The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-05-01
A WORD WITH NON.UNIONIsrs.



Having, in our last, In few brief intro
ductory remarks, announced our intention Of
paYing our respects 10 our non union
friends, and solicited their attention to our
appeal, we propose, without further pre-
face, to enter at once upon our subject
We must be permitted TO say, however, At
the outset, that We always feel difidencs
in addressing an intelligent body Of men
on such a subject, or induleing in persua-
siveS to induce them TO perform q duty,
which must, in our opinion. upon due de-
liberation, commend itself to the support Of
every honest, qualified and Independent me-
cbaLic; and il, during the course Of our ar
gument, we shall be guilty Of any INSIDE
meanor Of speech, we hope our readers will
rank 1t as an error Of the head rather than
Of the heart
Let US FIRST, then, consider the ANS Of
TRADss Unions.
Strange as it may appear, there no insti-
tutiOns upon which greater ignorance sx-
lists, even among wOrkingmeD, or against
which q more malignant or systematic oppo-
stion has been waged, than those Of trades
organizations. That the selfish interests Of
avariciOus and unprinciplsd employers
should prompt them TO such . course may
be explained; that those for whose benefit
they have been organized, and whose inter-
ests they are intended to advance, should
avail themselves Of these arguments, join in
the outcry, or justify their continued neglect
Of duty, by INDUCING in them, is phenom-
enOn beyond our comprehension, explaina-
bic only on the principle that
"Then ignorance 1. isa
lis folly TO be wise-7
That such is often the case, however, is a
fact too patent and too painful to require
demonstration.
We cannot DO better 10 this connection
than introduce the declaration Of principles
of two Of our local organizAtions-Widely
different in charsctsr-the printers and sail
makers, which declare, N language 50 sim
pie and expressive-And at the same time
illustrate the objects of these and all similar
labor organizations, so etfechvely-that all
opposition or Misrepresentation is shorn Of
its power. The first reads.
ITO cherish, protect and promuIgate our in
terests and rights, as workingmen; to cultivate
les existing between members OF the craft
% abolish injurious privileges, and bring ali an.
der the restraint Of wholesome duty, the under
sigued journeymen printers OF Chicago, in asso-
ciated brotherhood, do enact declare and es-
tablish the following our Constitution and fu-
ture rules of government"
The second is as follows
"fhe importance, as wen as the utility, Of
the constituted association Of the mechanical
professions, must be acknowledged by every re.
Aecting mind TO be very essential. ls il is the
only method whereby they can insure their pri-
Vate as we'll A. general interests, and protect
themselves from the impositions Of arbitrary
employers And 1t further affords the n, gene
rally, an opportunity 90 aid one another, and
maintain tL1i good understanding and inter
change Of good Ufhces which must be consider
ed as more binding smong members Of a society
than among individuals uuconnecteG by any
common interests or common object We have
now become associated, regularly constituted
and organized. The numerous advantages re
sultiug therefrom win be experienced BY every
member, and il becomes the duty Of every IN
dividusl 10 rally round the standsrd Of the soci
ETY., adopting the cid maxim United We stand;
divided We fall
Now, We desire to ask our Rnt-union
friends: ls there anything reasonable or ag
gressive in these declArationss Do they con-
tam a sentence or sentiment TO which they
cannot give an honest and hearty "amen I"
Do they not think that they contain
good foundation upon which to erect a super
structure Is il not sheer nonsense to talk
Of eight hours, cooperation or political &C.
ton, when men willfuily and persistently re-
fuse to associate themselves with al crgsni.
zstion which seeks to protect their rights
and secure a fair days wages for fair days
works
The or'5inators conceived and felt-and
experience has since demonstrated their sa-
gscity and fOresight-the necessity Of com
Inning and meeting together, TO promote
mutual good understanding among each
other. respecting the various operations Of
the trades in which they are engaged, and
by which they Rave to obtain the comforts
and necessities Of life. But, as this subject
viii be further considered IN our ne 1t art-
lie, we forbtar extended remarks upon il at
present.