The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-03-19
IMPORTANT 70 cOOPERS.
Call for the Formation of an Interna-
tional Protective Union.
CLEVELAND, O., March 4, 1870.

BROTHER CRAFTSMEN .On The 18th OF
October, 1869, the Journeymeu Coopers of
Cleveland, in Joint Convention assembled,
believing that the time had arrived when it
became ilnperatively necessary to inaugu-
rate some movement by which the rapid
downward tendency Of the trade could be
prevented; and by which, if it we're pos
sible, we might elevate our Graft to that
position to which it is 30 justly entitled by
its importance to the country, unanimously
passed the following preamble and resolu.
tons:
WHERRAs, TIE different organic atoms exist
ing 10 the Cnited States, known as CO ,per's
Unions are entirely independent Of each other,
and governed solely by local considerations,
each 1nion following policy peculiar to itself,
The workings OF which very often detri-
mental 60 the interests of the other unions:
AND WsEREAs, This status Of the craft OF
CoOpering 10 the United States is detrimental
TO that unAnimIty and brotherly feeling that
should characterize members of a common
craft, united Tor mutual protection and amelio-
ration therefore. be it
RESOLVED, That for our mutual protec-
ton and elevation a. class, iI is absolutely
necessary that the whole craft Of COOpering in
the country be ndssolubly united in The bonds
of union aud brotherhood.
Resolved, Taat we the members af Nos :
,, and 8, Of the United COopers Of Ohio, ear
nestly re- quest our brother wOrkmen through
out the country to take immediate cps to
ward the formation Of an International CoGper's
UDion.
Resolved, That copy Of these solutions be
forwarded TO the different unions throughout
the country. -..
In conformity With the abOVe resolutions,
copies OF the same were sent to all Unions
Of which we had any cognizance and
although all Unions With whom we
did correspond, readily admitted the Reces-
SHY of such a movement, and the vast
amount Of amelioatiOu that would be con
ferred upon the Graft thereby, neSerthe-
less, no Union seemed willing to take the
initiative in such a movement; rnd at the
beginning Of the New Year, we found our
selves almost as far as ever, from the
lOnged for goal, the Eureka of our hopes,
the star that we believed would guide aud
p light as to a better and more prosperous
future, seemed no nearear than before In
view of these facts, and in order to bring
the matter squarely and practically before
the Journeymen COopers Of the country,
the Central Union Of the State Of Ohio, at
its late session, held Feb lst, 1870,
passed the following:
Rested. That the PrCs-idrut Of the Central
Union o. tie State Of Ohio, be, aud is hereby
suIhOrizad to issue call for a COoper's Inter
na'Outl Union Convention, % meet il the city
~ Cleveland, Site o. Quo, on the Rrst Tues
lay n Nav, A D 1870
Nov, therefore, |, NJ. A, Foran, Presi-
dent Of the Central Union Of Ohio. and ia
conformity with the above resolution, hereby
Issue this cali for convention Of delegates.
represen ing constituencies composed OF
Journeymen COopers, to meet 10 the City
leveland, on the first Tuesday in May,
1870, at 2 p m, in Temperance Hail, 1874
Superior street.
This Convention ia called for the pur-
pose Of forming an International Cooper
Union. For the purpose OF forming a
Union on such basis that it will ultimately
become a social power Of the greatest mag
nTtude, power that judiciously applied,
will be capable not only of doing its share
towards influencing the general arrange
ments Of Society in the interests of labor,
but will also be capable Of resisting all
further encrOachments of capital And
such an organization, formed for mutual
protection and elevation, and founded on
right and equity, founded on the cosmopoli
tan principle of the universal brotherhood
Of man, will Withstand the mutations Of
time.and humanity, and descend to poster
lty as the greatest boon that man could pos
sbly bestOw upon his offspring. And the
time has arrived when such movement be-
comes absolutely indispensable, not only to
the future success and prosperity, but to
the very existence of the Craft as separate
mechanical art The time has arrived
WheR it becomes the bounden duty of every
JOuFneyman-C Cooper in the land, to awake
from the lethsrgic immobility by which we
are characterized as a craft, to awake to the
palpable fact, that our trade is degenera,ing
With anpreeedented rapldity, to scale ever
lower than laboTers and operatives, and un
less we awake from our Jethean condition
the Graft viii in some sections Of the coun.
try, become extinct, totally obIiterated, and
cease to be known as Graft having an
identity OF ltSowO- n. rr- gr-v
This is not an overweight picture OF
fancy it is plain, unVarnished truth.
on men who toll at the tEade- from early
NON until dewy eve, yea, until the chimes
in every spire tolls the hour of midnight /;
you men who have toiied at the trade, from
the morn Of life until the approaching
shades Of even, and now reap as the re-
ward of your toll, bent bodies and stIffened
bones, the inevitable result Of over wrought
muscle and energy. You sons of toll, who
are now the melancholy examples Of tho
fearful punishment which nature is sure ID
in6iCt on those who violate her laws. Blu.
alas, these laws you were compelled by dire
necessity 70 violate, for the remuneration
received tor all your hard, unceasiDg toih
was barely sufficient to keep body and soul
together. You men, aud you may be count
ed by tens ofthousands 10 this broad land Of
ours, are living witpt sses Of the truth CT
these statements.
How many are there working at our trade,
10 whom the dreadful Ominous statements,
that ''hfe to tue workingman is a ceaseless
degradation, a daily martrydom, a funeral
march to the grave, might with truth anc
proPnety be applied How many arc
there working at. the CraA, who having ne
alternative, are forced to accept the misers
abIe pitance their employers choose to give
them, 70 choke and stifle every Boble and
manly feeling Of independence, whose spiri,
Of resistance is broken by the tyranny and
injustice Of capital, and who supinely sub
IL ~
tiee Of, system of labor scarcely a single
remove from slavery itself /
Andit is Tor the purpose of devising
measurts and means to rid ourselves as fan
az practicable Of nibsse evils to secure q.