The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-01-22
think the national union should furnish

uniform contribution card for the use OF
az the unions working under the jurisdic-
ton Of the national union the same as the
present travelling card. The system pro-
posed is, that member leaving his union
and going to work and reside in the juris-
dlctlon of sister union shall be required to
deposit bis card with said union, and in re-
turn receive a new card from the union,
with their seal attached, the union receiving
SAID card Immediately informing the union
OF which the bearer was last a member Of
that ne has deposited bis card and become
a member Of said union.
In order to explain the plan more fully
N your minds, | will suppose member Of
No. l, d. c., going to the jurisdiction Of
No l, Md, be presents his card to No
l. Md, and if he is in arrears (Which the
card will show in the former union, No. l,
Md, collects and forwards the amount to
No. l, d. c., with the information that
the Brother has deposited his card with, and
now member Of, No. l, Nd. No. l,
Md. retains the card granted by No. /,
y. e., and furnishes the Brother with
new card, with the seal Of their union at
tached.
This plan, think, will avoid the diff
culties that have heretofore existed, and
create better feeling between unions.
Under the present system many Of the
unions are defrauded Of their just dues.
Many members leave the jurisdiction of
their union and 20 to other localities without
travelling card, obtain permission to work
until such time as they can procure it from
the union they left, work in said locality
until the time expires and take their de-
parture for some other place, to return again
to their former union, thus defrauding the
union giving them such privilege of their
dues to which they are justly entitled. It
IS true that, when they return to the locali
ty they first left, they may be compelled to
pay up all their back dues, but that does
not remedy the evil or secure justice to the
union in whose jurisdiction they may have
worked during their absence.
There are also many cases where men,
bcrs draw their travelling cards and posi-
lively refuse to deposit said card with the
union in the locality to which they may 90,
claiming that, as they may not stay IN that
locality but few weeks or months, that the
constitution of the national union does not re-
quire them to deposit their card, and they
can do so or not, at their pleasure, and in
this way many unions are defrauded Of dues
justly belonging to them.
Many members Of our organization hold
the opinion that the national constitution
does not require that theyshould be member
Of the union in the locelity where they re-
side and work, but my option on this ques-
ton is that they are so required
1t is true the constitution does not stateex-
plicitly that man shall be member of the
union in whose jurisdiction he may reside
andwork, yet it does state that be shall deposit
his card with the subordinate union to which
he may 60, and to my mind there is no
doubt but that it was intended BY this
clause that all persons should be members
Of the union in whose jurisdiction they at
the time should reside or work. think we
should make this question more explicit, 90
that all existing doubts may be dispelled,
aud all have a clear understanding in re-
ference to the same.
l was somewhat surprised at our last
Convention to bear my WORTHY predecessor,
when referring to this question in bis re-
port, assert that be could not find any law
in the national constitution making it obi
gatory on the part of those holding such
cards, aud if such theory is held BY the
executive the same Interpretation will be
given it by others. In my opinion this il
an important question for the consideration
of the present Convention, and as such |
trust you will give it your careful attention.
APPRENTICES.
This is one Of the most vexed and trou-
blesome questions in existence, and diver
sion of opinion exists as to the best course
to pursue in reference to it, but think the
question may be safely left in the guardian
ship IF each local union to make such laws
and apply such remedies as may be best
calculated for the locolity in which the union
exists
EIGHTHOUR CUSTOM.
1t seems almost unnecessary for me to
refer to this important. question, as the last
Convention, BY asresolution, has made it
legal for any union its jurisdiction to de-
mand the same whenever, in their judg
ment, they should deem it expedent, sub
ject to the laws of the national union, in
reference to strikes; and yet I cannot re-
frain from briefly referring to it. In several
Of the States it has become law (or rather
farce) by an act of the Legislature, there
being no clause whatever looking to its en-
forcement. The workmen employed on the
public works of the State where the law
exists are deprived of its benefits, and those
desirous Of obtaining the benefits it was ex-
pected to confer have had to resort to expen-
sive and prolonged strikes, causing both to
the employer and employee loss Of time and
money; injurious to trade, and producing
feeling Of bitter animosity between the en-
ployer and employee
June "a, 1868, the National Congress
passed a law providing, that eight hours
should constitute days work on all Gov
erument work, but bow is it's Provisions en-
forced on most Of the buildings erected BY
the Government? The workmen are com
PEELED to labor ten hours instead of eight,
it being professed on the part of the Gov
ernment that the work is done by contract,
and they have no control over it, when in
reality the supposed contractor is only en-
Ployed by the Government to superintend
the work, and thus the workmen are de-
frauded Of their just rights, and while
paying more than their just proportion of
tax for the support Of the General and
State Governments, are compelled to con
tribute an additional two hours per day for
the support Of those who use the influence
OF the positions they occupy to the injury
and oppression of the workingmen.
1t Is unnecessary for me to say more on
this question, nor need | inform you that l
am firm advocate Of the eight-hour system,