Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-07-18
workinsmen,s Assembly

association, 1xe members; j. Il. Gill, James
terers' Association. so memhers; George w.
Price, John A. Shackleford, John II. Fal.
csner. Of the faperbangers' Association w.
ar Ciark m ahd IL Richard MeHenry, ito MI va
VIM. Plowdon, J M. Dant, John d. Williams,
Edward Nash, Thomas W. Mahoney, 3. W.
Bnrch. J. Q. Cook. Francis Reside. w W.
Collins, and Benjamin Eggleston, of Brick
layers Union No. l, numbering 275 members.
The Chair welcomed the delegates, express :
ing the gratidcation Of the assembly that the
trades are taking an interest In the assembly,
q fact NO doubt attributable to the efforts OF
the committee and the influence OF some of the
members.
Mr. Mitchell, from the committee on the pic.
nic. reported that the arrangements were nearly
all completed and also. that in the sale of tick
cts they were not meeting with he encourage.
ment they had hoped for. but hoped that the
members would exert themselves in selling
tickets ubtil the day OF the pic-n
The Chair stated that 1t was proposed to
give to the picnic something of the character
iatics Of mass meeting, and at the same time
afford the families of the workingmen a day Of
recreation. II was also proposed that the
rights OF the workingmen should be discussed
the Assembly supported the doctrine Of eight
hours day, and also favored an increase Of
wages.
Mr. Rothwell said that be was glad that the
&C la1ms OF the workingmeD were to be discussed
doctrine "eight hours labor a legal day,s
work" was being adopted In the States, and
he believed that q bill based on This doctrine
would be passed at the next sess on OF Con-
grets.
The following named delegates from tn 9
several trade organizations were added to the
ON john Williams Dan and
0. Cook. for the Brickla yers' Union, No. j;
George W. PIERCE and John A. Shackleford,
ior the Paper. hangers Association; W. g.
Clarke and B. McHenry, Of the Granite cut
ters' Association; and g. Sibley and James
Hughes for the Plasterers' Associa ton
The following delegates were added to the
Execut tive Committee-T. McwiIliams, of the
Sionecutters' Association; j. r. Gill. of the
Plasterers' Associations J. w FaIconer, OF the
Paper.hanRers' Association; B. Eggleston. OF
the Brlcklayers' Union, No. l; aud W c.
Clarke, OF the Granite cutters Association.
The Char stated that he had received the
ADDRESS of the committee OF the National Labor
Congress to the workingmen of the United
States, and he proceeded to read the pamphlet,
which Is admirably written. and discusses the
questions affecting the workingmen.
The address refers to the TACT that the first
National Labor Congress ever assembled IN
the country was held on the 20th of August
last in Baltimore. which was attended by sixty
delegates. and speaks of the benefits OF unity
OF action by q II trades. The subject of eight
honrs per day is discussed at some length and
one argument used IS that the records OF the
Patent Offices of this country and Great Brit
tain show hat three fourths OF the labor saw
ing machinery perfected during the past
tu enty five years has been the creation Of the
woI k1ngnan's brain. and since the adoption
increased seventy five per cent.
Ine question of cooperative stores and as
socations IS discussed, and ii is claimed that
the former have been very successful, especi-
ally in England; and the com bination OF the
twenty-eight flannel weavers of RockdaIe
who started with sHbscri ption of five or six
cents Tor work, less than twenty five years
since. who now have capital Of s2JE.0GiI, and
laid the foupda'ion OF q enterprise which has
made their town one OF the most fionrishing
IN England. is pointed to us as an example.
Trades Unions are spoken of highly, and the
benefits resulting theretrom are noticed and
all mechanics are urged to connect themselves
with the Unions. Referring 10 the apprentice
system. the address says that it is defective,
ane needs im mediate reformation.
Under the b. ad of strikes. the address saws
that ali appeals TO extreme meas ures cannot be
TOO strongly deprecated excent "a derner
resort, believing that by conference commit
Tee IN most cases. all dlfh hcnlties can be re-
moved. IAN ounce of prevention is worth a
pound OF cure" and AS large majority of the
have everything TO gain and nothing to lose by
The adoption OF this cause. All honorable
WoTklnemen should act in concert, and fer
EFT results will be brought about from those
which generally attend such demonstrations
The address says under the head OF female
aGor, that thorough and careful examina-
non OF the snblect will go Il long way to re-
move the causeless preindlces heretofore en-.
tertaned by all classes against its employment
IN many channels of useful occupation The
POSITION OF the laboring classes has b-en mis-
=
the lntrodu ctfon Of female labor when used to
depreciate the value of their own labor and
10 accomplish the selfish ends 0. the employer
when under the plea OF disintrrested uphiIap.
throrby," the nlterior object has not been the
Iteration OF woman, but the degradation Of man
The claim that il they are capable to MI the
positions now occupied by the stronger sex
and 10 many instances they are-they should
receive be same compensation.
Under the head of "Negro labor the address
says, what shall be his status rs a free men is
N n at
palatable as the truth may be to many II is
needless to disguise the fact that they are
destined to occupy different position In the
future TO wbatthey have IN the pas!; that they
m ust ne cesar lily becomeI In their new relation
chip an element OF strength or an element of
weakness, and it is for the worktngmen of
America to say which that shall be" Otgani-
zation and consolidation must become the
watehword OF the true reformer and to accom-
phsh this The cooperation OF be African race
must be secured. II those directly Interested
tail to perform this duty others will avail
themselves Of 1t TO their Ihs workingmen'sl
injury. A practical illustration of this was
afforded in the recent importation of colored
cauikers from Portsmouth. Va. to Bosom,
Mass. during the struggle on the eight-hour
question. Every Union should help to incul-
cate the grand enabling idea tn at the interests
OF labor are one; that there should not be
any distinction of race nationality &
:. Bot aside from all this, the workinam meu of
the United States have a special interest in
seeking their cooperation. Tuis race is being
rapidly educated. and will soon he ad mi tied to
all the privileges and tran chises Of cisiZeashtp
bat II will neither ole out or b- exter m IA ed
10 low iegarUed as settled fact Tney ar.
there 10 live Am onCst zig, and the question 10
be- decided is. shall we make them our frie IDS
or cha ! capital be allowed to turn them Is An
engine against us! They number four mt )
liens strong, and a greater proportion OF them
labor with their hands than can be counted
from among The same number of any othar
people on earth. Their moral Influence, ana
their strength at the ballot.b box would br o. IN
cslcula BILE value TO the cause or labor Gan we
afioia to ject their proffered cooperation and
make III. N ehem,esi BY committing z such an
Act of folly we would infiict greater injury
upon ihe cause Of la bor reform than the com
hiLed efforts OF capital, could accomplish.
Their cherished idea OF an antago on SIN etween
white and black labor would be- realized, and
as the Austrian despotism makes use OF ,ha
hostility between the different races which
compose the empiva 10 main ain her existence
and her balance so capitsiists.s Moth and
Snuth, would foment discord between ths
whites and blacks. and huri the one against
the other, as interest and occasion might re.
oujre to msintain their Ascendency and con.
iipue The reign o. oppression Lameutable
spectacle! Labor warning against labor, and
,spital emfling and reapipg the frnits OF this
mad cOpteef." Tne inserests Of the working.
men OF AmeTtca rsQuires that the formation OF
trades upions, eiabt- -hour leagues, &C., should
he epcou1aeed among the colored race.
The reckless msnDer IN which the pEhEc
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