The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-23
FROM TENNESSEE.
NASHVILLE, May nth, lsG

Fh0m hkWW6Do9sa
NASHVILLE, May nth, 1868.
1s shs BdItor or the woRKnoxAE's Advocate.
In my ADvocATs Of last week, ! noticed
under the head Of "The Presidency" num-
Der Of solicitations from correspondents 70
hoist the name of Cary or Burritt, for the
Presidency, and your reply to them, that
you thought "such action at present would
be injudic,ous and ilI-advised" With YOU
we fully agree, and for the following reasons:
LIST, we do not believe step Of such vast
importance should be taken without first
consulting a majority, at least, Of the labor
unions OF the country, and not even then till
the Labor Congress has met and ma ?
nomination. God, The South is not, at
present, sufficiently osganized to contribute
any amount Of support to the movement at
this time. And here the question arises
whether it would not be better to husband
our strength and use it locally, than to ex-
pend it in a national campaign IN which we
would have no chance Of success. Two
months since we were in favor Of calling to-
gether the National Labor Congress, but
upon looking over the condition Of the conn
try, and the changes which have since taken
place, it appears extremely doubtful to Us
whether the laboring classes themselves are
prepared for this movement. II what
MACK !" Of the Cincinnati Commercial says,
is true-and believe it is-"tAat the Labor
Party holds the balance of lover in this
country" then the question arises, whether
it would not be better for the labor element
to throw its strength with the party now or
ganized which is most favorable to the La
Dor platform. 1t appears to me we might
q IN something by such q move, while we
can gain nothing by an independent race.
The following petition to Congress was
adopted at the last meeting Of the Union,
which hope will be followed up by the
unions OF the country, as an offset to the pc
titions Of the various boards Of thieves,
sometimes called Boards Of Trade" which
are steadfAstly pouring into Congress their
petitions to have that body adopt "specie
payment and contracting policy" For every
petition these scoundrels send to Congress
for more bonds and more gold, the unions
ought to send Eve for more greenbacks and
less bonds
WHEREAS, Industry has become sadly para
lyzed especially the producing branches, there
by bringing the greatest depression ilto all
kinds of business resulting in depr;ving large
number Of the laboring classes Of the country
Of employment consequently entailing upon
themselves and their children, vast amount Of
needless suffering, ignorance aud crime, and
WHEREAS, This unfortunate state of affairs
exists simply for the want Of greater supply OF
the circulating medium, TO meet the demand Of
the business Of the country, and
WHEREAS, Ii is believed to be the duty, as
we'll az the interest Of congress to protect the
producing classes OF the country from extensive
monopolies, and
WaEREAs, The national banking system.
through the national banks, has became gi-
gantic monopoly, antagcnistic to the interests OF
the producers Of the country, which comprise
the largest portion Of the people therefore, be
il
Resolved, By the Workingmens Union Of the
State of Tennessee, that We do hereby respect
fully invite and request your honorable mem
bers Of the Senate and House of Representatives
to pass act providing for the adjustment Of
the national banks and the payment OF the prin-
cipal Of each United States bocd as may be due
in legal-tender notes, commonly known az greer
backs.
/ am glad to know that the ADVOCATE is
going to publish an article On the "Objects
Of Trades Assemblies" for I am satisfied
that We not only but poorly understand the
true objects Of assemblies and unions, but
we poorly understand each other as unionists,
and look upon any information which will
throw light upon this subject as most inval
liable to the unions, and calculated to hasten,
BY perfecting, the labor organizations, the
result which all labor refoTmers are anxious
to see.
You were wrongly informed about the
strike Of the employees of the Nashville and
Northwestern Railroad. There has been no
strike, altho ugh some Of the men have no
been paid for six months. One poor fellow
became so respondent and hapless that be
threw himself on the track before train at
full speed, and was instantly killed, leaving
q wife and children without support and bis
wages still due him. | shall leave your read
ers to make their own comments upon these
nurderers who are void Of the common die
tates Of humanity.
Our county decided upon a vote taken last
Saturday, to subscribe 100000 towards
building the Tennessee and Pacific Railroad,
which, when completed, will connect the At
lantic and Pacific coast.
noticed my article of last week in de-
nominating the different avocations Of work
ingmen which are admissible to our union,
you nistook the word bookkeepers for ''bar-
keepers" We do not admit the utility Of
this latter named class, nor do we believe |
they have any right in society whose OBJ |
jects are the protection Of the producing
classes. REroRAEK.
RnAnn WAMH