The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-01-30
THE WORKISGMEN.
An IMPORTANT MEETiNc--PRoPosED Al
TERATiohs m THE LAW CONCERNING Az
PsENTIcEs, MECHANICS LIEN, ccEHcT
LABOR AND PERSONAL TAXES.

LABOR AND PERSONAL TAXES.
A large ard highly influential meeting Of IL
work 'ng'nen q Chicago was held on Tuesda
evening lsst, il the Recorders Court Room
Court House.
Mr. A, g. Cameron called the meeting to o.
der, and nominated Mr. Charles IT. Ham for Pres
dent, who was unanimously elected. Mr.. Ham
on taking the chair, addressed the meeting a
follows:
GENTLEMEN: thank YOU most heartily TO
the regard you have shown me IN calling me :,
the chair. upon this important occasion. | i,
not faster myself, however, that II il in eonse
quence Of anv merit of INV own but attribute II
rather 10 the fact that the movement which
has eliminated so Handsomely here tonight
had it's inception ia the Third Ward, where |
toos a deep interest iu ca CD sep Of It's progress
u bias always seemed TO ne, that in a properly
organized community, the interests of the
laboHrg man, The merchant, the capitalist and
tne professional man. ought 70 be perfe, II
barlouized but while this theory has pre-
vailed very tAf eusively gst mar kiud in All
parts % The world il has never been pra tieaily
carried Ont IN AMY government o. people III
oar great cuuu.ri- possessing such bouudlcss
material resources. there j. certainly a broader
hcic In the mechanic arts for the display ~
genius ind ihe employment Of talent than III all
Othtr pursuits sud professions combined and
u Is here under the benign influence Of cur
COVE nin'ht ai Gle people, Il ever, that the
a tn9 u the equality OF The t!'i-an IN everv
~aik az Ire, AZ well as eqHalit, beic.e the IAN.
must md q complete realization.
Having ueeu a iahoring u.tu d- ug ap the
early part Of my he, and hawai- been com
PEELED to obtain whatever education I possess
iu the intervals OF severe manual labor / be-
hcVe / understand, "a some .ster.. the views
sentiments and ie,-ags OF laa1riug M D, AMI ap
preclate the dithtu.ias 90 81 encounter IN efforts
10 rise IN the scaic O, society; ond am sure
speak The simple truih. when 7 say tina, all
the laboring classes ever ask is fair play They
INSIST as labor Is che foundation OF an pros
perliy both individual aud national. chat ia
dignity should De respected They protest
against class legislation for he protecton Of
capifi, and dmand i any such legislation Il
haa ~ aii thar it shah be tor the benefit of
'aNof See io reason Y these demands
should nof be complied with-they are both
reasonable aul I'D, and Tie vast masses 81
ub"rl- mrl Il country en, and ought %
enforce -ttu lt tac ballot box and thus reAu-
iAtc lne affairs Ui tha nati0u according ID THE
imuutabi- .ualipie- of Justice aud right
IH. objects o. lals meeting are AZ UNDER
stand a,m, % asA tle General Assembly now
ia Session ~ amend our laws III regard d con-
Wet labor. mechanics liens apprentices ana
cooperative associations. Committees we're
appointed at "a previous meeting 10 prepare
bills, Which - u be- submitted for YOUR cnnsida-
ration, aud IL approved, forwarded 70 eur Sen
ators and Representatives Nith the 9, quest that
they use their influence TO procure their
cnae -meut into laws OF the State
Our mechanics lien Jaw, so far as the rights
of sub contractors are concerned. j. mass of
absuidiues, unworthy the name OF law. and
sally needs remodelmg by such practical mee
az compose this asscmuiage
The convict labor question. when We take
into account the rapidly increasin. population
and sealth of our great state, Il assuming vast
and unless speedily settled, upon
r. only uat t-ir 81 inhictng punishment for
CRIME soiviF tur purposes Of reform, VII work
serious jury p ihe homes labor interests u
ihe stale. IA tue legislature il properly me
inOralzeu Il have no doubt The necessary steps
WIFI Dg taken 70 remedy the existing ell
There are doubtless many gentlemen present,
1rr more tsmHsr eith tbe a~sst!on "a W of,s--s
zion than myself ! am aware, however. that
IA England ard % the continent these comb.
