The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-09-04

The approval Of our position enthe ques
tion OF money by many able anA successtu
business men, furnishes the best evidenc'
that we are correct.
Thus far had my worthy predecessor writ
ten his report for this Congress, when deatl
snstched him from us. His demise occur
ring 90 sudden and unexpected, and the du
Ties OF the Presidency devoiving on me .
such short notice, and 20 close to tn
meeting Of the Congress, haye not had the
opportunity to give to the questions thai
will certainly come before you that consi'
deration their importance demands.
With these facts before you any omissions
that may be made earnestly hope, under
the circumstances, may be overlooked.
BY reference to the books and voueherd
that will be handed 10 the Auditing Commit
tee, NJ will be seen that the expectatiOns oi
our late President, in reference 60 the secur-
ing Of means to successfully carry on oar
movement from the lsboring Glasses, have
not been realis ised and the question Of ways
and means yet remains On uns0lved problem,
Without deairing to dictate any speci6c plan,
| must say upon the proper solving OF this
questi sn depends our ultimate suoeess with
ont moneywe are hel pleas. and this fact should
commend itself to the earnest and intelligent
consideration of every delegate present. And
We mnsk, e. this session, saks snsh action aa
will bring Us Sufficient revenue 60 sueoess-
fully prosecute the work by the aid Of EN-
cient lecturers and the dissemiussion Of labor
documents, and any other means that will
bring our movement more prominently be-
fore the American people. Tts zoe Ssssst
do il we expect success to crown our efforts.
By reference to the document in the Office,
I find that In accordance with Article ol
the Constitution, charters have been issued
BY the N. L. u, to the following places.
They are given 10 the order they were grant
ed !; No. l, of Wisconsin, at Black River
Falls No. /, of Pennsylvania, EasterN
No. L, Of Iowa, McGregor No. I, Of Ten.
oessee, Nashville; No. l, Illinois, Chicago
No 2, Of Pennsylvanis. Willis@sport No.
l, Of Ohio, Salem No. 2, Of New York,
Verplank's Point; No. 2, Of Ohio, iPaines.
vile; No. 8, of New York city No. l, of
New Jersey, Milville No. 2, Of illinois,
Lostsnt No. /, North Csrolina, Whining
ton; No. 4, New York, Haverstraw; No. l,
Of Nebrasks, Omaha No. 2, OF Nebraska,
Omaha IScsndinavian); No. S, of New
York, New York city No. 2. Iowa, McGre-
gor; No. l, Georgia, Atlanta; No. l, oi
Mississippi, Water Valley; No. 6, New York
(city); No. 2, Wisconsin, Milwaukee; No.
7, of New York, Peekshill; No. 8, Illinois,
Ottswa; No. I, Of Kansas, Leavenworth,
and No. 4, Illinois,
These organizations in the main are COM
posed Of those who are NOT directly connec-
ted with any trade unions, and the number
OF charters granted is no criterion Of the
strength Of our organisation, as will be
readily perceived BY the representation pre-
sent from organizations who have not char.
ters under the N. l.. G., and who are not
expected to call for charters, but who are
with rs in every respect in this movement
for the emancipation of labor. Nor can our
strength be estimated by the numbers en-
rolled under the banner Of N. L. u, or un-
der the various trade organisations. Thou
sands Of thinking men have, within the past
year, given in their adhesion TO the princi-
pies advanced by US, who arenot connected
with any organization, bat whose inhuence
is powerful in our behalf. Thus it wilEbe
seen that we are progressing; the people
are wakening to the necessities OF the hour,
and we. as an organisation, must be able as
them in the path that will eventually lea, I
pies adopted by US. The evils that this or
ganixation started out to reform still exist,
if possible, in q more aggravated form.
Our liberties are in danger, AID on the
success of the principles advanced by US, in
the name of the producers of America, de-
pends the salvation of the Republic. Either
the people must rule, or moneyed and landed
aristocracy will.
This is becoming evident to all. We have,
even now, q paper published in the interests
of the moneyed power, demanding imperial
ism. And they will have it, with all its
curses, if the toilers do not assert their man
hood at the ballot box, thus proving them
selves equal to the emergency.
The conspiracy laws Of the variOHs States
demand from us an earnest expression of
opinion. One instance will give to show
their unjustness to the toiler: Two men in
Schuylkill county, in this State, were con.
demned to imprisonment simply because
they were members of q workingman's
union. As we have delegates from that Sec
tion who are more intimately acquainted
with the facts, will refrain from further
comment.
The law or laws that wall cond emn a man
to prison simply because he is a member of
a trade organisation, 10 so infamous and un-
jussihable-so contrary to what should. be
the spirit of our institutions, hope such a
protest will como from the people through
out the land, as will cause the Legislature of
the various States to repeal them in hot
haste, or the members thereof be consigned
TO the oblivion they deserve.
The question OF eight hours for a legal
days work demands from you a calm de-
Liberation.
Great advances have been made the past
year in securing this much desired reform.
The Government of the United States have
recognised it, not without considerable of a
fight, is is true, but yet to-day, in every gov
ernment workshop, eight hours is legal
days work, and full days pay il given for
the same Thus far have our efforts been
successful. It now becomes our duty to
take such ACTION as will bring it before the
various State Legislatures, and demand and
receive from them the same recognition that
we have obtained from the GtVlrnment Of
the United States.
Cooperation. 2Tbe princIEles IF co opera
tion (which have been so often referred to
have not taken that hold among :the produ-
GERS that their importance entities them TO-
The great cause Of the non SUCCESS Of macy
of the sO-called cooperative enterprises
arise from the fact that they were spasmo-
die attempts, not the result Of calm, deli
berate, intelligent efforts. These failures do
not in any way effect the principles Of Co
operation, for if they are properly carried
out, II is one Of the IN Dst powerful agents for
a ~ IL a.. a
nation OF capital. ] earnestly hope that the
action Of this Congress will tend towards
awakening a greater interest in its princ-
pies, and eventually lead to it's establishment
In all sections Of our country.
COOLIR LABOR.
The recent attempts Of unprincipled and
Interested parties to revive the Infamous
Cooile trade, which is, essentially, a revival
OF the slave system, is one which demands
our earnest and serious considerauOn. It is
q question that effocts all clasaes of aocietv,