The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-07-04


member of the Carpenters and Joiners'
Protective Union:
CHICAGO, June 20, 1868.
70 The Editor Of the woRKIEonA-'s ADvosGrs.
Will sou give US your opinion about the pro.
pricty OF introducing the benevolent phase into
our protective unions. l think such a step an
absolute nee essity, while several of my friends
differ with me. CARPENTER
The question asked is one upon which
great diversity Of opinion exists. There are
circumstances and locations where such
step would be inadvisable, while there are
others, un Ter which the beneficiary system
be, Jmes indispensable 10 secure the welfare
Of the craft. The most numerous and eff
Client labor organization in the world, ID the
Amalgamated Society Of Engineers and Ma
chinists Of Great Britain, and IT is we'll known
the benevolent plan is one Of its chief char
acteristics. Hence, we find that wherever
ITS members go-to the continent Of Europe
or The United States-they seldom, if ever,
relinquish their connection with it 4; and the
reason is self-evident. Workingmen seldom,
il ever, acquire by their labor more than suf-
ticient to provide for they present necessi-
t'ls. Adversely, consequently, finds them
unprepared, and the hospital or aims house
often furnishes the only friend in such an
emergency. Now, where an Organization of
their felfow-workmen, Of which they have
here q number, and TO the funds Of W hich
they have contributed in prosperity, provides
for their welfare in the day Of adversely,
when they are incapaciated by age, disease
or accident, from earning living. Of course
these are incentives presented for continuing
their membership which no purely protective
organic Ition affords.
1t is true thai there are few if any asso-
Citations which do not assist their members
in sickness or necessity, but such assistance
is always rendered under the impulse Of
charity, rather than from the love of justice,
a fact OF which the recipient is frequently
painfully aware. In the organization refer
red to no such feeling exists. The common
fund from which such aid is drawn is COM
mon property, contributed by its members,
and amsssed with the understanding that all
entitled to its benefits shall receive them,
whenever their requirements are Of char
ac5er to Justify it.
Another and perhaps the strongest reason
why such feature has proved successful il,
that self-interest controls, to great extent
all human aclicn and when, the benevolent
is combined with the protective, as in this
instance, sel6shness, if no more hon orable
instinct, prompts to active and con tinued
membership
The objection so frequently urged that the
introduction Of such system would impair
the feiency Of our labor organizations, pro-
duce idleness or incite TO difficulty, has been
disproven by the history Of this association
which has adopted it, while it is seldom in
deed, under any circumstances, that its men,
bers can be induced to sever their connection
with it. Last year this society expended the
enormous sum Of 100000, and yet its
financial condition is healthier to- day than il
has ever been before The entire amount
expended in supporting members out Of EN-
ployment, through trades disputes, amount
ed to the paltry pittance Of $35, 900, while
the sum Of 100000 was distributed Is
sick, superannuaticn n, and out of employment
fund, to relieve the necessities Of those w.,o,
from causes beyond their control. are unable
to earn their living, aud who, but tor the as
sistance thas rendered, would doubtless have
become offsets ofcharity. t
OF course discretion must be used IN the
admission Of members, and the entrance Zee
be guided by the age and position Of the sp-
Plicant. For exaL.ple, q member joining ct
forty years Of age. requires the benefit Of the |
approximation earlier than the man twenty
years bis junior, and, in order to eqoalize
matters, corresponding charge must be
made.
As we said before, no arbitrary rule can
be laid down circumstances, location and
vocation determining many Of the features
and rules Of Der svolent labor association
though We are satisfied that, bad the system
been introduced at the organization Of many
Of our societies, they would not be in the
sckly, lauguishiag condition they are