The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-05-05
A weet-Scented Tyrant.

PennsS lvaLia has her Gowen and Illinois
has her Sweet q, and it is difficult matter to
decide which o! The two has secured the most
unenviabie notorieIy, cr proved himself the
Digest petty tyTant to the miners of Their re-
sPeetive States. Every household has its
skeleton, every community it's marplot, and
braidwood is no exception to the rule. For
seven years the mis-named superintendent
Of the Chicago. Wilmington 4 Vermillion
Coal Company, Mr.. Sweet, has prided him
self in being the champion wages reducer Of
miners wages in the northwest, believing
that the powerful company whose plant tool
he is, would generally ain him in his cut
ting down policy, and enable him thereby
to control the soft coal market. In every
un-called for reduction be has been the NOV
ing spirit, first under plea, then under
another until his name stinks in the nostrils
of every honest laborer in the country. To
crush or attempt to crush the smaller opera
tors has been his especial study and delight.
For the past six months We lind him racing
over the country, offering to take new con
tracts for the ensuing year at 25 cents per
ton reduction from former rates. OF course,
Satan-hke, he has his excuse ready, in the
plea that other points were the first TO lower
rates, though it is believed that IN every case
it can he proven that he has been the spur
wheel to move the diabelical machinery also
because 1.-THE company is making no money.
Nav this 1t AZ NJ may N. trna Inf IL IL IL
no valid reason can be assigned why the C.,
W. & v. g. Co. has not coined money, except
lack OF business capacity ard practical
know ledge ON the part Of those having its
interests IN charge. As proof Of this fact
the smaller companies with less capital and
| fewer facilities are not only able TO pay the
prices heretofore demanded but an advance
Of ten cents per ton on old prices, as demon
strated in the Streator, Bloomington and
Springfield regions II money has not been
made il is because the company has had too
many high salaried incompetents IN ITS EN-
ploy. such as Sweet, Hall. Wood and others,
1 who could be communication many jacks
of all trades and masters Of none. Two
wears ago ihAiAch Nphih w hAiS ~ n
Of all OF them, and that too at nominal
salary.
Tie syecial railroad rates enjoyed by the
the e.. w. & v. Co. over all competitors, a
very Important advantage, is Priaa tocit evi-
dence, ~ Mr.. 50 statement is true, Of gross
mlsmana. ement on the part OF lis represen-
tatives. and this idea cannot be brought out
too frequently, and IN and OF itself should
prove valid reason why they should step
down and out.
We have aid that mai desire g crush all
competitors is one Of the especial objects OF
this especial sycophaut. A case 10 point
| For seven years the coal brought from the
| compan, : shafts has been drawn five miles
past the Union Rolling Mills, and never, NJ
t. the time that Mr.. hardwood receive the
c act to supply them, had any effort been
made to secure their custom since then he
las been a continual hanger on around the
mills. Offering coal at the actual cosf N pro-
Iact,oa. which fact can be proven, and the
object ~ which cii,r can easily beunderstood.
/ While We cheerfuly admit that the stock
owners Of the company are gentlemen OF the
highest character and reputation, experience,
the best teacher, will eventually convince
them that there l. such thing as penny
wise and pound foolish policy; that the
| LONGEST way round is sometimes the shortest
way home and that there must he some
thing radically wrong with man who keeps
the workInen III a chronic state uf strike.