and they compared, as
above given, with the Spanish milled dol
lar. Now, this commission, instead of
adopting the Spanish dollar, created new
dollar, worth somewhat less, as the
standard of our American money of &C
count" The silver in the Spanish dollar
had no more effect in determining this
matter than the paper in the Continental
State-rag- shinplasters. 1t was the money
of account that determined the value of
this original dollar.
The Spanish milled dollar which circu-
lated so freely, and which is here referred
to, consisted Of 420 grains, 900 fine. So
the committee, by deciding upon a dollar
to consist of 4l6 grains and little less
fine, compromised all Of the different monies
Of account, and created new dollar and
new monetary system at the same time
and in drawing their legal definition, they
said nothing about the coin dollar, but
did say that dollar shall be the stand
ard Of our American money Of account, ="
because it embodied all of the different
moneys Of account Of the different States.
This legal definition is perfectly accurate,
scientifically and il agrees Derfectly with
the facts of history in regard to its crea-
ton.
To make this record more complete We
give the following table Of the value Of
the different dollars now known in the
United States, emitting fractions, as
follows:
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
WHAT rs A DOLLAR r

Prof. Bonamy Price, of Oxford Univer-
sity, England, when he lectured in Chica-
90, about year ago, said he did mot
know what a dollar was" Other men who
claim 10 know all about finances, seem to
think it is shrewd to plead ignorance on
this question. Such pretenses are put
On for effect with the public. The legal
definition of the word dollar" in the
United States, was adopted in 1892, and it
has always remained unchanged. This
legal definition is GA dollar shall be the
standard of our American money Of &C
count" Prof Perry, of Williams Col
lege, Massachusetts, has COMPOUNDED this
definition Of dollar for the dollar itself
when he says "there has been no change
in the dollar since it was first coined.
There have been several changes in the
coined dollars since they we're first astab
lished, both the gold, silver, paper and
other dollars. The first $40 gold coin,
contained 27O grains, S16s fine. BY act Of
July %, 1884, this was changed to 25s
grains, 899. 225 fine; and by act of Marcel
3, 1S49, the FIRST gold dollar was created
consisting of 258 grains Of gold, 900 fine
The first silver dollar was coined in &C
cordance with the act of April 2, 1892
consisting of 4l6 grains of silver, 1872
fine. BY act Of January, 1887, the dollal
was reduced to 4l2.5 grains in weight. anC
its 6neness was increased to 900. BY tn,
same act, halves, quarters, dimes and hal
dimes were in exact proportion to thi
standard BY the act of 1858, the small
coins we're reduced in weight halves, from
20G4 grains to 1872 grains, and each of tn,
other coins in proportion. BY the act o
| 1873, the. trade dollar was created, con
sisting Of APO grains, 900 fine. Silver wa
the original standard dollar, and thi
standard was compromise of the differ
ent monies of account Of the differen
States Previous to the Revolutionar,
War, every State was independent o
every other State, and coined its owl
money. When Congress appointed com
mission to investigate facts and draft
coinage act, they found the following fact
to exist
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
THE CHINESE PROBLEM

The interesting letters of our San Fran
cisco correspondents which have been pub
lished from time to time have no doubt
acquainted our readers with the curse at
tending the Importation of Chinese labor,
and the deplorable condition to which the
Caucasian workmen have been reduced in
their worse than hopeless struggle with
the Mongolian hordes which are now being
poured upon the Pacific slope at the rate
Of l 900 per week. So long as the EN-
ployers' selfish interests were subserved
by their engagement, and the laborer
alone defrauded and debased by competi-
ton, the cutlery was pooh-poohed, and
papers and manufacturers Wed with each
other in praising the docillty and faithful
ness of the coolies, and denouncing the
short-sighted selhshpess Of those who de-
manded their exclusion from the county.
But now when the tables are turned
when they are becoming their own en-
ployers-when American tradesmen and
manufacturers are informed that their ser
vices can be dispensed with-the case as
sumes different aspect, and curses loud
and deep are heard on every hand against
the continuance of a system which
threatens to change paradise to pande
monium.
In a speech recently delivered in the mar
tional legislature by Senator Sergeant of
California, the charge is made that over
100, 600 Chinese are already located on the
Pacific coast, $4,000 in San Francisco
alone-and that among this entire number
there are less than 100 families. As a
class they are filthy in their habits, gross
ly immoral and destitute Of any attach
ment to our institutions. Women are
brought over for prOstitutiOn-and bring
with them the most loathsOme diseases, as
well as their debaslng habits. The China
men who come to San Francisco are brought
as substantial slaves to the great con
tractors who bring them over. Wherever
they settle IN town they deile it and les
sen the value Of property there. They
have no idea Of becoming citizens, and no
conception, and wish to have none, Of our
institutions. Herded together like hogs
or crowded together as vermin, they bring
moral destruction, Pauperism and disease
IN their train. With an empire Of 400, OOO,
OeO millions to draw from the prospect is
anything but cheering.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

