The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-08-07
THE NATIONAL LABOR CONGREse
OFFICE OF TIE national LABOR UxIoN,
PHILADELPHIA, July l6, 1859.

IHE NATIONAL LABOR CONGRENN
OFFICE OF TIE National LABOR USION, !
PHILADELPHIA, July l6, 1859. I I
20 all HchoH Il TGy Concern:
Due NonoE is HEREBY GIVEN THAT TIE TmRf
ANNUAL SESSION OF TEE NATIONAL LABOR UN1oNs
WILL BE HELD IN rue CRY OF PHILADELPHIA, PA.s
BEGINNING AT 10 O'CLOCK, A. NJ, ON THE 161E
DAY OF AUGUST NEXT.
All Trade Unions, oil Cooperative Asses
Citations, oil Labor Organizations Of every
kind, in every pant Of the country-whethet
composed of men or women-are entitled t&
representation, as prescribed in the COnstiI
tuition, as follows: (
SECTION 2. Every international or National
organization shall be entitled to three reprel
sentstives, State organizations to two, Trade
Unions and all other labor organizations to onS
representative in the Nation-l Labor Unior
provided that representatives shall derive theis
election direct from the organization they clAiEi
TO represent !
Each international organization repre-
sented is required to pay the sum Of $lS
and each National organization $40. Eack
local union or Labor Organization of AMI
kind, represented by delegate, is required
to pay ONE CENT upon each member belongs
ing to such organization. This is a vers
small tax-so small that every union in Thu
land can pay it without the least embarrsssl
ment.
This will be the most important meeting
of workingmen ever assembled in this count
try. In our definition Of workingmen wa
embrace all who are engaged in productive
industry; all who are IL good faith obeyink
theDiVine decree by eating bread IN tbs
sweat of their own faces, and not living mn
on the honest earnings of others. Not thoeA
. only who open up and cultivate farms, buiBi
cities, construct railroads, and toll IN work.
shops, but those, also, who by intenectukl
labor extract the principles Of science frch
the great arcana of nature, and give then
practical form Of art, and direct the hand. III
industry. In short, every human being whl,
by physical or intellectual labor, contributes
to the substantial wealth Of the nation-ll
whose occupation is useful and bOnorabIe.
Questions Of the very highest national iu :
portance will come before this body for 90 4
sideration.
We have adopted platform in which "a
embodied the great central ideas OF our O
gaDizatiOn. We must discuss and decide
upon the best means to accomplish our o.
jects and put our principles into practical
operation.
Our ideas are not utopian.
Our Intentions are not agrarian.
We do not seek to pull down, but to build
up.
We want a sound national currency. L.
sued by the government directly to the peh-
pie, at a low rate of interest so that all VITO
desire to use it for legitimate purposAs
can DO SO without being swindled bv monty
shOvers and gold gamblers. =
We want the public lands given mot solh)
10 small quantities 10 actual settlers-a4d
none others.
We want a labor department at Wasbirly-
ton, for the benefit Of the industry of 6e
country.
We want good apprentice and mechGa-
ics' lien law in every State.
we went good practical eight-hour law
in every State.
We want the abolition Of the present sss-
tenn Of prison labor, and the adoption Iof
one that will do justice to honest men al
convicts.
We want the repeal OF all the "conspita-
cy laws" making i an loffence for menAo
belong to Grades Unions"
We want plain, practical law in ev&y
State, recognizing Trade Unions as legally
Authorized bodies, qualified to do business,
hold property &c. and subject to the Lays
Of the land as other legal bodies.
We want economy in the administration
of all our affaiTs-national, state and mS-
nicipal.
we want virtue, not vice honesty, not
rascality; craftsmanship, not partisan dep
gogism; brains, not money, to rule il the
councils Of the nation.
Every honest man in the l. ID can make
common cause with US upon these issuSs.
Let WoIkIngmen everywhere, without regahd
to place or occupation be up and awakeA
busy in the great work of organ ixing for the
last grand struggle for human liberty, La
" from party rule liberty from unjust
Taxation liberty from the grasping power of
monopoly liberty from a false monetsav
system that enables the few to gather the
wealth OF the nation into huge piles, whsle
the many work and remain poor. For coh-
plete and entire political liberty, in laSd
where liberty Las long been supposed 10
dwell.
Organize everywhere, and send in yonr
delegates 70 the coming convention, and let
US send forth an emancipation proclamatidn
mat VIII carry renewed hope 20 every C2-
pressed individual in the land.
We are engaged in huge struggle. Hon
s0'ns' experimentation against
tyrannyLthe people against monied arEs.
tocracy tnat Is squeezing the life out Of he
natlon-a monied power that is fast rsd,E'
ing the whole industrial people Of tbs 'O CO,s,
try to mere vaseels to contr;hn,e -. !. 0 VIZ
street and its satellites. Who shall ~ I'm NJ.
the people answer. 'e'
The convention will meet at 10 o,.lk..
P. NJ, on the 10th day Of August. N H.
large Hall, Assembly Buildings, SuuthuE.,
corner of Tenth and Chestnut streets. PHI
adelphia- Delegates arriving before Hat
day can report at the office of the Natidhal
Labor Union, $50 Harmony street.
W. II. SYLvm,
President National Labor UnioN.