The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-16

although ! believe there were 20 lives lost
but their case serves y ilIuatrats The prin-
cipie athat 70 accomplish great right, We
must soustimes do little wrong. When
FIRST organised, apd after tho matter had
been some time discussed, Il vas finally re-
solved Chat on . slated night ell the stores
ahould - closed q seven o'clock. Nearly
all In the city agreed to IL and what was
more acted up TO their promises. There
were, however, q few in Catherine street and
Sixth Avenue who refused, after repeated re-
quests respectfully made, to do 20. These
men had TO be dealt with trusty commit
tee was appointed, and ut the appointed time
those windows went In; after that the shut
ters were put up ct Z p. H., punctually everv
night. and the great battle Of early closing
was won, and ia still malntaiEed. But FOR
these strong measures no doubt In short
time (through the obstinacy Of these few
men) all would have relspsed into their old
habits again, OF closing at ten o'clock. The
history Of dry goods clerks is the history Of
all other trades. A few are able by their
obstinacy to defeat every good work Of the
many. lie there no way to do lille wrong
10 such cases that great good may be accom-
plishedi
The Coopers still hold out manfully, and
several Of the other trades are supporting
them, and many Of the Sugar Houses have
ag' eed 10 give out contracts to the men
themselves, thus getting rid Of bosses alto
gether; If they do this they will be able to
get barrels cheaper and the actual workman
will be better paid, for 1t is these middlemen
that stand between the workman and the
consumer, that take all the profit; their
motto 10 "chsdp labor and dear barrels" II
the men can inAagurate system Of taking
contracts on their own account, the strike
will soon end In favor or the men, for there
II nothing succumbs sooner under . flank
movement than capital.
The Operative Masons have resolved to
demand - per day, commencing on the 4th
OF May. nothing said about hours. The re-
eH'ntion should be to demand eight hours q
DAY and say nothing about wages, let them
regulate themselves.
Inc Co-operstive Building Associations (0i
which there are three) organized some thre,
months ago, begin now to assume form and
shape. They have recently bought a large
number OF lots In Brooklyn, and will shortly
commence TO build; as soon as they do that
no doubt their numbers will greatly increase
Tor when men see some tangible proof tina,
the tning IS not got up to make money they
WIN have confidence in il, and ere long many
worklngmen will have what all ought to have
a house Of their own at a very moderat,
outlay. We have q new kind OF CO operation
just started. The employees Of large firm:
unite together in cooperation, choose a com
mlttee, who buy all they require at wholesale
prices aud then distribute. Il il said tina
from 81 so to 81 each can be saved by tn,
process; no store rent to pay, no superin
tendent or other expenses. This furnishe,
another proof that wOrkingmen are daily De
coming more alive to their own interests
We have loEg had branches Of the Amalga
mated Society Of Engineers in the States
and there is one in New York. Now W,
have branch Of the Amalgamated SOCIETY,"
OF Carpenters (whose headquarters are il
England,) which has recently been organic
ed, and others are to follow. They have re
solved to co-operats with the Union here il
demanding g. day. These Amalgsmate'
Unions are formed on the true principle tina
every trades union should be formed on, a
they take the apprentice, learn him his trade
protect him all his life by assisting hin
when sick, or out Of employment, giving hin
4 at all times living rate Of wages, then bur,
him when he dies and care for his widow
and orphans after death, so that from tn
moment he enters and becomes a free mem
Der of one Of these unions he is Independent
oil his life. II is much to be regretted tina
all unions are not formed on this basis on
reason think Is that the laws are not sufi
ciently understood, and think would b
doing great service to workingmen gener
ally ii you would publish the constitution 0
one of the amaigamated societies in the AID
vocArE, as you could afford space from weel
to week to do it, 50 that their principle
might be more widely known. These asso
Citations generally accumulate large funds
and that il the link that keeps men togethe
firmly. But have exceeded my space now
but shall return to the subject again.
MECHANIC.