has been, and always will be, the case.
This rule governed the purchasing power
Of the dollars Of the Confederate States,
Just a. it governed the greenback dollar,
the silver dollar and the gold dollar.
When We can buy the things We want at
as great an advantage with the paper dol.
lar as with the gold dollar, the paper dol
Lar is Just as valuable TO us as the gold
dollar. The very first thing the buIlionists
ought to prove is that the gold dollar gov
ems all values. This is point which no
bullionist..has ever proven, and which no
bullionist ever can prove. On the other
hand, We have proven, by dozen different
methods, that the Theoretical fluctuations
in the purchasing power Of greenbacks ex-
list only in the imaginations Of the bullion
| its. We have demonstrated that paper
has given us q more steady market in the
United States than gold has given in Can
ada or Great Britain and this advantage
of paper money over gold could doubtless
be proven by an appeal to any price cur
rent in any other country. The main fact
which the bullionists never consider, but
which overshadows all other considera-
tions, is the fact that gold can be, and
always is, easily cornernd when it is used
as the only legal means Of payment; and
because Of this liability Of being cornered
at any time, it is the worst thing which cal
possibly DO used for money, as it becomes
simply a machine for robbing the poor and
the men Of small means. and the method
by which those rich enough to run corner
on gold can become legalized highway
robbers whenever they choose to take the
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

A CORRESPONDENT writing from the coal
regions of st. Clair County, ILL.,, gives a
rather doleful picture Of the state Of affairs
among the miners of that district. After
detailing the efforts made to establish the
National Union along the BellevIlle track,
he says:
will tell you what has been my experience
among the men since the LIST Of August last
At that time, and for twelve months previous,
the men were receiving but hro cents per
Jtlslel for mining. and nearly all were being
cheated in their weight. besides, almost all
the screens had been enlarged from three
quarter inch to one and one fourth inch, and
in some instances to one and a half inch be-
tween the bars. This was the result of the
demoralized condition Of the men; they were
not earning enough money to support their
families, and could not pay house rent.
About the first Of August the National As
ISOLATION was organized along the Belleville
track. An advance Of one cent per bushel
was obtained, just weight, and a reduction
of the screens to seven-eights OF an inch,
making uniform size throughout the entire
district, with payments made every two
weeks. Board Of Arbitration for the set
Element Of all disputes was also established
The beneticent results that followed proved
the utility Of arbitration over strikes. Be-
sides receiving an advance Of wages and the
reduction of the screens, the Italians and
negroes. who were no miners, and who were
employed only to break us down, were com
PEELED to leave; and this, too, without a mass
meeting being held, or even protest entered
to that effect.
d. Id
bear prosperity, and we must be cursed with
large proportion of that class. For, in the
midst of our happiness, a spirit of enmity
and jealousy developed itself. Those who
had led the way to prosperity left the helm
and other steersmen took charge of the ship
Dark clouds and storms followed, which
brought ruin and disaster on the Association.
The men were reduced cent and half on the
bushel, and the organization proved failure.
The men are now enjoying the fruits of a
selfish, ignorant jealousy, by trying to starve
each other out, acting upon the policy Of
endeavoring to see who can do the most work
for the least money.
This is, truly, a sad picture; and to say
that we are sorry to chronicle such state
of things, is but to family express our
feelings. We know the be men of St. Clair
County; we have been along the track, eat
en- at their tables and slept in their houses.
We have enjoyed their hospitality in every
way. We know them to frank, open and
honest. We therefore cannot believe the
fault lies with the rank and file Of The
men. We are disposed to believe the
leaders, or would-be leaders, should shout
der the responsibility. 1t Is to them the
men look up to, and if they, to crafty
personal ambition. petty spleen, jealousy,
or any other selfish purpose, SOW the seed
OF dissension among the men, they should
be invited to step down and out; and if
they did not do so, in that case they should
receive an Irishman's hint-get kicked
out. We would say to the men Of st. Clair
County Let no one man, no matter who
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
Michigan State Convention.

