Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-09-11
WORKINGMEN's UNION.

satrloW ORklN6mEN O
We publish below the basis Of
the organization of the Worklngm men
Union Of this city, as passed at the
meeting on Wednesday night, at the
Union Hook and Ladder Company''
house: ...
e, Whereas. After years of experience
.ho ,rork;nemen of the city of Norfolk
,s aug ,f,,IIy convinced of the necessity and
exnediency of corporation and harmo'
Nous action for the purpose OF promot'
mo their mutual benefit and protection
and believing that the causes which
have operated against their interests
beratofore may be traced in great
measure to the absence of proper organ
ization and unity of action, and recog-
nizing the force Of the maxim, "That
in union there is strength they dc
hereby pledge their united efforts fol
the purposes of the education of the
masses, for self-protection, self-elevatior
and the improvement of their social
moral and political condition.
In calling attention to the undisputed
fact that they are the original producers
of all wealth and capital they only
claim that they are at least entitled te
as much consideration and as much
weight in the community as any other
class of citizens. We, therefore, the
workingmen Of the city Of Norfolk, dc
hereby adopt the following constitution
for our government.
,, ARTICLE 1:
Section l. This organization shall be
known as the 'Workipgmens Central
Union of the city of Norfolk"
Sec. 2. 1t shall be composed of the
president and ten delegates from each
ward organization hereinafter provided
for.
Sec. 5. lis officers shall be: one
president, one recording secretary, one
corresponding secretary, one financial
secretary, one treasurer, ono sergeant
alarms and eight vice-presidents. The
duties of which officers shall be such as
are usually incumbent upon similar Off
GERS in similar organizations.
Sec. 4. The officers above named
shall be elected by this central organii-
cation on the LIST day of July and jan
uary in each year and hold their offices
for the term of six months, except that
the vice-presidents shall be the presi-
dents of the eight ward organizations
hereinafter provided for, and they shall
be elected by the unions over which
they severally preside.
Sec. s. Two Unions shall be formed
in each of the four wards Of this city,
one of which Unions shall be composed
of the white workingmen residing in
said ward, and the other OF the colored
workingmen residing in said ward.
Sec. 6. Each of said Unions shall be
entitled to representative in said Cen
trial Union Of ten delegates and its
President, who shall be, ex-officio, a
Vice. President Of the Central Union.
Sec. 7. Each OF said Unions shall
make its own bylaws, in conformity to
this constitution, elect it's own officers,
and generally have the power to trans
act its own business in its own manner,
except that it shall not conflict with this
Central Union.
"i2fa ~ ARTICLE II: .a5
Section /. No person shall become a
member of any of the Ward Unions
connected with this Central Union I'M
less he be of the age of 81 years and a
resident or citizen of Norfolk. He must
also be connected with the interests of
workingmen as a producer Of some kind
Of industry. Members of what are
known as the learned professions, unless
they are now, or heretofore have been,
connected with the producing working
interests of the community, are express
ly excluded. Workingmen of all classes
and colors are eligible to membership,
and none others except those herein
expressly enumerated or described, and
who sign the bylaws and rules of the
Ward Unions.
asiaa ARTICLE III:
: Section /. 1t being the true intent
and meaning of the preamble to this
constitution to further tho interest and
elevate the character of workingmen of
all classes and conditions it is hereby
expressly declared and ordained for the
government Of this and the Ward
Unions, that questions Of political
character shall not be entertained or
discussed, except so far as the same
shall be necessary as regards the local
interests of workingmen in the selection
of proper candidates for the municipal
offices of this city.
Sec. 2. In case it shall be deemed
prudent to make such nominations, the
same shall be made by this Central
Union when composed of delegates as
aforesaid, and no nominations shall be
made until after due and timely notice
to each Ward Union in connection
herewith. uas
Sec. 8. Each member of this or the
Ward Unions shall be in honor bound
to support the nominations so made.
ARTICLE W:
Section /. The funds of this Central
Union shall be such as may be assessed
upon the delegates at any regular OF
special meeting. The funds of the
Ward organizations shall be as provided
for in its bylaws.
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