The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-07-15
A WORD WITH OUR CANADIAN
FRIENDS

There is no phase of the labor move
ment in which we have Of late taken q
greater interest than the desire eviEced
by our Canadian brethren TO jim the
organized army Of labor, and make com
mon cause with their co-workers across
the line. We rejoice the more at this
fact because in the past this element has
generally been regarded with distrust,
ID the word Canadian looked upon a.
synonymous with scab. We can recall
Struggle after struggle in our border cit
ie- in which if LETT to their own resources,
employers could have been compelled to
comply with the reasonable demands OF
honest labor, but who rel ing upon Ca
NADIA as their legitimate recruiting
ground, and the Willingness Of heI
workmen to accept their terms, have
been enabled thereby to triumph. The
fruits Of such servillty may be seen in
the quarries Of Vermont aud the fac
tories of Maine, where colonies of
French Canadians have fairly swamped
the native element, bsc1use they would
work for what they could get, and as
consequence wages in these sections
are lower than in any pant Of the coun-
try.
We are however speaking Of the past
We have brighter antic;patlons for thu
future. Canadian wolk men like Amer
lean workmen are beginning TO realize
that while such a course may bripl
temporary relief and employ ment-
that ultimately it will prove dcstructiv,
and suicidal that their interests are ID
dissoluLly linked with the welfare O.
heir competitors, and that they eau
not injure them by underwriting with
out such action eventually recoiiing OF
Themselves. From letter recently re.
ceived from correspondent, we lean
TO their honor be ii said) that a bod,
Of Dominion wOlkmen positively re-
fused TO accept employment except a
the same rates as those demanded by 9
body of so-called strikers-or rattle
men who boldly refused to accept a.
u warranted reduction Of wages.
Tnls incident, though trifing, show,
which way the wind blows, and Is nc
doubt attributable to the growth of th
sentiment heretofore alluded to, tor which
we are in a great measure INDEBTED I,
the influence of those Canadians VIII,
have learned the necessity and advan
tages Of Ira lea Onions. GA it'll,
leAven leaveneth the whole"
There does not and there never ha,
existed valid reason why the mechan.
les Of Canada and the United State,
should not cooperate in their efforts t,
sustain each other against the aggres.
sions OF capital So far as tested b.
the international Union Of Cigar Ma
kers, Printers and Coopers-the Cana
dian organizations have maintained 4
reputation Of which they have ever,
reason to feel proud, and which can.
not fail to rebound to their best inter
eSts. In recent difficulty the member.
Of the Cigar Makers Union Of Mon,rea
found 1t TO their advantage to know
that they would be sustained By tn,
moral ard pecunIary support of every
honorable fellow craftsmen enrolled
in the $50 Unions Of the Interna.
rional, while IN the memorable strike a
Cincinnati, Brantford and Montrea
gave as cheerfully as DAYTON or Co
lumbus.
1t is also well known that during the
existence of the Shipcarpenters anc
Caulkers' Union, its members in Quebe,
we're regarded in point of InGepend
ace and reliability, the equal Of any
corresponding number Of men in th
country, all of which goes to prov,
that when thoroughly understood, tho
principles of Trades Unionism will fine
As staunch and able opponents on tb.
Canadian as on the American side o,
} hs lie. So may it be.