The State Convention of the lndepen-
dent Party Of Michigan met at Jackson on
the Both ult, the attendance was large and
enthusiastic. The folio wing delegates were
elected to the Indianapolis COnve ntion
At large, r. K. Case, Three Rivers w.
A. Berkey, Grand Rapids Lysander
Woodward, Oakland; Moses W. Field, De-
troit. First district, X. f. Trevellick, II
A. Robinson. Second, A. w Parkhurst,
Hillsdale county II. j. Dunn, Kenawee.
Third, Frank Heulett, Jackson NJ p.
Burch, Eaton. Fourth, A. c. Frankboner,
Kalamazoo L Sparks, Berrien. Fifth,
M. d. WILDER, Allegan; J. w. Crebs,
Kent. Sixth, J. W. Roberts, j. NJ Nor
ton, Oakland. Seventh, Giles Hubbard,
Mscomb J. J. Wilder, Tuscola. Eighth,
A. j. Andrews, gratiot Thomas Mum,
Bay. Ninth, John WIllet, Allegan, 5. u.
Haight, Ludington.
Independent resolutions were adopted
thanking Messrs. Kelly and Campbell, Of
the present Congress, for able and fear
less defense Of the interests Of the produc-
ing class, and recommending W. D. KEEL
ley for the Presidency, and one calling for
an immediate return to democratic sim
plcity on the part u the government.
TOPEKA, Kan, May An the State
Greenback Convention to-day twelve
counties were represented by thirty-fve
delegates. Judge Beal was chosen Presi-
dent, and delegates we're elected TO the
Indianapolis Convention on the 18th inst.
A State Executive Committee was ap-
pointed, and they decided to organize
county and township clubs. An effort was
made to bring the Convention over to the
Democratic party, but it die not succeed.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

THE Hon. John Magwire, Of st. Louis,
recently delivered lecture on the finan-
cial issue before the Lega, Tender Club OF
that city, which is very highly spoken of.
In private letter to The ADVOCATE. he
says
We can control the local elections for
Congress in every district, by requiring the
candidate to put himself on record in
regard to establishing monetary reform.
Require him to sign contract that if
elected, he will use his best efforts in pass
ing a law directing the Secretary Of the
Treasury to prepare a sufficient amount of
legal tender tokens Of the sovereign power
to extinguish the entire public debt in ac-
cordance with the original contract, viz. !:
10 be paid in greenbacks at our own Treas
ury after the lapse of FIVE years. There
can be no other construction put upon that
contract. Thad. Stevens, Senator'S Sher-
man and Morton, proclaimed that to be
the law and the contract. ANY alteration
of that contract after it had been signed.
sealed and recorded, is fraud, not bind
ing on the Obhgors Of the 8. 20 bonds who
were not parties to the fraud. | have
elaborated the question very fully in the
paper now being printed.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

The graves Of Captain Jack and the no.
docs hanged with him are empty. II il
supposed that the bodies were removed
soon after burial.
The Ohio Legislature has passed bill
providing for the punishment by fine and
imprisonment Of all persons who get on or
OF railroad trains that are in motion.
MONTREAL, May 1t is said that Mr.
Hugh Holt, a bookkeeper Of this city, has
been declared heir at-law Of the famous
Holt estate, which has been thrown out Of
the English Court Of Chancery. The es-
tate has been in litigation since 1909, and
Is valued at GIG OOO, 900.
FRANKFoKT, May 1.-Two steam ferry
boats plying between Rudesheim and Bin
gen on the Rhine yesterday came IN col
lision, and this was followed by the explo-
sion Of the boiler in one Of the vessels.
Thirty-6ve persons were killed and many
injured. Only a few Of the bodies have
beee recovered.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

