The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-08-24

vei"fo wnom " was brought FOR ratification
does not seem necessary for me to hers
discuss at length any Of these ouestions a
universally have they been approved :bst
they need only be reaf6rmed and kept con :
stantly before the people and in time thai
influence will be felt.
TO the subject Of oo-operation, however.
would invite your particolaz attention. Il
viil be found, think, the great pauaces for
the evils ccnplained of 4 by the work,
ing classes on account of % unsqdal distri-
button Of the profits arising frsm thsir L.
Dor. Every encouragement should Be given
70 the formation Of CO. operative associa-
'ions, and agitation kept up until the ne
cessary Legislation, which they are sadly in
need Of, shall b. adopted for his formation
A. Fo.ection. Ths main question is how
70 put Into practical working order the ma
ebinery with which IL reform movement Is
g De driven Our complaints may Be Der.
fectly welf grodSdsd- d-she. principles Of ae-
ton may be ever 90 well ssttled among opr=
selves--yet without organization and sys
tcmatic cooperation, We can accomplish
nothing. II the National Labor Union i 10
exist, then everything should be done to give
TIA vigorous existence, and, as an absolute
prerequisite, We must have O.. establi he'd
Jurisdiction and revenue.
Your officers, during the past wear have
oeen placed under great many disadvanta-
ges, which prevented them carving out the
Intentions Of the National Labor Union AZ
tniiy as was desired and perhaps expected.
" Itnodt Doney to meet O single expense.
tney were left entirely upon their individual
resources and what little they might obtain
from their respective assemblies. In an nm
iertaKing OF such vast proportions, it is OBJ
Vious that not much could be done com
pared with v hat was required. But we feel
Dat, notwithstanding ali the difficulties be-
citing the reform, material advancement
aas been made. The formation of Unions
aud Iiades Societies, the adoption OF the
bght Hour Law in four States. and its
sdoption BY one branch Of, the National
legislature. all attest that the spirit of re.
Iortn Il abroad, and that the time Of tbs Ma
'ionni Labor Union, for the past year, has
aot oeen uselessly spent. But the work Of
Eorganizstion is exceedingly imperfect, and
70 Perfect il will require your Concentrated
'lnteliigencs gpd energies.
n II We are bat frm and unyielding ia oar
efforts, success will surely crown them, IL
Scasnot be expected that alt viii be accom-
pilshed 10 day. Both time and labor will
oe required before we can see the fruits Of
reform 70 full bloom. But let us cat our
shoulders'to the wheel, and uni edlv and
tremendously apply ourselves to the work.
Secure 10 the justice Of our cause, conscien-
u0us IN the performance Of our duties, with
justice TO all, and malice towards none.o
We have nothing To fear, but everything TO
hope Tor. The subjects that you sill be
called upon to discuss are Of deep and abid-
ing interest to the working people, and the
deliberations Of the National Labor Union
will DO viewed with interest by the entire
country, and more particularly By she work
lngme0, who stand With upturned faces
watching for plan Of Operations npon which
60 unite. Give them that, and, [ believe
they viii not be found wanting IN the hour
OF need.
Whatever may be result Of your delibra-
lions, Though there may have been diferen-
ces OF opinion expressed ia their discussion,
let usyanite, without dissent, upon the Pisa
adopted, aud, with the blessings Of an all
we Providence, We will sesure our aims.
j. q. G. WHALEr,
n Fresal~st Eitsonaz Lasor UAi0a.
On motion Of Mr. Phelps, . committee q
three WAS appointsa to report up~n the re-
ommendationsz Contained in the address,.
Messrs. Phelps, Neai-and Trevelliek we're ap-
tpointsd- such Committee. -----s.-.s-
The Corresponding Secretary then pre-
sentea nis annual report ghssh, on motion,
was referred 70 the same committee
To tie President Of the Nation& Labor
| Union
SiR-An eve1tf.l gear to our Cause ha'
been passed, AMI by the goodness Of kine
Providence we find ourselves assembled II
Convention, to consider the past and prepare
for the future at this time it becomes my
pleasant duty to present o report Of my ON
cial dOings since the adjournment Of th'
Labor Congress at Baltimore, In Angus
| 1856.
The following September Goth issued no
tices TO Corresponding Secretaries, Vice Pre-
Sdents and Representatives Of their respec
tive States, that the National Labor Unioi
authorized the printing OF their proceedings
to be paid for by subscription fren the vari
GUS subordinate Unions of the country
Some Unions responded promptly and nobly
many others did not There net bein
n. .sney enough to warrant the work bein
done, the matter was laid over for furIhe
consideration. The address, that yeas o.
dered BY the Congress was not forthcemin
as its appointed time, and did not arrive N
distribution until July 18th, lss. fTh
want Of money to have the pr5 ceeding
| printed, and serious delay of the ad Tres:
caused much much loss Of time la writin
and explaining, &c., which made, the dutie
&c tf- attice very arduous ants Inefficient
to wbat il would have been, 3D. &c been Il
vored with the address aud proceedings L
operate with, besides it lessened the conf,
dence Of workingmen In the movement II
viii be remembered that the Congress
placed the proceedings in the hands OF the
PrIa.er, Mr.. ]. d. Ware, and tho address ir
the hands Of a Committee, Mr.. A. q. Cam
eron, Chairman. Had the proceedings be.
ing placed 10 he hgnds Of the officers OF he
National Labor Union, they would have
been p-inted and distributed; orders fol
1000 copies came to the Secresary's notice
But that was not accompanied with money
pre- paid avaled nothing with the printer
Those prepaid not being sufficient 10 cove
the proposed estimate Of number to b
printed. 1900 copies for $500, nothing could
be done about it. The money received FOL
printing the proceedings is In the hands O
the Secretary, and ready to be paid back tG
the respective Unions that sent it, or may b
otherwise appropriated, ss this Censres.
may direct April 4th ! visited PRESIDED
Nhaley, with view, il possible. 10 acceier
ale matters, and furnish ourselves with tn;
necessary n lerials for operation. The Pre-
sadent, MIR. Overton and myself agreed t<
issue "A address 10 the absence OF tbe Com
mittse's address; this was done aud par.
tally issued, when received q proof-sneel
,f ti.o fls,mxn IN ea's addreas vwith = rnsa So
ing thst they would be forwarded In few
days. +, then withheld the executive I'D
dress, and after % days I received 100 copies
Of the c0nmittee's address, VII ch I ipma
diately distribuled, and ten day's aitsr, Juls
Gath, received 4l6 copies more, which
also disteSbuted- The time w.s vsrv short
and not Sel1cisat to give Unioas time 4
consids yhs inpoFt4 t4pcs ef ssading Ss.ssas.