The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-10-10

Miss Anthony said, II seems 10 be thai il Is
or vital importance that the laboFing men Of
this country, holding as they do in every
town ard State, q mani 4 balance OF power,
should make that balance Of pow.r tell on
the condition OF labor always. You should
lay down your platform, criticize the nomi-
nses Of each political party BY n, aud then
70 for the candidate who shall plant himself
upon the grand principles Of this association.
But, il you fiAd that the men Of both politi
cal parties fail you, then | should most en-
phati0ally say Il was time for you 10 take q
xorkinglnan f.. your candidate, and not
mere political trickster. Applause This
gentleman says no workingnian can sfiYrd
to 90 to the legislature, and GU must there
fore take politician. Well, il this state is
so mean that it will not pay It's legislator
let -. -orkingmen's unions TORN iun and
keep their representative at AlbsnJT at $iOa
day, or, If need be, at $50. II you d. no,
support him, you may be sure ne VII be
tempted to become corrupt.
NJ. LIE Barnes considered this discussion
nc caiesr, inasmueh as tbs Labor Reform
party could not take any sc,ion befoFe the
approaching election.
Mr.. Carae-on stated that at the Baltimore
convention, iD 1866, ne presented Tesolu-
ton 10 the effect that the time bad cctne
not was going to come-when tho WOO KING
men Gs ....le United States should cut ,aeD.-
selves aloof from existing parry ties snc PEE
deiictions, and organizs = nstiUnal laoor
party, and then he heard toe same objection
that be heard to-day, that The time for sucn
action had not yet come. No, aud " you'd
never come to men who thought u'0re Of po-
hcy than prir ciple Ii would neve~ scme un-
til the issue was forced What is political
action According to Webster 1t is the
science Of government, not the county eau
cusng OF the Republican OF Democratic par
ties. An opponent Of the resolution had
asked him what political action taI TO do
with the repeal Of the Weslche ster conspi-
Tacy decision. lie would like that gentleman
20 state how that obnoxious en- actmenl cuuid
be repealed without the aid Of that agency
to which he took eSception-po poll teal action.
Capitalists do not 60 10 a hsrd-hsted work
man to find representative Of thsiT inter-
est, aud 1t il just a. absurd for wcsAingmen
to expect that persons who hai no i;ttrest
or privilege in common with them c0ui0 r.
present them.
Mr.. Tucker thought there was too much
jealousy and dIstrcst among the working
men. He di5 not know that they bad tried
workingmeA ID the State Legislatures or
Congress, and be believed that they should
be tried before being convicted. he did not
agree with Mr.. Bourke that tie workingne o
were oorruptsble, aud admitting that hey
were as corrup,able As politicians, he sew
no good reason for shutting them ous f.oH
the spols Of Office.
Mr.. Battery favored the formation 81 the
party.
Mr.. Tr0up thought that they could get =
better aOd more intelligent class Of Inen ia
he Legislature than those now sent there.
He gave the illustration Of the ignorance of
State Senator at the last session, who did
not know what a cOrdwalneT's business
wes He thought there was not wOr king
man in the city but knew il, and he was
s1se 'hev could send more intelligent men
from their own ranks u the Legislature
After considerable discussion Mr. lurk e
moved to lay the matter Oh the table
Mr.. Cameron moved 10 lay this motion
on the table. Carried.
The mot IN Of Mr.. LeBarnvs TO strike On
the word 'iniL>1iate,' was put. Lost
The motion Of Mr.. CaViS TO insert the pro-
viso given alb ve was pat. Carried
The Chairman announced that the ques-
ton was then the adoption VI the report.
x Mr. L. L. Roseman SAID he was once a
politician, but found both parties corrupt
ana left them. and his platform was now IN
the interests Of labor.
MIR Ennis, expressed the opinion that
workingmen could get honest men e repre-
sent then ~ State ard natiI nal coub ellis.
They had been too tong represented by men
who bad 10 intertst in them, and il wa
high time that was changed
Mr.. Wallace said that the necessity for
unity Of action among thtm vas greater
than ever before. Genera. Cary has accom-
plished wonders ny bis unaided eXertous.
He has placed upon the statue books law
making egh: hours legal days work tor
ali Government employ es And theee men
are educating the other "oI kingmen OF the
country u to the same standard. These
examples should teach Us what we are able
10 90 # we set our shoulders TO the work.
Even III Ia i true, which II j. not, that poll
iticians always steal. why should you not
still les your fullOw-w -sknen Do II as veil
As any one else. (App.ruse aod lsughtsr)
Mr. Sglvis said We must sen our repre-
-, d ttvcs 10 the next Congress; ieneral
Cary must not stand alone there. Work
ipgmen ave hitherto been DOR so man
political hobs to every kite that hoats IN tilz
air. We must cut ourselves loose and fly
Tor ourselves.
The report OF tie COMMITTEES was unani-
mously adopted ar'id p.ause.
Mr. Cameron offered lny following.
Resolved. That a committee 1f three be sp-
pointed 70 Prepxre o. address II the working
men 81 The United Sts n urging them % sup
mort only such candidates for Office are ia
Aesrty sympathy with the principles Of the
rrOnal Labor Union. g.
Nr. Battery moved t5smend his by spb-
ltutipe NJ eWt,r f aartF" iJr " union.r
Mr Gordon moved that tie resolution lay
an the table till report OF the Committee on
r aiorm was presented. Carried.
The Committee On he Destruction Of Life
IN the erection Cf buildings and other niechan-
zeal structures lEen reported the following
preamble and resolution
Whereas IT Il il ID a notorious fact that
fatal Aec.sents nave frequently occureJ through
culpable, if not criminal, discharge OF neglect
Of employers generally for the protection Of
human life during re erection OF buildings AMI
other mechs-;e-I structures therefore.
Res0mod. That we earnestly recommend the
various State Legislatures Of the nation TO pass
law holding employers liable for injury or
lnss 81 life in tho erection Of buildings, &c snd
n ssi5 cnlaioge aot responsible, then hold
ing the owners Of the property on which any
such accident may occur liable pForiaed, such
accidsn or death can be proved 70 be owing
TO /. disregard OF neglect q said employers
or owners to provide proper. safeguards
Adopted
After amendments from Messrs. Bourke,
Fincher, and Roseman. The r port as present.
ed was adopted.
Mr.. Fincher moved that the further con-
ALTERATION Of the reports Of committees be at
once suspended, and that Congress proceed
to The election officers.
MIR. Gordon hope this Congress will do
nothing Of the kind. There is a report from
the Committee on Female Labor, which am
very anxious should come before the meet
ing. want to have il brought up SO that