The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-02-09
PROSPECTUS
OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR UNION

Bureau OF Lea b or.
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Felor-c;tirens and Wmkingmen
Of the United States:
The question of the hour is, How can the
workingman best improve his condition? This
question is not only being agitated in the United
States, but throughout the civilized world. The
universal law of our exitence is, I'm the sweat
of thy face thou shall eat thy bread. We desire
to impress you with this fact, that it is 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
a capitalist; that is, 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 lesat
it should be your aspiration to become the owner
of your own homestead, and place that homestead
beyond the reach of want and poverty. As work.
ingmen we can only possess these blessings by
being industrious with our brains and hands,
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
pest and most speedy means to better your con-
iition in the United States.
We look with painful emotion upon the pre-
&c al, sv,f tho
States. Disorganized, 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 labor reformers of our
times
We advise you, 1st to Immediately organize
because labor can only protect itself when or
ganized; that is, 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
your labor-how to respect that capital, and
make that capital respect your labor You learn
where and how to create employment, to give
yourselves werk when you are debarred by OPP
posite combinations. You learn the wants OF
your fellow-workmen and how to provide for
them.
In word, without organization, you stand in
danger of being exterminated. You cannot ex-
pect to be proftably employed, and the trades
will soon die out in the race With organization
you will find employment, you will force OPP
30 ola fr
work without restriction because of our color,
and opon the way for your children to learn trades
and move forward in the enjoyment of all the
rights of American citizenship. How shall you
organize? We answer call general meeting o.
the workingmen in every city and town, and af
ter discussing the importance.of organizations p
point committee of one from each branch O
trade or labor represented, to prepare plar
or organization. When they have reported {
)ian, then appoint your committee on constitu
ton and permanent organization. When they
report, proceed Immediately to form yourselve.
into an association, send q copy ofyour constita
tons and list of officers to the Bureau of Labor
and get your charter. We would advise, wher,
there is sufficient number of any particular
branch, that they orgonize separate associations
As each man desires to follow that business fol
which he has been educated. As constitution fcl
the government of a carpenters association
will not suit for the government of laborers' a
ISOLATION, it is important that you organize eacl
branch separately. Five men of any one brancl
organized, can accomplish more in the interes
of that particular branch than being associates
IF hrop hos
Mixed organizations have always proved disas
trous to the labor reform movement, except il
delegated bodies. The above organizations re
ferred to, are simple organizations for the pro
tecticn of labor and wages.
We would call your attention to, and advise
and that you form yourselves into co-operativ
Trade Unions. While these are the most benef
cial associations of modern times, they requir
much judgment, and intellectual ability to max
them success They seem to be necessity O
ahis time in order to furnish employment tn col
ored men in many States in the Union. W
could not furnish a general plan Reorganization
Each particular association must be governed b
special rules. We can only advise You how {
organize, when you inform the Bureau what yo
propose organizing. We can but say the geners
principle is, for each man to take a g ven amour
of stock, and pay that in weekly or monthly il
stallments until they have enough to commend
business with, so that by combination of the
money and labor, they will from a capital an
business that win give them an independent liz
ing. In organizations of this kind no restriction
should be placed upon parties investing becau.
of their ether relations. Let any man who vii
take an interest with you.
g. We should advise you to organize Buildir
and Land Associations. These can easily
established in connection with your Trade an
Labor Uninns," and will have o tendency
strengthen and perpetuate them: Experien.
has proved that all men can, by the agency Of
mouse for what he would pay rent for one. "
shall be pleased to advise Won mon the most in