The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-01-08
PROSPECTUS

! PROSPECTUS
NATIONAL LABOR UNION
| 7I1r e. u OF Labor.
OF TIE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Fssloc-eitisens and Rorkingmen
II lie Cnisd SAFES:
The question of the hour Ii, How can The
! workingman best improve his condition? Thii
question is not only being agitated in the United
States but throughout the civilized world The
universal law of our exitence Is, "In the sweat
Of thy face thou shall eat thy bread" We desire
to impress you with this fact, that it il Divine
law, that we must labor, and that the comforts
of life can only be attained by honest. patient
toll
1t should be the aim Of every man to become
u capitalist; that il, every man should try and
receive an exchange for his labor. which. by
proper economy and investment, will, in the
future, place him in the position of those on
whom he is now dependent for living At lesst
it should be your aspiration to become the owner
Of your own homestead and place that homestead
beyond the reach of want and poverty. Aswork-
ingmen we can only possess these blessings by
being industrious with our brains and hands,
temperate in our habits, and economical with
our means.
/ 1t is the duty Of our National Labor Union,
and more particularly the Bureau Of Labor GREAT
ed 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 Disappointed, poorly paid, assaulted,
and, in many cases, totally in different to its own
welfare. After careful survey and consideration
of this vital question, in which We have consult
ed the wisdom and experience of the most pro-
found economists and Abor reformers of our
We advise yeu lst to Immediately organize,
because labor can only protect itself when or
sanized; that il by being organized thoroughly,
you have the command Of capital You receive
better pay for your labor. You learn where and
how to invest your labor to better advantage
You learn the value Of the capital invested with
FOUR labor-how to respect that capital, and /
make that capital respect your labor You learn |
where and how to create employment to give
work when you are debarred by OPP
fba a
'Our fellow-workmen and how to provide for |
hem.
In a word, without organization, you stand in |
hanger of being exterminsted. You cannot ex- !
9ect to be- probably employed, and the trades !
will soon die out IN the race With organization |
Iou will find employment you will force Op-
,oste combinations to recognize your claims to |
work without restriction because Of our color
md opon the way for your children to learn trades
md move forward in the enjoyment of all the !
tights of American citizenship. How shall you !
,rganize? We answer call general meeting OF |
he workingmen in every city aud town. and af |
eT discussing the importance Of organization. APP
point a committee of one from sach branch OF |
rsde or labor represented, to prepare plan |
or organization. When they have reported |
,lan, then appoint your committee on constitu-
ion and permanent organization When they !
export, proceed Immediately to form yourselves !
nto An association, send copy ofyour constitu-
ions and list of officers TO the Bureau of Labor
md get your charter. We would advise, Wire
here is a sufficient number of any ps,dcuia1
ranch, that they orgonize separate sS~'cianons'
Us each man desires to follow that business Tor
which he has been educated. A~A constitution fer
be government of q cspenters' association
ill not suit for the goverpment Of o aborers' a.
ociation it is Important that you organize each
ranch separately Five men Of any one brSncl,t
rganized, osa accomplish more in the interest
that particular branch, than being asssciated
18th Eve Hundred men of several branches.
liked organizations have always proved disas-
.ous 10 the labor reform movement, except in
eleeated bodies. The above organizations re-
rred to, are simple organizations for the pro
seton of labor and wages.
We would call your sttsution TO. and advise.
nd that you form yourselves into cooperative
rade Unions While these are the most bensf-
al associations Of modern times, they require
.uch Judgment, and intellectual ability to make
lem success. They seem to be a necessity at
bis time in order to furnish employment tn col
red men in many States in the Union We
DSnld not furnish gen, raj plan reorganization
ach particular association Must DO governed by
pecial rules. We can only advise you how t.
rpapize when you inform the Bureau WIN: you
ropose organizing. We can but soy the general
rinciple is, for each mGn to take g ven amount
stock. and pay that in weekly or monthly in
AILMENTS until they have enough to commence