The Labor enquirer., 1884-02-23
CORRESPONDENTS.
Bexinning to Realize.

Beglnning to Realize.
Editor LABOR ENoUIRER:
Coal CREEK, Feb. 17.-Every man ha'
a mission, and has got to introduce hlmsei
to the world. The world laughs him T.
scorn when he stands up for the first time
there is an uproarous laughter. He be
comes faint, sinks lower and lower he Il
buried under feelings of hatred. But alas
tor the world life is death /; he riseth with
more vigor and strength he speaks, NJ
works, awhy doesn't he die p He has
mission. What is it2 Humanity! He Is
pointed out with the fingers of despots as
a dangerous man.
R. Z. Emmett spoke to the people, wrote
with ink on paper, and finally wrote a let
ter with his own blood! He is now dead
and lies in peace in the soil that has the
honor to hold his sacred dust. But still
liyeth his name, his letter, his mission, and
are to-day more precious and dear than all
"SSPS
the wrongs he bore in its behalf
There was never yet any sort OF reform
granted to the desirous world without a
sacrifice, and so far as history tells US, a
sacrifice is essentially needed, before the
despotic hordes will grant the down-trod-
den the least concession of rights. The
union casteth back, with pride glance on
the blood-written revolution, when mil
lions laid down their dear lives in behalf OF
freedom and liberty. To gain that great
object that act of blood sacrifice was essen
TALLY needed!
We have made special notice of one
thing worth mentioning an aban-
doned, unfenced prospect hole we have
seen in the world, the authorities knowing
well the dangerous spot. A very little
cost would fix it safe from all dangers.
But not until human being has stumbled
therein, and laid down his life untlmely,
will there be attention paid and how gen.
erous the despots seem to be, so ready
with every sort of help to get the body
out. 1t will be buried with all costly dem
onstrations. The poor public! The easily
deceived working classes! The dangerous
spot will be made safe, but not without the
sacrifice of blood and life!
The workingman in Coal Creek, to-day,
dare not show his face with the intention
to ask for his rights. He is kept like a
bird in cage. He has wings of thought,
but they are surely of no earthly use to
him as he does not dare to fly. How well
we all know that we don't get our rights
We have the name of receiving 81 for our
hard-dug ton of coal, but the fact is it
will amount to only so cents ton. Ac-
cording to one-sided contract made sew
eral years ago, the workingman is obliged
to allow 2,4OO pounds of coal to ton; 400
pounds in consideration of the slack coal
the 1000 pounds may contain All very
well and reasonable; but the worst of it
is the poor workingman has to yield up
his car of coal into the hands of the vii
lains to be done with as they choose. 1t is
publicly declared by the weigh-boss that
he takes 2,4O0 pounds of good, screened
coal for ton. A checkweighmen was ap-
pointed by the workingmen to watch all
doings in their interest. Notwithstanding
the new mining laws that suggest such an
officer, under it's protection, and the desire
of the poor workingman to get satisfaction
the despots spit in their faces. The work
ingmen have now retreated from all at
tempts to fight for rights, and are totally
disorganized and without spark of hope.
ellow-workingmen, what would you
think of offering a sacrifice? There are
none of you that have the least idea OF
getting to be boss Therefore there is no
need for You to sacrifice the least of petty
feelings. Will you sacrifice day, week,
month of hard labor for your rights
Life is not worth living, in the way we
live it, it is nothing but burden One OF
two despots who delight in disputes be
tween capital and labor, ought, for shame
if for no other reason, retire or be cancelled
Fellow-workingmen, let US work for ouI
rights, speak boldly for our rights, and
finally, fight with our blood for our rights
DELTA.