The New York herald., 1866-08-30
the woaklxamEx OF New YORK.

Compose At-iss ODe Jos-Its PrOgress-What
IL Has Accompiis. >ed-Thc Eight Hour Ques-
tion-The STATE aud National Conventions
Strikes For fbe Eight Hour Question Last
Spring, Gc.
II has oftenj,nes been attempted to invest the labor
organizations of worngmen with the halo OF antiquity
but certain it is that the most patient and careful
research fails to confirm these views all that be
cleaned goes fully to prove their comparative modern
origin Instances, however, arc not lacking which
establish the fact that societies Of labor existed
early fourteenth century, in Venice The princi
pal towns Of Italy during the middle ages had their
workingmen's societies. which exercised q powerful
influence not only in The regulation Of their own affairs
but also in relation the management Of local Affairs in
those cities But indeed, then now, history may have
been too much occupied chronicle the Of
the working classes so interested in the progress
OF courts or camps Thus the movements Of the artisan
oftentmcs lost sight of In the presence OF more
dazzling but less important undertakings But though
the historian has overlooked those claims upon his atten
ton the rude rhyme and ballads Of the minstrels have
often expressed the tales Of suffering and distress ex
peri need by those classes and that shape have their
grievances and he modes Of redress been handed down
to US.
THE ORIGIN THE woRKINCMES's UNION
Upon the introduction of bill INTO the House Of
representatives N the State capital, known more
particularly among the working classes as the
"strike Bill,' degree of feeling rarely eShih-
tied through the minds OF that great mass
composing the working classes of this city. SO
general was that feeling, and to such an extent
IL experienced that the operatives of every
branch of labor impressed with tha belief that their
rights liberties and privileges aimed at from
their quetude and acted with vigor determination and
prcmpness 10 Its defeat Skilled and unskIed
mechanics laboring OF all classes and even the
Dry Goods Clerks Association, society though recently
established had accomplished The great idea which had
in view, that Of a limitation of the hours or labor, all
made together and dir ced their energies
IN defeat Of the obnoxious measure. Famous as Is New
York for the extent enthusiasm and order of the great
political and other gatherings Of her citizens all past
efforts we're ecipsed ON the 7h day Of April, 1854, by
the assembled masses OF her artisans and workingnen
in Tompkins square. The workingmen there showed
their strength. From that meeting went forth warn.
ing which the representatives Of the people, then in
session in Albany, dared not TO disr gard and which
suited in the notification OF the intended statute This
may be regarded the first prbc act Of the working
council and from this sprung the organization oi
the present day known under tie and title OF the
Workingmens Union.
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
On consultation between the prominent men Of the
labor organizations, some twenty 70 number, il sas
their livelihood at the trade calling which they claimed
to rpresent," should be eligible to membership The
Central Union This precauon II was found necessary
to adopt experience having taught them lesson which
they resolved to profit by Designing politicians or
their instruments having insidiously crep into their
earlier organizations great caution found necessary
IN this respect On tins foundation the
NrMgLIcAL STRENGTH
OF the Union assumed respectable proportions The
Union established in this manner ba cd its actual
upon representation of ABOUT 10000 together with
exercising influence many thousand others, VITO
though represented in the Central head willing
I, acknowledge it as its Authority.
Objects.
The first great desire seemed 70 be q consolidation
all the woringmens cites for the purpose Of mutual
assistance IN the carrying out OF such measures as
calculated to promote the best interests OF
working classes. Under this head might be ed
limitation Of the hours OF labor the adoption Of
TO adjust the difficulties too often arising between
pioyers ana employed; CO operative industry;
proved and thoroag gh apprenticeship system and other
more or ess important undertakings Political discus
deliberations the Union pasi exper once had proven
the necessity Of this resolution and the carryng
this rule with the utmost rgor VAS decided unani-
mousiy IL had been the rUck upon wh1h the Working
mems Union OF form days had split, and nothing short
n total abst nence from us bighng influence work
ingmens cments considered the most eaectuai
safeguard SO determined the carr Ing
out this idea that tie first nionded ion OF tho
rule punished almost instant by depriv IN Of
power and membership officer WHO, perhaps through
over zeal, violated the injunction
PETITION PRESIDENT
Tho next public after the defeat Of the "strlke
bli' that Of petition to President Lincoln, rclave
To the issuing Of two general orders striking directly
trade organizations One OF these orders from
Major General Kosecrans, the 29tn OF April 1864,
the other from Drisade General BuIbrdg then conn
mandng Tue ostrict q krntu KY, on the 18Th day o.
trade organizations and made the OF bodies
criminal and punishable "a military offences ami 40
charged that they were led b. bal men, and that such
organizations only Established for tie purposc of
attack ng private rights aud tie interests of the servce
TIE petition respects uy asked that cDnsd ou be
gwen to the societies Of the working classes and not
Judged and condemned upon The sweeping CHARGES con
tanned In both orders II denied ali tden icalion i,v
trades soce les proper with political pa les na afr in
vcsigaon y would be found that theso soc. ties were
nothing more nor less than tbe Indispensable
enabling The lcrs o. labor to take de OF Their
own Interests" This petition taken notice nf hy
the President, and tbs pet oners tct that IA tho dis
charge OF The important duties OF hi. oilce lat bc
might have o, ,erlooked this seemingly unilnp poriant
Claim upon b ? atient on
oosNrsf ATIoSs wIrH DIFFERENT srcrioSs OPENED
The desire "a obtain information regarding the move
mcnts Of abOr tciees other localities was for line
matter o serious cous deraiion IL evident from
KNOWLEDGE OBTAINED through mauy sources that thc
work 0 organization was going steadily forward nroush
out the Whole country. The Corresponding Secretary
was instr cted to commence communicate with the
different societies all over, with tho view Of Obtaining
correct and rel able Information OF their
Scarcely a city OF any Importance in the whole pilei
great national organization were planted
PRISON
Abort this time the Secretary in the course OF his
communications received letter from the rrcsd Mt nf
the Iron Moidefs International unon pOwc III ura
zaton represented a. possess ng hund ed and
tytwo local societies with aggregate nen cr hin ~
ten thousand mcn. The comrnucation desired the co
operation OF the Workugmen's Union in the end avor 10
prevent chap state PRISON labor from coming into com
petition with the Nencst outside labor The aciip IN
the mon at The Tune was postponed uutii sufficiently
informed 70 act intellig ntiy In the matter
rHK " HKINGMENs UNION PLATFORM.
or revised ono Submitted TO the members Of the
different trades IN mass meeting assembled ooper
instut, on the I'D day OF February, 1885, Upon that
OCCASION every branch Of labor 10 the city was repre-
scnted Delegates were present from Washington
Boston, Philadelphia, Albany. Troy and other PAGES
The large hail OF the Institute fed oyernwinp
Inc resolutions then adopted after reviewing tho career
VI the trades organ zaton for the past two years.
Tended that hy their Influence the condition OF the work
ing classes was improved mentally, morally and
iaiy that opposition 70 those societies from
ignorance OF the true s0ceary principles which governed
lncrl and which Il sncressfnI xnnd snnn dnsLr,x nnr