The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-09
NAsHvTLLg, April %,

70 TIE Editor Of the WozxmGmArs ADVOCATE
Bot little Of importance has transpired
here since wrote you last. Money il scarce,
and brings, on short loans, at the rate of 20
to 80 per cent. interest per annum. Conse-
quently trade is d.A, wages low, and work
scarce. There is but little interest mani
fest among the unions. However, the work
ingmsn's unions meet weekly. and when
there is but little business on hand, we
amuse ourselves BY discussing the various
labor questions, which, find, workingmen
but poorly understand. Our first discus
sion was on the utility of eight hour laws.
The debate was opened, on the affirmative
side BY Mr. Cramer, on the negative by Mr..
Aderhold. After q thorough discussion,
pro and con, il was admitted by all that the
eight hour system, if nationalized, will re-
suit benefcially to the labOring classes.
Some Of your readers may think this rather
late In the day" TO discuss this question !;
but ! can assure them that there were points
developed i'm this debate, in regard to pro-
ducing machinery and its benefits, in re-
ducing the hours Of toll, if taken advantage
Of by the predicting classes. which, however,
has been done only by capitalists, that would
surprise most Of them.
We are soon to have q discussion on the
financial question, when We shall be able to
advise Congress as to the proper course
TO pursue in regard to the national finances.
Concerning tits matter of discussion,
know Of no other way by which the work
ingmeu Of the country can so easily and ef-
fectually infoIm themselves upon the great
question Of labor reform, as by introducing
into the different labor Unions of the coun-
try a grand system Of debate on labor ques-
tons, occupying one or two nights per
month. III this plan meets your approval,
MIR. Editor. hope you viii agirate il through
your paper, which begin to look upon as
the last hope Of the labor movement in this
country. In this connection there is a mat
ter Of which wish to speak, and winch has
been sadly neglected in organizing labor So
cieties, viz: the securing Of every available
element Of labor. Heretofore, and IN many
phases at present, labor societies have con-
fined themselves mostly to the more intelli
gent Class OF laborers or mechanics, while
the more illiterate class, common laborers,
have been almost entirely neglected: the
very class that need educating in the unions.
We hold shat labor societies should be or.
ganiEed on the broadest and most compre-
hensive basis-ia other words, embrace in
its membership all classes Of workingmen,
including mechanics, lab0rers, artisans, bar
keepers, farmers, &C., all Of which are in
terested to bring about the same results.
The workingmen's unions Of Tennessee are
organized on that basis, and are proving a
success.
We have disca- led az detrimental to the
labor cause, the semi aristocratic idea OF
mechanics, that they are too good to assO-
ciate with common or unskilied laborers IN
the societies admit the usefulness Of To-
cal trades unions for special purposes, di-
rectiy connected with their several trades,
but In o general Political reform like that Of
the present labor movement, they are quite
insufficient; nor do | believe We can sue
coed until we have more thoroughly organ
lied on the plan | have mentioned.
believe it is duty the President and
friends Of the National Labor Union owe to
the cause to organize in each state in the
Union, q state union, which shall be under
the immediate control OF the National Union,
leaving the organisation Of the state into
branch unions, rs well Is minor matters
generally, In the hands Of the state union,
which would furnish o nucleus far oil lesser
unions to rally around. We have started
out on this plan Ia Tennessee, with the ex-
ception that our unions are known As Work
inGmen's instead Of Labor unions, which
happened from the fact that we organized
before we fully understood the objects Of tue
National Union. We have since connected
ourselves with it, and intend hereafter 70
work In harmony Herewith.
Respectfully. REFoRx.