The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-09-12

FROM WISCONSIN,.
MADISON, Sept. I, 1868.
70 sLs Eassor Of ths woax.sanAss ADvoo.ss.
As the National Labor Congress is about
to assemble again, it might not be amiss for
workingman-frOm this quiet but beauti
full city-to make few suggestions to that
honorable body, Of which be had the honor
Of being twice member In order to make
the National Labor Union complete sue
cess, measures must at once be Instituted to
raise a sufficient revenue to carry on the or
ganization with, and without which it il fol-
ly to try and accomplish anything.
Article 4, section 1, OF the constitution,
says /: "Any organization nnmbering SO
membes5 or less, shall pay 81 annually, and
each union numbering over 80 aud less than
100, shall pay 81 annually, and all unions
that number over 100 and less than 200,
shall pay SO annually, ard all unions mum
boring over 200 and less than 500, shall pay
! S. annually, and all over 500 shall pay IS
annually" Now, sir, hold that unless the
above has been complied with, by ali the cr
CARNATIONS sending delegates to the Labor
Congress, these delegates are not entitled to
seats until it is complied with in every par
/ ticular then the ro0ner the constitution is
amended the better, and some other article
substituted thar can be enforced.
( Now, sir, have reason to believe that
many Of the delegates 70 the last congress
have not yet paid The Especial tax" levied
to defray the expenses of that congress Can
the organizations whom they represented
have the face to expect that their delegates
will again be admitted until It is paid to
the last cent. Let the committee on creden-
tials be instructed to lock after taem parti-
eularly. have reason 10 believe, too, that
many Of these same gentlemen had more to
say and tooS up more of the time Of th,s
ccuvs Iiion with useless end nonsensicsl
the cries, than those who furnished the Off.
c.rs with money, and the convention with
good common sense. Fine speeches" and
"theoriss'' are very good 10 their place, bus
plenty Of money and good common sense
will do infinitely more foI the cause Of labor
just now.
The workingmen giII furnish the money
if the proper steps are taken - obtain il
from them. Many workingmen will ask,
where are the proceedings Of the last con-
gress ~ "Why have they never been print
ed :" Perhaps some of those gentlemen
who failed to pay their tax might be able TO
answer. They can answer If they will.
1 Many persons are under the impression
that the next congress will proceed at once
to nominate candidates for president and
vice. president, but of course they will do no
such thirg. But what they can do and
ougnt to do, is to turn their attention to the
several congressional districts, and take
such measures as will send few working
mem TO the national legislature, and if they
cannot elect their candidates for congress,
what folly it is for them to expect to elect a
presidential ticket.
Now,sir, let me ask what is TO prevent the
worKingmen from eiecting members Of Con.
gress in any of the large cities. Chicago,
for instance, can elect such a candidate with
the greatest case. Are there none qualified
Plenty, better qualified than N. B. Jndd who
now 30 ably nais-represents them. New
York city could easily elect five members of
congress, Brooklyn one, Boston one, Phila-
delphia at least three members, Baltimore
one, perhaps two, and 80 on with all the
larger cities.
Arc not these racts worsny OF the serious
attention Of the Labor Congress. II we had
dozen members Of Congress instead Of one
We might hear more about the rights of la.
Dor than We now hear in that august body
We might also have better reason to hope
Tor the success Of presidential ticket
/ Workingmen should always be preferred
az candidates for Office, although they might
not be 40 well qualified, in some respects, as
others, still they are better qualified TO judge
Of the requirements of workingmen, than
those rAo only kaow chat they AaUs been
told.
Had Gen. Cary been q workingman, with
the splendid opportunity be has had, be
would have immortalized himself. because
he would have advocated their cause with
the same enthusiasm that so distinguishes
him on questions with which he IL more f.
miliar. have often sat in the galleries of
the House, and looked down upon the oaEy
representative We had, aud while 90 doing
! could not help thinking that the general
lacked only qualification, and that was that
be was not q workingman, but he was never
sheiess trying TO represent them faithfully.
Who has heard Senator Conness adyocat
ing the passage Of the Eight-Hoa Law 7
Look at the enthusiasm with which be en-
tered into the question; and Why was IL so
He was workingman himself although
not elected as sach---he FELf what be was
saying. He toiled from twelve to fourteen
hours at the bench. Iiis arguments could
not be refuted. Yes, sir, there are pleniy OF
workingmen able and willingto Represents as
in the national legislature. Let orr 'sLaber |
Congress" see 30 Is and quickly too.