The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-07-28

order the better to accomplish this sdvance-
meat, associations and sects are organized
each being governed by certain set forms
ds6nits reaslaa as the altimsts ssjsct ofsuch
|orfpelzatqos saa sik s..i.isasS IA .ss.nt.I. I
IN Union thaaa isiStrsnsthIil This
streneth may b used in ~ ap0esApaishnent
lQf goed apno sbeneficiaio rsanlzysaf mA1 u
perverted 70 improper uses : and el1Aoush
IN. onacert Df;ac1itn Isleus can't Ana gihatest
land bet rssnl>s exknine3i 3ifon tbs saSancs-
ment ef the hlssests of mankin4 stilb tbs
fact cannot bsdsnisdy that ,esssksxxities bass
been eettectisslp afsssdy as well - eellsctively
hleeeed.i y IoGs9soG saI ~ hsfnfsg1s : :
The ostensi5ds olJsef Of your organisstioh,
ounderstandsris ete ddvaass tho Daofal, so-
cial, ard iztstiectusl conditions Of Zocoscssse
| Engineers" and to thereby "elevate their
standard ~ uehapActer- ias q ND Dfessi0n. y
These ends are just and proper, and must
command the sympathy of all lovers Of pro
gress and If you really have no other ends
TO attain, 1t was very great misfortune that
at Chicago, in the Infancy Of m organization
bearing g0uT naags, sufficient Number of
discontented spirits should have been able
so to control its strength as to have employ
cd il IN the attempted overthrow Of iegiti-
mate authority. aA
You cannot but admit that this affair was
a most unfortunate one IN its bearing upon
your success, and one which all consistent
members of your organization deplore. II
should be one Of your first duties to anguat-
inedly aud officially recognize and acknOse-
ledge before The sooriG, the authority of your
superior officers, as the agents Of your em-
pl0yers in enforcing such rules aud regula-
tions as may be found necessary for your
government, and the mutual protection Of
both employer and employe; and 70 dis
cLaim emphaticali@the possibility OF the use
Of the power oi your organization to sub
vert or interfere with this authority. Many
Of the younger members of your body are
OF the opinion that employers and employees
hold antagonistic positions and most fully
believe the primary and most important OBJ
lect Of your organic. ion, to be q bulwark
Of protection for the employe, against the
lnJsstice and oppression Of the employer
and by combination of numbers to gain
sufficient strength to be recognized and fear
ed as an enemy. This doctrine ID o most
pernlclous error and its influence for evil
is baneful in its results, and prejudicial alike
to your interests and those Of your employ
ers. Your. interests are entirely identical,
and there cannot be this aatagonistic feeling
without utterly destroying that confidence
which should exist between you Any at
tempt on the part Of the members Of your
organization to place your body in antagon-
ism to your employers, or to attempt to
teach or promulgate this doctrine Of antag-
onistic positions, should be promptly and
Immediately checked, and such evil disposed
persons cured Of their error, or suu.msrily
expelled from your deliberations as their
influence cannot fail to stand in the way of
the great objects which bind you together.
One great difficulty which stands in the
way OF your success, Is the desire and anx-
iety you manifest to extend your member
ship, without regard to fitness of candi-
dates and thereby embrace many entirely
unworthy persons within your borders. You
should at once correct this evil, and make
membership contingent upon q much higher
standard Of morality aud capacity than you
have heretofore done. IShow by your exclu-
siveness that II is Sufficient guarantee for
the excellence Of character and capacity Of
an Engineer, for him to be able to produce q
certificate Of membership in your body.
You are aware that you include in your
membership many unworthy persons (; and
II y solemn duty you owe 20 yourselves
and your profession, 10 weed out this sle.
ment Of discord, and become forever rid Of
all persons who have no right Oh the score
OF morality and capacity to be recognized in
your profession. '-"
Unless the men Of substantial character
and influence in your body polite feel dis
posed 70 interest themselves personally in
This matter, your union can be productive Of
no permanent good, and win avail nothing
except 70 foster suspicion and discomfort
Conndence begets confidence; suspicion en-
genders suspicion; and You are yourselves
directly responsible FOR any want Of conf
dence your superior officers may have in
the sincerity Of your professions as to your
real objects and aims: it remains for You 10
Pr0ee by yonT actions whether those are
really to elevate tie standard ef character
ana capacity Of your profession, or whether,
l4'ater this tstir cloak, yeu have not in view
the creation Of poper by concentration and
lorganiSdtioa cr numbers, which at your op-
ton may Be used ia aae attempted oserthrsr
and snbrersion Of proper ald IeSitpate
authority.
Ii the former position be your true posi-
sion, all true men will bid you God
speed - and can assure you of my hearty
sympathy and earnest CO. operation. If You
stand in the latter position, s'you are sail
ing under false coiors," and your institu-
tion will ultimately fall to the ground, des-
troyed from It's otcR alnsousdness and rotten
ness. ! viii do you the justice to say that |
believe the former to be your true position
as an organization but others, and with
good reason, fear the latter to be more
likely. ! say with good reasoa, because you
have allowed Communications to appear in
the re puted official organ Of yonr oreaniza-
ton, without an official contradiction and
disclaimer, which pointed directly to the
overthrow Of legitimate authority, and
teemed with rank personal abuse of officers
entitled by every rule, to your highest con-
sideration and respect. How can you ex-
pect to receive unlimited confidence under
such n state Of affairs? A tree Is known by
its fruits and y on cannot ignore the fact
that yosa tree has already given evidences Of
bearing Hnrhoi esome fruit. You should
lop off some Of its dead limbs, and uss the
pruning Knife on some OF its useless
branches rragraft upon its frunk tho efer-s
nui primo ipies Of truth dRd rigi.t, and give
evidences in your official acts and delibera-
Iior.s; that you are entitled to confidence,
..nd my Snrd for IL, il win mot be withheld
from you. o 81 81 5. --l--'
| am sure you have sufficient confdencs in