These are all legal dollars, most Of them
are counted by the bullionists as real
money, whereas, in reality, the greenback
is the real, and in fact the only standar d
dollar i'll America it Is actually worth 100
cents on the dollar, although we have
quoted it above after the bullion method
Of calculation.
The definition Of the pound sterling Of
England is /" 1t is the standard of the
English money Of account" 1t never had
an existence as a distinct coin until the
year 1916. In France and several of the
European countries, the standard is the
franc. This modern innovation. Orig
inally, the pound of silver was the stand
ard all over Europe, and in England this
pound was coined into 20 shillings, in
Germany into 20 thalers, in France into
20 Ira, in Italy into 20 loirs. In Eng
land, now, the pound Of silver is coined
into 66s shillings, in Germany into 40
thalers, in France into 80 francs, in Italy
into about 20 Ira. Thus, the coins
change frequently and widely, through the
change in the money of account; the
money Of account governing the coinage
in nearly every modern instance, and 80
far as we have the means Of knowing,
every ancient instance also.
The Inter Ocean few days ago gave a
thorough definition of dollar, as follows :
A dollar is 100 cents Of the money Of
account, consisting of gold, silver or paper.
established by law or common consent I"
The Times ridicules this as being most in
definite. But if the Times will look nm
the matter Of coinage and money Of &C.
count, it will find that even its bullion au-
thorities will all agree that it is the in.
definite money of account which has
controlled the definite coinage laws during
the past one hundred years, with the
greatest unanimity, whenever these
coinage laws have been radically changed.
The Times itself has admitted that /" as All
values are only relative, one with another
there Is no such thing a. an invariable
measure of value possible. Prof. Perry
teaches us that the idea Of an invariahle
measure of value would never have been
thought Of, had not certain ecopo-
mists conceived the idea that values could
be fixed and measured. These facts and
admissions lead US to this consideration az
to the real Law that governs this case.
As previously explained in these col
umns, our ideas of the value Of dollar
arrive in our oSn minds BY associAting the
thing dollar with the things which we
want that dollar will buy. This always
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
IMPORTANT TO DELEGATES.

Arrangements have been completed by
which delegates and others, attending the
Independent Convention at indianapolis
May 10th, can secure tickets for the round
trip from Chicago for fare and fifth
$500. Application to be made at the
headquarters Of the State Central Com
mittee, II South Clark street.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

A Southern correspondent, under date OF
April 18th, writes
1t Is, Congress and not the President that
makes the laws. and therefore 1t is that We
should be concerned far more in electing the
Congress than President. The people in
every local district have the power to demand
written pledge from every candidate for
Congress, who will, if elected, obey their in
structiOns, and if any candidate refuses toen-
ter into such contract, the people can defeat
his election, despite the money power and
he people.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS.

Will those Of our subscribers TO whom
bills have been sent, please remit the
amount Of their indebtedness, without
delay. There are thousands of dollars
owing US, in small sums, scattered from
Maine to California, and We are compelled
in a great measure 10 depend on the hoAor
Of our subscribers at distance to forward
the amounts owing. As The ADvoCArf
is about entering on its 18th volume, We
hope all who can will square up and com
mence anew.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

LAST Saturday, we had the pleasure of
spending few hours in the company of
the Hon. Alex. Campbell, who is at pres
ent on a visit to his home. He has done
yeoman's service in the National Congress
in behalf Of the peoples interests, and we
have no doubt that his constituency
will re-elcct him by largely increased
majority.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

The Fall River Labor Journal is in
favor of the hardmoney Bourbon, Tilden,
Of New York, for President. As far as
known, it is the only journal devoted to
the interests Of labor which has espoused
his cauHe
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

We thoroughly indorse the Presidents
veto Of the $4,000 Salary bill The au-
thors and advocates of the proposed re-
duction should be presented with leather
medal. No such contemplate economy
will ever receive the Endorsement Of the
American people.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

THE workingmen Of Indianapolis had
representative candidates in the field ut
the recent municipal election. What sue
cess attended their efforts we have not
yet learned.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

or what he may be, stand in the way OF
your progress. Remember that harmony
among yourselves fellowship, one
ness Of purpose and unity Of action-are
the great levers Of the working man.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

WoRKINGMEN, resolutions are well
enough in their place, but resolutions
don't deposit ballots. Act first and talk
after. Hope deferred makes the heart
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

An arrangement has been effected by
which r. +. Trevellick will address the
citizens of Illinois on the issues of the
day from the 18th to the Goth Of Nav.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

The latest fashion-leather pockets.
Cause-silver resumption. Patent port
mOnnaies are also in great demand.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

A bricklayer recently died in London
who was found to have the heaviest brain
on record. Ii weighed sixty-6ve ounces.
The man could neither read nor write.
The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06

DELEGATES to the Independent National
Convention have been elected during the
past week from Michigan, Rhode Island
and Kansas.