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

OF THE
NATIONAL LABOR UNION
9nr an or Il = h or.
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
FsIo,c-cit;sens and Workingmen
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
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
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. 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, LIST, 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 hbor-how to respect that capital, and
make that capital respect your labor. You learn
where and how to create employment, to give
yourselves work 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
posite combinations to recognize your claims to
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 Of
the workingmen in every city and town, and af
ter discussing the importance of organization, ap
point committee of one from each branch OF
trade or labor represented, to prepare a plan
for organization. When they have reported a
plan, then appoint your committee on constitu-
ton and permanent organization. When they
report, proceed Immediately to form yourselves
into an association, send copy of your constitu.
tons and list of officers to the Bureau of Labor,
and get your charter. We would advise, where
there is sufficient number of any particular
branch, that they orgonize separate associations.
As each man desires to follow that business for
which he has been educated. As q constitution fcr
the government of carpenters association
will not suit for the government of q Aborers as
ISOLATION, it is important that you organize each
branch separately. Five men of any one branch
organized, can accomplish more in the interest
of that particular branch, than being associated
with five hundred men of several branches.
Mixed organizations have always proved disas.
trous to the labor reform movement, except in
delegated bodies. The above organizations re-
ferred to, are simple organizations for the pro.
lection of labor and wages.
We would call your attention to, and advise,
and that you form yourselves into cooperative
Trade Unions. While these are the most bensfi-
cial associations of modern times, they require
much Judgment and intellectual ability to make
them a success. They seem to be q necessity at
ahis time in order to furnish employment tn col.
ored men in many States in the Union. We
could not furnish general plan reorganization.
Each particular association must be governed by
special rules. We can only advise you how to
organize, when you inform the Bureau what Won
propose organizing. We can but say the general
principle is, for each man to take q ven amount
of stock, and pay that in weekly or monthly in
stallments until they have enough to commence
business with, so that, by combination oftheir
money and labor, they will from q capital and
business that will give them an Independent Gv.
ing In organizations of this kind no restrictions
should be placed upon parties investing because
of their ether relations. Let any man who win,
take an interest with you.
3. We should advise you to organize Building
and Land Associations These can easily he