The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-08-17
Headq uarders or cigar Maker IatePnAtIsAAI
UmhOm OT America.


~ ~ offers and Members of Local UniOnS:
GENTLEMEN A circular has made its ap-
pearance, issued BY the Boston Union, No. Is,
,cisbiag 10 aDDedi n he sea@ N ~ local
,oaions w gaestioas ~ ritai Importance Nov
what are those questions d vital Importance,
which they say is the good tcorE before them
The first 81 those questions Of ritui import
dnce is as follows
First Has not the International Union
proven a failure inasmuch as it has never at
tanned the object originally aimed At from the
time Of its formation up to the present day.
namely, protection. We, a union, have
found by our sat experience through the al
ministration It its laws and through some q
it, administrators that instead Of protection,
which We should have had We have been rob
bed Of our contributions which we cheerfully
gave every month into the treasury believing
as we did, that it was for good cause, but
alas, we have found it otherwise very often.
Now, then, has the international Union
proven failure for the want Of protection
had all local unions followed in the footsteps
Of Union No. Is, it would, indeed, have proven
itself a complete failure, long ere this When
the Boston union spoke 81 protection, what
protection did they give TO Cincinnati Union
No. 4: Let them remember that according
to the report Of that strike, they are Ia
arrears over one thousand dollars ] suppose
they call that protection 70 their fellow crafts
men
More recently. how did they respond TO the
call Tor all from Milwaukee Just a. prompt
and as liberal as they were ia the Cincinnati
strike, and such men complain Of the lnternA-
tional Union, being a failure for the want Of
protection.
They say that they have found it so BY
their own sal experience Several months
ago I received notice Of a strike. in Bos-
ton and approved Of said strike and mailed
t the same day to the First Vice President,
who afterwards informed me that he approved
q i, and forwarded the papers Ia the Second
Vice President, whom i never reached.
through the fault Of the Post Office Depart
ment As soon as ! ascertained that fact. |
wrote to the Secretary, to make out another
notice for his union, aud would approve Of
il, and forward it tO the Executive Board for
their approval but / never received q copy
Of the FIRST notice or any other notice i'm
formed the Int. Secretary that | had approx
ed Of the strike, and also that the First Vice
President had approved Of il 10 il the Bng-
ton union did not receive aid, when they were
entitled t. receive it. it was not the fault "
Union, but their own la the next place, /
defy them To prove where any union has ever
been robbed out of one cent by the lnternA-
tional Union, or any Of its officers since the
days Of Smith. That assertion Of being rih.
bel Is bold aud false one.
In the second question, they speak ~ the
large sums Of money being paid annually by
the local unions 10 support the international
Union in eXtravagant expenditures. believed
have had possession Of every bill presented
during my administration, and signed every
order for their payment. | am not AFRAID e.
submit them for inspection tn any body Of
men connected with the organization ] sup
pose, gentlemen, you are all aware that there
il great deal OF expense attached Ia success
fully carry Oh an international organization.
with nearly one hundred local unions. With
many strikes during a year, il takes quite =
large amount for the printing during the year
such as journals, considerations, blanks and
lands for the use Of local unions, aid different
circulars, and the postage for large number
OF letters and circulars mailed daily thea
the salary Of the officers. which is seven hun
bred dollars will admit that the salary Of
the President might be cut down one hundred
dollars ! think that tive hundred will pay,
but Just about pay and no more for his time.
So much for extravaganza. Their next ques-
ton is ran ~ remain union ~ th proper
~ 49, Of Ire anord, under shacttes y such cTEaA
ing bopight Now, gentlemen, ] will leave
that question with you, il forty cents annual
ly is a crushing weight. In particular, where
large amount Of other assessments are Obllter-
ated by the said Union No. lS
To their fourth question, viii merely say
that the international Union never drove any
Of this large number, which In now outside of