The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-08-08
woRKINGMEN IN PARLIAMENT.


As the 5000 trades unionists of Great
Britain are about to exercise, for tue FIRST
time, the elective franchise, it is certain
that the next parliament will contain at least
dozen bona .fas representatives. Among
the names OF thote most prominently men,
toned for this distinguished honor, VIC fud
that Of Mr.. Alex. Med onalJ, ESQ.,, President
of the Miners international Association, a
gentleman well and favorably known to .be
workingmen 10 this section. Although the
wisdom Of such a step has been questioned
even BY Mr.. Bright, we cannot but believe
that the presence of body Of practical, in
telligent workingmen would do more tc en-
Tighten the country on the labor question,
than all the aid which could be rendered by
Hughes, Gladstone, Mill, and men of that
stripe. In saying 50, W. certainly mean no
disrespect to those gentlemen, who have
proven themselves time and again the cham
pions of the peoples rights, but we certain
ly think that the defense Of trade unions
and there is no doubt they will need one
should be entrusted to those who can speak
from practical knowledge of their work
ings, purposes and results.
In order to bring about this desirable re.
suit, the London Bee Hue proposes that
delegate be selected from every trades coun-
Gil in Great Britain and Ireland to attend a
Grand Labor Nominating Conference, to be
held in Birmingham or some other central
location; the sole object Of said conference
being to select twelve men who obtain their
living by weekly wages; that their eandi-
dates should be placed in those boroughs
where the labor element predominates, and
supported by the whole moral influence of
the trades Of the United Kingdom. (It may
be well to state that no residence qualitica-
ton is required there, as with Us. A mem
Der residing in London can stand and be
elected for Liverpool or Newcastle o upon.
Tyne.) That one Of the boroughs to be Sc
lected should be in London, one in Scotland,
one in Wales, one in ireland, and the other
eight in the provincial districts. That the
funds to defray the expenses Of these cleo
tons should be raised BY levy upon the
trades represented at the conference, from a
voluntary levy by the trades Of the kingdom
generally, and BY public subscription.
|. is claimed there is nothing utopian in
the above scheme; nothing but what Is
practical, and could be carried out with the
greatest ease. Surprising 100000 Of the
100000 mentioned, subscribed a shilling
each, a fund of $25 900 would thus be raised,
and it is reasonably computed that that sum
would be augmented at least SIC, 900 by the
donation of non unionists, workingmen, re-
formers, and the public at large, which to-
gether would make fund more than sufii-
Gent to pay the legitimate expenses Of the
election, as no moEey would be spent IN
bribery, care having been taken in selecting
the candidates ard boroughs, that at least
six out Of the twelve candidates word be
successful.
A further levy Of penny for the irst and
every succeeding year, land there are few in
deed, who would refuse TO contribute toat
mite under such circumstances,) would raise
sum suficien-1O pay the members elected
at the rate Of $500 per week for their SER
vices the time Of the representatives,
when not attending to their Official duties, to
be utilized for the benefit Of trades union
principles generally.
As the election does not come OF before
November, there is ample lime to act on The
above suggestions, which we think are ad-
mirable. Of ono fact, however, We feel as
sured, that the result viii be one Of which
our brethren IN the old world viii have rea-
son 10 feel ashamed.