nations Of la0ofers hsye long since reached a
stage % adYl ament, where they have ceased
% be experiments The successG, establish
meat Of these enterprises 90 our own State,
cannot fail 10 be OF great advantage to every
community in which they are located The
great state OF lIliu0is which owes so much 10 la.
Dor, will noe withhold from the hboriug man
any legislation necessary for the formation and
successful working Of these associations
Genslemer beg Ouce more 20 tender to
you my sincere thanks, for the distinguished
honor yta have conferred up0n ne, in select
ing me 60 preside over your de!it .ratioas
The follow ng officers we're then unanimously
aieute' Vice Presidents -Messrs G. e.
" ECKER, 5. T, Dewey, w. W. Smith, joel
Billiard Z ~ Farquha-, al e. Yaa Arman. Ohm
Moore, Charles Crane, Thomas McQuceney
James Irons Joseph Mar1hy, Charles a. Whit
1ey, y. T. Licatuer, Z Grossfeld, r. v. ken
nedy ana r. Rafferty,.
Messrs. " y Mcclure, q r. Hazelton and
uhls kobertus were appointed as Secretaries
AR. EsESrAriON
Alderman Wicker suggested that 81 vies Of
TIE objects OF meeting those present name The
number OF men they represented. In accord
snce with this suggestion, the following trades
unions were named. together wiki the number
Of memO,rs; Ship Carpenters, 500 ; Brick
layers 800; 81 oemakers eco; Moulders, 800
German rr'jes Assembly, 4 900; Trades Assem-
bly,, 300 Carpenters aud Joiners 1000, La.
Dor Reform Leagu., 900 Plas.erers, 900 and
Printers Union, boo Total representation,
l4.70O
The Committee a the Apprentice Law az
pointed 40 previous meeting, presented .her
report-the same o. being read was urani-
nousl, adopted The following il he report:
SFCroN I-AIi the children under the age of
Z may De souud, by indeutuIe Cr coveuani for
service, clerks, apprentices or servants, Until
thcy arrive ~ chat uge, with Or without teir
consent. aut all minors above that age may te
~ bound, With their consent for not i,ss ca az
Two years nor more than four years according
~ the nature Of che business to which they ase
engaged.
SECTIONS 2. s, 4 S, 6, Z, S, and 10 to re
main a. they are nov.
Section II 20 be altered 20 as to read as TO-
lows. In all inde.tures IL sh sll be provided
that the master or mistress shall cause such
clerks, apprentices, OF servants, 10 be taught to
read AID write, and The groui rules OF arith
metic and TO receive common school eduea-
ton
Section 2 10 remain as il is.
S ction g 70 be left entirely out
Sectieu IA 20 remain as it Is
Section ] 8 70 remain as il is, 81 ept he last
clause, which commences, And n The said 40.
prentice SO discharged, ETC., y nici j "a be eft
out.
Sections ls, II, Is, l9, 20 and u y remain
they are.
Section ~ 10 read a. follows "Any clerk,
apprentice or servant, bound according to the
provisions OF this act who shall absent himse
from the services 81 his or her master ar mis-
tfess, without le ave first obtained, or Who shall
run away, 20 thSt the master or mistress shall
Be deprived Of his or her service, during said
covenanted term, Or any part thereof, for which
he or she was bound 10 serve, then, and in chat
case, il shall and may be lawful for the master
or mistress Of such clerk, apprentice or servant
20 have al action on the case in any court oil
s.omuqtqut inrisd5efiou eO4iust sueh clerk an