The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1870-12-22
PROSPECTUS
NATIONAL LABOR UNION
Burcau OF Lab II.
Cr TEE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

question is not only being aSltated In the United
States, but throughout the civilized world. The
universal law of orr exitence is, ''In the sweat
of thv face thou shall eat thy bread" We desire
to impress you with this fact that it is Divine
law that We must labor, and that the comforts |
of life can only be attained by honest, patient |
toll.
II should be the aim of every man to become
A CAPITALIST; that is, every man should try and
receive an exchange for his labor which by
proper economy and investment. will, in'the
future, place him i'll the position OF those on
whom he is now dependent for living. At lesat
il should he your aspiration to become the owner
of YOUR own homestead, and place that homestead
seyond the reach of want and poverty As work
ngrnen We can only possess these blessings by
bein, industrious with our brains and hands,
TEMPERATE in our habits, and economical with
our means.
It is the lnty of our National Labor Union.
and more particularly the Bureau of Labor Great
Cd by your delegates assembled from nearly every
state in the Union, to advise with you upon the
best and most speedy means to better your con-
dition in the United States.
We look with painful emotion upon the pre-
sent condition of colored labor in the several
States DisorSanizod, poorly paid, assaulted,
anl in many cuses totally in different to Its own
welfare. After careful survey and consideration
of this vital question, in which We have. consult
! I'd the wisdom and experience of the most pro-
found economists and labor reformers OF our
| times
We advise You. LIST. to immediately organize,
because labor can only protect itself when or
! ganized; that is, by being organized thoroughly,
YOU have the command of capital. You receive
better pay for your labor. You learn where and
now to invest your labor TO better advantage.
You learn the value of the capital invested with
,our labor-how to respect that capital, and
make that ca,,it.ll respect your labor. You learn
where and how to create employment, to give
| Yourselves, work when You are debarred by OPP
! ,,,i,e combinations You learn the wants OF
! ,our iallow-workIuen and how to provide for
! hem
In a word, without organization, you stand III
| ,ian.er OF being eXtermliiated 1ou cannot ex-
oect to be probably employed, and the trades
| ALL soon die ou' i'll the With organization
sou will find employment, You Will force OPP
oo,ite combinations 10 recognize your claims to-
work without restriction because OF our color,
md opo1aLe way ior your children to learn trades
.ni move forward i'll the enjoyment OF all the
rights Of American citizenship How shall You
organize? We answer call general meeting o.
Inc workinelnen i'll every city and town. and al
| ,cr discussing the importance OF oTSanlzahon,ap
| point Ii co.nlaittee " one from eich branch OF
,riae OF labor represented, to prepare plan
| .ar organization. When they have reported a
plan, then appoint your committee on con<itu-
,,on and permanent organization. When they
report. proceed immediately to form yourselves
mic Al ASSOCIATION, send copy Of your conslti-
tons and list of officers 70 the Bureau of Labor.
| md get YOUR charter. We would advise, where
here is "a sufficient number OF any particular
branch, that they or5onize separate associations.
| Is each man desires to follow that business Tor
which he has been educated. Asa constitution fer
he government of carpenters assoclatiol'
will not silit for the government of "a hborers a.
ISOLATION it is important that you organize each
branch separately. Five men OF any one branch
Il orc,lized can accomplish more i'll the Interest
Of that particular branch, than being associated
,ith five hundred men of several branches.
Mixed organizations have always proved dsas-
r,n,s to the labor reform movement, except i'll
delegated bodies. The above organizations re-
ierred to, are simple organizations Tor the pro-
lection of labor and wages.
We would call your attention to, and advise
md that you form yourselves into co-operativ,
Trade Unions While these are the most benef
,i;l associations OF mod.rn times, they requlr,
much judgment, and intellectual ability TO max,
them "A success They seem to be n necessity al
ahis time in order to furnish employment tn col
ored men III many States III the Union. We
.ould not furnish general plan Of Organization
Zach particular association must be governed b.
.pecial rules. We can only advise you how I,
: organize, when You inform the Bureau what you
Ii propose organizing We can but say the genera
4, principle is. for each man TO take gwen anoun
Ii o. stock, and pay tina. in weekly or monthly IN
/ stalmenis until they have enough to commence
l. business with. 80 that, by combination either
:, money and labor, they will from a capital nn'
St business that will give them an independent Inv
81 ing. In organizations OF this kind no restriction
I'd should be placed upon parties investing becaus
t Of their ether relations Let any man who will
x .,ke an interest with You.
e, B. We should advise You to organize Building
II and Land Associations. These can easily b
III established in connection with your Trade AM
ia l. 1,-,l1 boya n tendency y
us strengthen and perpetuate them. Experience
las proved that all men can, by the agency OF
laouse for what he would pay rent for one. W