The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-06
THE MINER.

There is no settlement yet in the Mas
sillon region. The men still hold against
the proposed reduction Of Is cents a ton.
Militia are reported as having gone there.
The men at Murphysboro, ILL.,, after
having several meetings and much discus
sion, agreed to take the proposed reduc-
ton, and are all joining the Union. The
proposition to work was sustained by
about twenty -hve majority, the balance
being for strike. In this cass we think
the majority we're sensible. Men too fire.
quently seek refuge in Union when the
storm has oVertaken them. They should
reverse this policy, and make their Union
good and strong when the sun of pros
perity is shining, so it will be ready when
the rains descend and the storms beat
upon them.
At McAlester, Indian Territory, the
miners are getting only half time. Many
men are going there, however, from the
no work to be had, and they have little to
carry them away. The summer also is
setting in, which is the season for fevers
and diseases peculiar to that region.
Those contemplating going to that field
Will do well to consider these facts, else
they may find themselves in a disagreed
Bile position.
The mines at Rick Springs, Wyoming
Territory, are also running short time
that is, in point Of days in the week. The
length Of the day, it is stated, is far be-
yond the legal limit as fixed by Law. At
this place the workmen, since the destruc-
ton of their Union, have been going the
whole hog and hog is the proper name
OF it. They were reduced cent bushel
last year, and since their strike to recover
1t and the introduction Of the Chinese,
they have been striving to earn as much
at the reduced prices as they did before
This is to show how much better men they
are than the Celestial race OF course,
this brute system is beginning to show the
common result, a result experience has
shown always follows 1t, in the rumor of
another reduction being in contemplation
by the company, and the discharge Of a
large number Of their force. This dis
charge will enable those who are retained
to add another few hours to their day, and
earn as much per diem as they now do, in
case the reduction is pressed. The Union
Pacific Company will be the last TO growl
under such an arrangement as this. 1t
pays them we'll.
At Barclay, ILL.,, it is stated, many Of
the best men have left since the consum-
nation Of the recent reduction there.
When men leave a place in this way it is
the best evidence the price paid is insult
cient to the amount of labor performed
A few good Union men are still there, who
keep their branch of the Miners National
Association up, and intend to do. All
honor to them. Had all the mining DIS
tricts in that State and Indiana been
united and in shape, like the men Of Bar
clay, the present reduction that has set
tied down upon them would not have taken
place. There is no good reason why prices
in this department Of labor should be re-
duced at this time.
AT Riverton, in the same county,
there is no Union. Gas q consequence, "
says a correspondent, 1--WE have no rules
or laws to be governed by. 1t is every
man for himself. In such place there is
no fairness or honor, or any Of the princi-
pies recognized or acknowledged, as in
places where there are rules to guide. In
the mine all is noise and confusion. This
place" says he, reminds me of Braid
wood, under the regime of the o'clock in
the morning hours, and who's last The
two Blackleg shafts at Springfield is,
the south and north shafts-are getting
the best work. Starvation only will bring
the men working there into a Union.
Those shafts are getting the best Of the
work. Some men, it is said, got work
there for saying to h-ll with the Union,
to the superintendent. Such crowd will
not readily join in a united effort to make
things better"
Serious complaints are made about
the Virden miners. They, we are told.
have adopted new plan of getting trade.
or enabling their employers to undersell
their neighbors. 1t is reported they got
the usual ruling price per ton for digging.
but permit the company, when paying
them, to deduct from their wages a per
cent. for the freightage of their coal to
other markets. This is the latest plan
out by which trade is to be got in dun
times. The miners say nothing of this ar
rangement to their fellow workmen out
side, but take their pay without q grum-
BILE, allowing the company to dock the
freightage from it. Verify, this 10 the
land of the free