The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-01
MARCH, IA, 1871

MARCH, a, 1871.
To the Editor Of the WoRKnoNAHS Advocate
have Just received the ADVOCATE Of
the 4th of March and read its contents,
as ] always do, with pleasure, but
when came to the letter Of s. F. q.
written in this city, | was somewhat
surprised to find this expression
Several articles have lately appear
ed in that paper, (Eraminer) some of
them said to be from the pen of Gen.
VIM, the object Of which seems to
have been to dsUtde the workingmeD
on the question of party politics"
This is a regular Bunsby expression;
for We know all the people are divided
in party politics, and it requires no
great wisdom to see the diversion be-
tween the Democrats and Republicans.
My object, he says, Is to divide the
workingmen. Why divide ? They are
already divided 5. f. G. is Republi-
can and | am a Democrat; he thinks
his party-is tho best for yabeEiaeu$cses,
| think it is not; both of us are entitled
to our opinion.
PEOPLE ABROAD DO NOT UNDERSTAND
our position here; | will try and state
it fairly On the sth of July, 1870,
the Crispins got up an immense meet
ing in this city, at least ten thousand
were present; there, resolutions were
passed requesting the Mechanics State
Council to present a plan for the or
ganization of an anti Chinese conven-
ton. That being the only representa-
tive body Of workingmen on this coast;
it was an appropriate reference, and it
at once prepared a constitution for such
q convention, guarding against all at
tempts that might be used to make it
political outside Of agitating opposi-
ton to Chinese immigration. On the
18th Of the same month the constitution
was presented at another meeting, even
larger than the first, which was receive
cd with immense enthusiasm and unan
imously adopted. The labor associa-
tons were in dread Of some trap to
catch them, but the constitution was
plain, they became satisfied that the
object is to oppose the immigration Of
Chinese laborers and cultivate public
opinion up TO the abrogation Of the
treaty with China"
In an unaccountably short time,
nearly all the labor associations elected
delegates to the convention, which met
at the time appointed, and |, az the
President ct the Council, organized it
by holding the election for officers.
THE PRECEDENT ELECT
at once ignored the constitution. and
many delegates refused to proceed any
further; Of 20 delegates so were Dem
ocrats. AT meeting OF about forty Of
them, BY a majority of one it was de
clared-political party, and At once pro-
ceeded to trade for endorsements Of men
who had been nominated by both par
ties over SIS, 900 Il am told) was pub
licly collected from candidates who
wanted endorsement, and some do Say
much more, in private way. As soon
as the declaration was made that the
convention would nominate, twenty
one more of the delegates withdrew,
which included all of the regularly or
gsnized old associations in the city
leaving together the delegates from
ward clubs which were gotten up fol
the occasion. With very great unani-
nifty the labor organizations approved
the action of their delegates and with
drew them from the convention. The
house carpenters had instructed theil
I delegates 10 withdraw, if the delegates
undertook political action, and being
one Of them | had no discretion in the
matter, and had to withdraw as soon a:
I the constitution was violated. Since
then the organization has amounted Il
nothing.
YOUR CORRESPONDENT, "sMoKE STACK
in his letter from 81. Louis, dated Feb
25th., comes up to my notion Of polite
al management for the labor interests
The political parties cannot do withou
the votes Of lahoring men, nor will the,
risk their displeasure. Iflaboring mel
will unite on the specific reforms the,
want, and demand it Of their parties
they will comply with their wishes, anC
if they do not then let the whole labo
organization vote against the party re-
fusing. " this way we have obtained
every act Of the Legislature we have
formally applied for in this State. Blu
the trouble is that the RepublioaI