The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-30
FROM VIRGINIA.
ALEXANDRIA, Oct. Is, 1869

ALEXANDRIA, Oct. Is, 1869.
To the Editor OF the woEKHexAN's ADVOCATE.
Sir, some time since I sent communion
ton directed to A. G. Cameron, No. I55
South Clark street, Chicago, ILL.,, and hav-
ing received no answer to certain questions
therein contained, wish to know il il ever
reached it's destination. Enclosed in the
same package | sent a Constitution Of the
Industrial Institute nf America, a few ex.
tracts Of which | wish to present to the con.
sideration Of your many rel err. The pre-
amble, which, embo lies the principle that is
the chief cornerstone Of the Institute, reads.
viz. Whereas, God in His wisdom has or.
dained that man shall eat bread in The sweat
OF his face, (Gen. ll-l9) hence making Ia
Dor divine injunction necessary for his
physical support, and when, as this iniunc
ton rest equal upon all, it in justice follows
that no one is entitled to receive tho benefit
OF anotheT's labor without giving for an
equitable compensation for the same; and
whereas the present state Of society in its
industrial, commercial and political inter.
course is such as not to give the producing
classes their due; and whereas the centrali.
zation Of capital, in the form Of land specu-
lations, banking institutions, chambers Of
o commerce, &c and 70 still further az.
gravate the evils resulting from the grasp.
lngs Of avarice and the mal-administraton
Of justice, and knowing Of no better way to
remedy the evil than by the combustion Of
the oppressed for their mutual protection,
thus gainining strength and council 10 as.
sociation; therefore, be il resolved, that we,
the undersigned workingmen, pledge our
selves to use all honorable means IN our
power to further the mental, moral and So
cIAl condition OF the working classes OF
America, and to that end we will be gov
erned oy the following Constitution and
and the laws that may be enacted
for the furtherance Of the same: ana further
to-wit: "Ths association shall be known
by the name Of the Industrial Institute Of
Americs, and shall be composed OF men that
labor for q living"
BY these extracts you can see the cAarac-
ger o. the men that constitute the institute,
and the animus that prompts them 70 &C.
tion. Inc object OF the Institute is to form
one brotherhood co-extensive with America,
controlled by the same constitution and
laws, and known by the same name and AZ.
tuated by the same spirit OF fraternity, be-
neYolence and justicc-an organization that
VIII Withstand the sc Ct and the scorn OF
purse proud and arrogant aristocrscy, and
the damnable screenings Of corrupt and de-
signing politicians; who have cursed the
land until the las. vestige OF free ION has al
most disappeared, and the workingnan is
held ~ their clutches As thu hawk holds its
prey IN order to live off the life boo1 of
their helpless victims, and hls bee lme q
plant tool Tor his own destruction in the
hands Of cspital-a vassal to party, and
q slave to C Renaissance and
subject TO all the Ills that seryile cond ton
bring in its train. All this we can overcome
by secresY and unity Of action. Capital has
It's combination and secresv. Every politi-
cal party Of the present day has its comb-
nation and sec esy, and ia their cabalIsIic
Juntos perfect the plans that guide them in
open action; AMI why not We, the bore and
slnew, adopt the same plan OF action and
thus emancipate labor from that servitude
OF mind and body which paraly zes the best
energies Of man, and makes him but a mere
cypher in the great world Of thought and &C.
iion. With these Considerations before YOU
would respectfully give YOU brief kn6wl-
edge OF the character Of the Industrial Insti-
tute Of America. We have three degrees in
i With benefits attached to each, similar to
those OF freemasonrV and oddfelowship, and
going one step further than either Of the
above orders, namely: These wait till want
comes upon the brother before the helping
hand is extended. We, BY our cooperative
~ stems, &c, give to our brethren justice
due them for their labor, ami as a conse'
quence, with the aid Of a kind Providence,
the time Of need may never come. By say
ing this, | DO not mean that masonry or
has done no good; no, far
from 1t; and as far as their usefulness e.
tends, | give them justice dus. But the DIM
erence between Us j., that while they wan
Tor want to come, we strike the evil at tue
root and thus overcome the blows Of sea
Of trouble. We have signs, grip, PASSWORD
&C., and an appropriate regalia for each O.,
gree. TIE first degree admits all sober anu
Industrious workingmsn thai have no more
than two regular employees. Toe reason
Tor the bar is, seven constitutes q legal quo
rum, and any designing man having NOR
than two employees may at some tune nnoS
slim attendance, and By the influence ne a.
As an employer over those he employs, may
pass or institute measures injurious 70 worA
Ingmen; hence the bar in the iolrih ciau.s
Of the constitution. This gives the brotn''