The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-03-05

The National Labor Union SNAIL % c0m-
posed Of ,sueh labor organizations 40 may nov
or hereaf9ss exist having for their object the
amelioraf!On Of she condition Of those who labor
for livshg."
In response to this call several Organiza-
tons were formed among the farmers Of the
West, sid it il needless to add that their
representatives were duly welcomed to, and
recognized by, the national body. 1t may
not be Cot Of place also to refer to the fact
that sorie of thsss very delegates were, BY
univer sal consent, recognized as among the
ablest opponents and advocates Of the labor
reform inOvement.
HavEag thus briefly referred to the mis-
sion of the N. L. U. and its representa-
tives, IL us now refer to some Of the objec-
ticns offered by RERoRMER.
1t is true that, for some weeks past, we
have been urging on the members Of the
National Union the importance Of fulfilling
their Fbnes. ObligatiO1s-Of paying their
officials a living sAlAy-wAicA they had
previously contracted 20 do. In response
to this request, We are sravsly told that BE-
cause Miss Anthony vas admitted to the
Congress "a lady, by-tbs-bye, who was
afterwards excluded) that the delegates re-
fuse financially to respond 70 its wants.
Now, while We yield 10 no living man in
devotion to, Of admirzAiOO Il, the PsiDci-
pies embodied i'm trades unions, cAndOr
comp<ls the admission that We regard them
simply as an initial mOvsmest-as the
stepping stones to more advanced action !;
and sad, indeed, should 70 Eel did We b.
lieve that the working CLASSES had no higher
aim, no truer appreciation Of their own i'm
pOrtSnce and the value Of their citizenship
than 70 regard them A. the ultimate object
of pi,rsuit-their only savior. As means
to al end, and that end As diseHthraiLSse~t
Of kibOr from the overwhelming, unhal-
loweA influence of the mOnied power, We
believe they are Indispensable, and regard
them as the great training schools for the
future; and for this reason, if for no other,
shall continue to advocate their principles
through evil and good report. But to the
case at issue.
III common with many others, we were in
favor Of the Committee on Constitution,
who were in consultation at the time refer
red 70, reporting clause which should for
evs, thereafter exclude all parties claiming
admission on fraudulent credentials, in pre-
ferelce to having the time Of the Conven-
tiopiconsumed by the discussion of matter
whIdh could be, and which afterwards was,
use.l in a manner to grossly misrePresent the
action Of the congress. Certainly no sacri-
ice of principle there.
hut ''REToRMER" was offended at the
''in,rusiOn q Of delegates with well filed
carpet bags of papers and writings, to be
read for their personal advancement at the
expense of the congress-" Who these car
petbaggers were, we are left to conjecture.
Whoever they were, or whatever their mo
tivta, certainly no opportunity was afforded
them to act as g advertising mediums" for
anybody. 1t is true that due courtesy was
shown to every delegate who had any mea-
guE4 t. PGsss S wish a.As.% came within the lesi-
tinAte scope Of the congress; and il is also
true that delegate from the Cherokee set
tle,s presented at length their grievances, in
the exposure of which every wOrkingman
waa directly interested, and to and in the re-
meval of which was the imperative duty Of
every delegate. A congress which had de-
cIGted, time and again, that land mOuOPO-
" lies are at variance with the doctrine, that
+" all freemen, when they form a social COM
" TACT. are equal in rights, and that all the
+" public lands should be given in reasonable
{" quantities to actual settlers only, that they
/" NAY become identified with the soil, as
responsible and intelligent citizens, Ger
ta;Oly could not sanction a fraud which
sought to evict three thousand bona fide SET
tiers at the point Of federal bayonets, and
convey to q sOulless corporation, a portion
Of the public domain far exceeding in extent
that of many of the German princiPalities.
And this was just what the congress was
x4ked to condemn. and which, to its honor,
ii did, by an almost unanimous vote.
With regard to the financial plank, We
can only repeat what our correspondent we'll
Knows, that it was endorsed by every mem
Ter of the committee that no newfangled
theory was discussed or even introduced,
s,nd that it is simply . reformation Of the
principles enunciated at Chicago and New
York.
We might continue these remarks to a
much greater length. but think We have said
enough to convince even "REvoAMER, that
Dc must pick bis fiuts and try again, if be
you'd enlighten us as to tho cause Of the
axisting apathy. If be doubts the objects or
beneficial results Of the congress, lei him
carefully and prayerfully examine its de-
slarations, aud the nature Of the subjects
winch eHgrosse4 ias attention, and then com
pare them with the productions Of the Re-
publican and Democratic conventions
Seriously, however, We think it would be
much more to the credit Of the malconteuts
who delight in throwing cold water on every
enterprise which does not cOmPOrt with their
oan0c;al standard IN cease their bickerinOs: