The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-08-19

ance with the wishes of the representative !
all trades aDd labor associations, it has left /
! the Labor Reform party thus formed th
work OF carrying into practical lie gisIation. bot
State and national, the priuc pies laid down n
the National Labor Congress, firmly helievin
that these principles, if faithfully carried ou
in the Legislature Of our country, can save tb
; toiler from tyranny and oppression.
During the year there has been much dis
, cussiOn snd considerable opposition elieite
By the action of the Cincinnati congress wbic
It's contended, does not clearly define ou
status.
Some claim that we are political and 9th
ere purely industrial body. ask the careft
attention OF tie congress to this question, I
the end that every obstruction 20 our progres
may be removed
Then let the trials and grievances Of tn
working people be brought before the Nations
Labor union, and there in council let ther
discuss and adopt the best course tor the &C
complishment of the object in view, :" relievin
the producing classes from the oppression tina
aggregated capital is forcing upon them;" sn
let no class of toilers be excluded, white o
black, male or female, for all have a common
interest with US in the prosperity and happ
ness of the toiling millions We welcome all
provided they come as the representatives o
bona fde unione
| would now call your special attention {,
the direct violation OF Law and honesty in re-
gard TO the eight hour law passed by Congress
| understand that nearly all government works
and especially all along the lakes, either il
building or repairing light houses or improv-
lug harbors, such labor is done by day work
and that day work is ten hours instead o
eight hours as was intended by the Law. w,
want no deception on this question; we expec
and demand that the present administration
will enforce its own laws or another set of mel
will be placed there who will
also again call the attention Of this BODY
to the important question of the importation
Of the Chinese, the sole object Of which il &C
cheaper the labor of the American workman
thus degrading the laborer. We do not com.
plain OF emigration, but wholesale importation
tor gain to the importers in bringing and sell
ing the time and labor Of human beings a. !
matter Of speculation, Is nothing more or less
than organized slavery.
Another subject would wish to bring be-
fore you, and tnat is, the trouble in the Goa
| fields of Pennsylvania. found that durine
| the troubles Of 1870 and 1871, the press Of the
country at large were loud in their denunca-
tiOn Of the miners- The true facts OF the case
we're rarely given. The largest amount ever
asked by the miners was never over one dollar
per ton for cutting, blasting, loadins, and in
cluding the furnishing of tools and powder for
blasting it did not average over five hundred
dollars per man yearly, while the railroad !
charged from three to seven hundred per cent.
over and above their acknowledged regular
rates for transportation. Therefore, by ia.
vestig alton we fud that the miners were
blamed unjustly tor the crime of Causing des-
titution in large cities By the scarcity Of coal
and the high prices of fuel which also caused
scores of furnaces and manufactories to close
their doors, throwing thousands out of en-
ployment
l will also call the attention of the delegates
to the Importance of a more correct knowl-
edge Of the average amount Of wages received
per man in the different trades, the number of
hours called q days work, the average amount
OF working time made during the year. the
causes of want of employment, and all other
matters relating to the social relations Of the
producing classes as far as can be gathered and
brought befOu5 Gnis congress, also, the causes
of reduction of wages and the effect Of such
reduction upon the general business of the
country, and whether such reduction of wages
is not virtually . limitation of the market for
the general productions Of our CO lntrY, causing
q decrease in proportion TO the demand for
labor and thereby making the necesserieslof life
swelling the ranks OF the vicious which threat
ems to destroy our national prosperity? We
also find, by experience, that aggregated capi-
tai, backed and fostered BY uIjust laws, is
gathering 70 itself too large proportion Of the
products OF labor; building up rich and arrogant
corporations which are continually lrRislating 10
their own behalf to the deLrIment of tue pro-
ducing classes and threate the very hber-
ties Of the people.
| The Supreme court Of the United States,
after two adjudications, have, it Is said, delib-
erately decided that the money issued by the
! government, known as greenbacks, is lawful
money of the United States, aud is q legal
tender for all debs contracted TO be paid in
lawful money, no matter when the contract
was made. This decision, if correctly report
ed, leaves the question of the power to issue
money that shall be American money and a
! legal tender, no longer an open question.
have called your attention TO some of the
more important questions in which we are all
interested. 1t is tor yeu to examine them,
and, by your actions, to approve or condemn,
as in your united judgment may seem best;
calmly and candidly considering the grievances
of which we complain. Neither strife, section
! al, or personal feeling will ever accomplish our
object-that is equal and exact justice to ali
let us then be kind and courteous to all re-
membering that they that strong must
bear the inarmities of the weak, and when any
portion or part of us, as union men, are men
aced by capital when it is intended TO cripple
our energies, let US unitedly bear ~ith our
brothers the burdens Of the day. Then will
capital learn that toiling millions have rights
that cannot much longer be outraged with im-
punity. Let trade and labor unions be estab
lished in every State and district, and the time
will speedily come when the producers will
control those whom their hands and brains
have enriched.
Then let each cheerfully do his part 10 the
great work Of reform; not standing idly by and
finding fault then the work will be accom- psh
ed and millions unborn will bless you and q
kind providence will smile upon your Ia bors
Mr.. Sylvis, Of Pennsylv anis, moved
that the address be referred to a special
committee.
Mr.. Weaver moved as an amendment
that the committee consist of one from
each State.
The amendment was adopted, and the
resolution, as amended, carried.
The chair appointed as said committee
Messrs. Weaver, of Pennsylvania, Day
Of New York, Sheldon, Of Ohio, Shepard
Of Indiana, Hinchclitfe, Of Illinois, Sieg,
erson, Of Missouri, Smith, OF Mississippi
and Sylvis, of Kansas.
Mr.. johnson offered the following reso-
lutlons, which were, on his motion, refer
red to the committee on organization:
WHEREAS, We deem it eatial to the high
est interesis Of the WorKIngmen of the countr,
that there should be a boIh National Trade
Assembly or Industrial Congress, to be com
posed exclusively of delegates from protective
and co operative labor associations, TO NEE
annually or oltener, to discuss and decide upol
purely industrial questions, and National Lab
or union to give expression to the politics
ills Of our cOuutry's wOrkmen, and to prOpos
and force upon the government, by the powe
Of the ballot, the method of their removal,
national organization, with Auxilaries in ever
/ State, to give character ard support to tia
Labor Reform naFtv and nre ita CpttiO