The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-09-28

Address - ths TrnGess Csanelns ana
Trades Unasss ef Ia Unned King.
dom.
Nov that workingmen are becouing more
and mere alive 10 ths necessity Of osmbina-
tion for improving their position in the
country, II may be OF some service " point
ouss few things which merit THAR ssrious
consideration. We know very veil fhst at
present there doos not exist any real n re-
liable bond Of union bet seer. one trade society
and another. II h, no doubt, true hat in
their struggles against the abuse OF capital
they almost invariably assist each other but
in reality, . trade must stand or fall upon
its own resources Nov, this is not Is not
as II ought to be, seeing that the effect Ola
lost struggle by any one trade is direct en-
c0ufagemcnt 10 capitalists for further tn-
crcschmsats, and were working men thor
oughly aware OF their own interests they
would not allow thsnsslves 70 be thus d.
vided and beaten
IL may perhaps bs ss imposnbiity in the
present asEAngsment ot trade socleties for
them 70 completely amsIgamate, and prob
ably L would net " ny sdvantags for them
10 do 20; but thstsls point of agreement
that ought not to hs lost sixht Of. and
msthod u governing the funds Of those So
cieties that would place Ut the disposal Of
any trade unjustiy dealt By, capital suiicient
70 80 The nenbers safely fhroagh the most
psotsactea contsss.
} We woOlds therefore, propose, that every
society OF Eorkmen throughout the United
Kingdom should contribute to, and raise
fund, sepsrsts snd distinct from that which
10 raised fsr ordinary trade purposes. Such
. fund might bs called int9 existence very
easily, and would be ready at any time when
needed 10 assist any trade when In dispute
with those who would infringe on their Just
righess' To raise such q fand as would meet
every reQnirement would not demand any
great exertion, or cause any impoverishment.
A single halfpenny or penny per week from
each and every member Of trade societies In
Gress Bri ain, would place any trade during
. lockout or strike, In . position to fight
the battle OF labor riiL firmness and success.
If such fund were in existence, instead Of
seeing us IS we = nog-, 49, trade disputes
hast long time, AL the resources Of . society
gone, and the most intelligent oi IDS mem
bers going from one town to another humbly
asking assistance there would be confidence
in means being forthcoming until fair
settlement could be obtained. We also be-
lieve that the knowledge Of sach fund being
ready at AIRY moment would p,eyent many
strikes and lock-outs from taking place; for
in most instapces where these things occur,
it Is from belief on the part of capitalists
that they cannot be met or equal grounds.
Many of the evils attendant upon those dis
putes would be avoided altogether, or At least
rendered less severe. There would not be
such intense suffering from inadequatsDeaus
for the support and maintenance Of home,
nor the breaking up 81 family ties, always 1
great misf1rtlne whenever and however II
may happen, besides many other drawbacks
upon the comfort and welfare Of the parties
engaging In the contest, ~hich makes nearly
every strike Tor them marfyrdom and im-
notation.
II. in addition, there should grow np with
the fund more thorough and perfect union
of all trades, leading to the formation Of trade
councils, and therefore, To more correct
knowledge Of the difficulties and grievances
that al, more or less, have to suffer, or gran
pie with most important object win have
fbeeu attained. For it will be seen and de
cidsd upon by those best able % Judge il
what psrticular Il sts, or Condition, the me en-
IbSfs or any trade are, and whether or no
iAny complaints they may make are mad
Ijustly, and~uPsnp reasonable. grounis. ]
vast amount Of knowledge would thus b
given to the world respecting those who per
form It's work and provide its necessaries
that would stimulate the philanthropic, an,
reveal 20 our statesmen what measures the
should adopt An iegislating Tor the common
4 wealth.
These councils should also have control q
the reserve or protective fund, allowing i
eoly 10 Be used ia eases OF unjust and ar
sitrary proceedings, and then only wher
arbritrati0n has besn tried and found una
vailing, ID sbocld be their motto, and N,
doubt " woalt Be, to avoid contention 70
contentious sske; but to act On well define,
principles for the good Of all Ii there ba.
been such councils during the last half cen
tury, there would have been less time an
money wasted both BY masters and B.
wsrkmen for these councils would hav
repi esented labor--oot labor naked an
helpless, but labor as 1t ought To be, power
lnl in resources, confident in ltsslf, respect
able apd respected. .s
BY order OF che Council,
w. ANsus, President -
~ n.y. CRnlsroPHER DBwHrKsT Secretary.