The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-08-21

Resolved, That we pledge our individual and
undivided support to the sewing-women and
daughters Of toll In this land, and would solicit
their hearty cooperation, knowing, as We do,
that no class Of industry is 90 much in need Of
having their condition ameliorated as the fac
tory operatives, sewing women, ETC., of this
country.
CONVICT LABOR.
Resolved That We demand che abolishment
of the system Of convict labor In our Prisons
and penitentiaries, and that the labor performed
BY convicts shall be that which will least con-
fict with honest industry outside Of the PRISONS
and that the wares manufactured by the con-
Wet, shall not be put upon the market at less
than the current market ratea
IMPROVED DWELLINGS FOR LABoRERs.
Resotved, That We would urgently call the at
tention of the industrial classes to the subject
Of tenement houses and improved dwellings,
believing 1t to be essential to the welfare of
the whole community that Q reform should be
effected in this respect, NJ the experience Of
the past has proved that vice, pauperism and
crime are the invariable attendants Of the
over-crowded and lily ventilated dwellings OF
the poor, and urge upon the capitalist of the
country attention to the blessings to be derived
from investing their means In the erection Of
such dwellings
Resolved, That the formation of Mechanics
institutes, Lyceums and Reading Rooms, and
the erection Of buildings for that purpose, are
recommended to Workingmen in all cities and
towns az q means Of advancing their social and
intellectual improvement
REMEDY FOR INSUFFICIENT WORK.
Resolved, That this Labor Congress would
most respectfully recommend to the Working
men Of the country that, in case they are
pressed for want Of employment, they proceed
to become actual settlers, believing that If the
industry Of the country can be coupled with
its natural advantages, IL viii result both in In
dividual relief and national advantages.
Resolesd, That where q w orkingman ID found
capable and available for Office, the preference
should invariably be given 70 such persons
Constitution Of the National Labor Union.
/ ARTICLE L
SEcrloN l. This organisation shall be known
as the National Labor Union, and its jurisdic-
ton shall be confined to the United States.
| ARTICLE IL
SEC. l. The National Labor Union shall be
composed Of such labor organizations 40 may
now or hereafter exist, having for their object
the amelioration of the condition Of those who
labor for living.
! SEC. 2. Every International or National La
Dor organization shall be entitled to three rep
resentatives; State organisations to two, trades
unions and all other labor organizations 70 one
representative in the National Labor Union,
provided that representatives shall derive their
election direct from the organization they
claim to represent.
SEC. 8. Ex-representatives, upon presenta-
ton Of certificates Of good standing il their
organization, shall be entitled to a voice, with
out vote, in the National Labor Union.
ARTICLE III
| Sec. 1. The officers of the National Labor
Union shall be elected annually on the last day
Of the session, the nominations being made one
day previous to election, and shall hold their
Office until their successors are duly elected.
They shall consist of President, First and
Second Vice Presidents, TO be chosen from diff
ferent States q Recording Secretary, Treas
urer, and an Executive Committee, consisting
Of one member from each State, such member
to be chosen by their respective States, and
the name furnished to the President.
ARTICLE ".
SEQ. !. The President shall preside at oil
meetings of the National Labor Union, and pre-
serve order and enforce the laws During the
recess he shall have power to appoint members
Of the Executive Committee in States where
they have not been chosen and, in case of
non-performance of duty, shall remove them
write all debts or orders for money, and be the
custodian Of the seal, which he shall afix to
all documents emanating from his Office. Three
months previous to the meeting of the Union
he shall issue sufficient number Of blank Gre
dentials to the members Of the Executive Com
mittee in each State, to be used by the organi-
zation sending representatives to the National
Labor Union, and peform such other duties MS
may be required of him. All necessary ex-
penses connected with the performance OF his
duties shall be betrayed by the Nations Labo
Union, and for the faithful performance OF his
duties he shall receive the sum of $500.
SEC. q The Vice Presidents shall, in the
absence or disability Of the President, perform
the duties of his Office in rotation.
L SIC 3 -TbA .RseAsaig4+ SSeeeekfys Keep
q correct account of the proceedings of the Ma |
tional Labor Union perform such other duties |
rs may be required Of him pay all bills and |
orders which may be drawn on him-properly |
attested. He shall keep debit and q credit
account and report at each meeting Of the Ma
tional Labor Union He shall make to the |
President quarterly report Of finances, for
submission to the various organizations.
SEC 4. The Treasurer shall receive all mon
eys, pay all bills and orders which may be drawn
on him and properly attested he shall keep q
debit and credit account, and report at each
meeting of the Ma ional Labor Union. He shall
make to the President a quarterly report of
finances for submission to the various orpaniza-
tons
Sec. s 1t shall be the duty Of the Executive
Committee to correspond at least once month
with the President, giving him synopsis Of the
progress of tie movement in his State, and that
his authority be confined to his own State
They shall have the power to grant charters to
organizations In their respective States, who
have no international or national unions. and
shall have power under the direction OF the
President to organize the workngmen in a
labor reform party. Failure on the part of any
member of the Executive Committee to CORES
pond with the President for two months shall
be sufficient cause for his removal. The Presi-
dent and Secretary o: the National Labor Union
shall De chairman and secretary of the Fxecu-
tive Committee. The necessary expenses in
CURED BY the members Of the Executive Com
nlttee in the performance of their duties shall |
be paid from the Treasury.
SECTION l. Seven members In any labor or
ganization shall be sufficient to apply for a
charter, which shall be granted on the payment
Of five dolla . But the National Labor Union |
shall not grant a charter to any Union Of the |
same craft In any locality where prior organi-
Eation is existing, without the consent Of the
union existing.
ARTICLE vi.
SEC. l. IL shall be the duty of each organ
izstion to report to the member of the Execu-
tive Committee Of their State, at least once
month, such information as may be necessary TO |
the performance Of his duty.
SEC. 2 Each officer at the expiration Of his
term, shall transmit to his successor all books
papers and moneys pertaining to his Office.
ARTICLE VII
SECTION /. All questions not herein provi- |
ded for shall be decided by a majority It
shall require ten members to call the yeas and /
nays
ARTICLE VIII.
SEcrIoSl /. Each Local organization or repre-
sentative shall pay per capita tax OF one cent
annually per member. International or national /
organizations shall pay a direct tax Of SIS and
State organizations 4lO The tar of all orOap-