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

all other organisations thus the Secretary
may know jnss how many members we hare
bow many active working paying mem
bcrs there ara in the United States, how
mahy belong toeach Lodge or Union, when
I they meet, and what il the internal condi-
Mon OF each. In this way Ii would be easy
20 FEEL. The pulse Of the whole nation. Or.
there might perhaps be Centre Ia each
State, With its subordinate Lodges, and the
Grand or Centre Lodge in each State be aux
iiiariy TO the National labor Union-x.ss !,
would be the Grand Centre of Che whole.
This would furnish the means of sarrying on
the enterprise with energy and success.
+ Active laborers should be sustained in the
held, to keep the interest alive and fight the
great battle with the opposition, and con-
vince The public of, the reasonablenes' of our
claims. kll public laborers are thro 81 upon
precarious subsistence, and are doomel to
csrtafa 1silure. Lecturers 10 this field haze
not he sdvantases- fcthsr lecturers. They
have tbe-wexith and influence OF the whole
country agsinst them. Toe only class they
have in their favor il the working class who
are obliged to 90 TO their daily toll, without
the time or the means TO seek their own ele-
vation, consequently lecturers hare no rcIi-
ance. A small! quarterly Piynent from each
workman in the United States would furnish
all needful means for vigorous enterprise.
The press canno' be spared from this
work: several valr able ispphals have been
attempted, but ths want " organic a.ion and
aystematic operlfion has thus far defed IN
aided enterprise, an4 journals Of this class
have mostly failede The field il wid-
enough. and tie means ample enough, to
sustain all the Journals thus attempted, If
systematic measures were employed. The
National Workman, Industrial AdvocIte Of
st. Louis, the DAILY Vo;ce, Of Boston, have
been suspended the Workingmea's J3Ur-
nal, OF Springfield, Mass, is also temporari
suspended, 10 find more substantial ba-
ST..
The subjec. should claim the earnest at
teQiion Of Congress.
The subject Of CT Operation has received
much attention., and has been submitted to
some very encouraging tests. But the whole
sntJt- il yet opon 10 jeliDeration, ard it Is
certain that labor cln in no way make itself
independent Of capital but by cooperation /:
labor has thousands OF times created capital
ami 1t can do 50 again. II is by labor and
not BY capital that al countries have pro-
gressed. Labor il the safety. capital y e
danger Of human society; labor can always
sustain Itself II skilfully directed. T1e
Congress should not only furnish plan, but
take the initiatory steps for a general CO.
operation aud lead the way.
The plan of a certificate for that class Of
men who would not 60 into a lodge, will be
one Q the most important means cf carrying :
on our dIincuit enterprise. There are many
men who do not wish to identity themselves
VITA the movement, or take any active part
With those engaged 10 il, who yet feel
irieldly and will give something ID help II
on there are others VINO would ike 10 have
It known that they are friends OF the labor
ing men, and hope to get the labor vote at
some iutnre time Of need there are Others
| VINO love the cause, love 10 aid the weaker
party against the strong, and viii make
some strong sacrifice for that end. Others
1 again love 10 sound a trumpet before them
and are glad to be able to give as good evi-
dence of their belevoleEce as a estiicate
to that effect.
4 A certificate that can be preserved and
handed down TO pOsterity, would be relic
very highly valued by iuture generations
when our cause viii be remembered as one
Of the great triumphs Of human progress.
! Tho past year has been very evenuul q
fhe labor cause, no previous year So muct
so; many gratifying results have been 1t
tanned; the long nour system has receives
mauy very telling blows, and the reason abl'
| demands Of the lab0ffrg millions Of ou
country for more tius 'cr mental culturv
secial adyfnissges AMI refresniiifss f<sss hag
been aeknowl=dged BY Tie legislative wis
dem Of some OF the most powerful States 0
| fha IlnInn- Wa lap.r h,l 4 ~ iax n
nature in-opr lRyor, We nov have the law
Of the land in our favor, to a gratifying ex
tent, and if we peIsevere, we shall SOD
have every statute book in our country eio
quent in our favor. This is not the sgaa
tor relaxation, but fur renewed effort an
extensive organization. Hsal@orf or inaC
tivity now WILL be tile ignzl Tor reaction, al
. loss OF all We have galnec, and noTe. To
Congress should devise wise measures 70
making the success We have gaine1 not chi
practically successful, Uus the stepPlu
stones To still gres-s< achievements. fMuc
pains has beeu laAcn 20 lnvesligtle the cl'
dition oil e1ucition a0uS the cnhirea
Iaboringmen IN all ia-tJry villages thel
; are maay cnIidren 10 :he mills Ihas shou
!. be in the schools. aud TIE def ;iency Of ed
J cation 10 becJning P4in1ui evi which d
mands serious aIlenuon- This Congre
should be empnstlcaIly heard Oh THIS su
ject.
n A. Secretary, c'rrespondei largely vi
all those who have taken al active lntere
IN tnf. labor cause anu with cheering r
cults, u vey great number Of inteiiIge
! minds may readily be enlisted IN gener
aud united Plan, 80 soon as that plan can
: presented. Bat they are awaiting unite
method of ptcsssarei that method %
Congress sI.ssss ,;:; s4.s.si V should De n
only National, but International. There !
much activity aud Intehsssat enterprise BE-
4 yond the waters, and we MAY gain nuc
strength and encouragement frcR then
while our free institutions Should Oh d thei
light upon the darkness Of Csurpa ion ao
monarchical oppression.
Political action has proved available in IN
last year; both political parties have re
spected and dreaded our influence, and I
that we must FOR the redress IF a part Of ou
grievances Tae next prssilenllaI csmpaig
should feel our influence. Congress mu.
make cur acquaintance in the shape OF meu
bers who will vote to establish the eigh
hour rule in MI public works; and also VIII
will vote for proper Distribution Of tax.
ton and relieve the labor Of the couatr
from some Of its pressing load uniting on
political strength and ignoring all other Dc
A litical parties, we can make ourselves felt i
the nation mn we have in some Of the State,
\ Tue enormous profits nov una le by T.,
changers, Brokers, Ec., Who stand hetwee
the producers and the consumers, shoul
engage the serious attention OF the Congress
monopoly now RUNS the land, excessiy
prices for Ill the industry Of the country
The Congress should devise . medium
exclsaage to remove the hungry threng iroI
between the producer and consumer, IN
suFply the toiling masses with articles
necessary consumption as first prices
Il Asa whole, the past year has been full
hspe and encouragement to the laborir
mon; we have not gained all we could wis
) bot ~ have gained more than we expecee
! let each fnture rear add its quota b, The