The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-07-31
HE NATIONAL LABOR CONGRESS
tFFlcE ~ THE National LABlR UXIon,
PHLADkLPHIA, July 10, 1869. I


PnLADALPHIA, July 40, 1869.
7ooH trloa il may CoioerH:
LrE AOrItE Is HEREBY GIVEN, THAT TIE THIRD
Annual SESSION OF TIE NATIONAL LABOR UNION.
WILL ia HELD IN THE CRY OF PHILADELPHIA. Pa,
BEGINNING AT 10 O'clock, A. NJ, ON THE LON
BAY II AUGUST NEXT.
All! Trade Unions, all Cooperative Asso-
Citations, all Labor Organizations Ct every
kid, in every pant Of the cOuntry-whether
composed OF men or women-are entitled to
representation, as prescribed in the Consti-
tuition, As follows:
SECTION =. Every international or National
CTgaIizalon sAalI be entitled to three repre-
s,ht4uyts, STATE OIgaI izltiOns to two, Trade
lLI,l- al all other labor organizations to one
representative in tie Natun.l Labor Union
IiOllCtd Mat representatives shall derive their
tlcouch direct IRON the Organization they claim
20 represent.
Each International organization repre-.
scented is required to pay the sum of SIS,
ard each National organization $40. Each
Iocal uni n or Labor Organization of any
kird, represented by delegate, is required
" ldy oNE CLINT upon each member belong
ing 70 such organ zation. This is a very
tnall tix-so small that every union in the
land can Iay it without the least embarrass.
ment.
This Will be the mos important meeting
Ct worhirgmen ever assembled in this coun-
try. In cur definition Of Workingmen we
brace al who are engaged in productive
industry; all who are in good faith obeying
TIC Divine decree by eating bread in the
sweat Of their own faces, and not living up
IN the honest earnings of others. Not those
only who open up and cultivate farms, build
cities, construct railroads, and toll IN work
chops, Tut those, also, who BY intellectual
labor extract The principles of science from
the great arcana Of nature, and give them
practical form Of art, and direct the hand of
l!cusuy. In short, every human being who,
by Lysical or intellectual labor, contributes
- tie substantial wealth of the nation-all
WLcse occupation is useful aud honorable.
Questions Of the very highest national i'm
IortaIce will come before this body for con-
sideracon.
Ne lave 1d19Ited platform in which is
-rledied Je great central ideas Of our or
corizatin. We must discuss and decide
r.he best means 20 accom- lish our OBJ
i,ts ard put cur PRINCIPLES into practical
JIoration.
Cur IDEAS are not utopian.
Our inter tions are not agrarian.
We DO not seek to pull down, but to build
Up.
We want a sourd national currency, is
su,d ty the government iIectly to the peo-
Ile, at lev rate Of interest, so that all who
desire to use it for legitimate purposes
can Do 70 without being swindled by money
sbayeIs ana gold gamblers.
~ want the public lar ds given (not sold)
in email quantities to actual settlers-and
none others.
We want labor department at Washing
ton. for the tentft Of the industry of the
country.
We want a good apprentice and mechan-
lCs Iltn law IN every State
we want good PRACTICAL eight-hour law
in every State.
We want the abolition Of the present sys-
tom If prison labor, and the adoption of
che that will do justice to honest men ard
cUEvicts.
We want the repeal Of all the "contpira-
cy laws" making it an offence for men to
belong to Grades Unions"
We want lain, practical law in every
State, recognizing Trade Unions as legally
authorized bodies, qualified to do business,
bold property sc. and sui ject to the laws
Of The land as other legal bodies.
We want economy in the administration
Of all our ,fiaIs-DatiOual, state and mu-
niciral.
We want virtue, not vice; honesty, not
rnscahty; stutoMenslip, not partisan dem
gogi-m; brains, not money, 10 rule in the
Councils ot The nation.
Every LCnest man in The land cen make
com y cause with US upon these issues
L,tVolhiugmon everywhere, without regard
tu place or occupation be up and awake
hu-y in the great work Of organizing for the
Inst grand struggle for human liberty. Lib
erty from party rule; liberty from unjust
taxation liberty from the grasping power Of
noupytly liberty from a false monetary
Fyst,m Mat enables the few to gather the
wealth If tbe nation into huge piles, while
tie many work and remain poor. For com
Ilcte ard entire political liberty, in land
where liberty has long been supposed to
dwell.
Orcanizs everywhere, and send in your
delegates to tie coming convention, and let
Us send forth an emancipation proclamation
that will carry renewed hope to every OPP
IICssod rdIyidual in the lard.
We are engaged in huge struggle. Hon
esty against corruption-freedom against
tyranny-the people against monied aris-
tocraCy that is squeczing the life out OF the
natIon-a monied power that is fast reduc-
ing the whole industrial people of the coun-
try to mere vassels to contribute to Wall
street and its sstelhtes Who shall win +? Let
the people answer.
The convention will meet at 10 O'Clock
P. NJ, on the 10Th day Of August, in the
large Hall, Assembly Buildings, South west
corner Of Tenth and Chestnut streets, Phil
adelphie. Delegates arriving before that
day cal port q ape Office OF the National
F,abor f,,sS30 Harmony street.
W. II. SYLvIa,
Pres.i'at National Labor Union.