The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-02-03
From the Cooper journal.
THE COOPERS- AN OUTLOOK.

The Coopers international Union Of
North America is to-day, without doubt,
one Of the most powerful and influential
aggregations of labor on this continent, and,
Judging its future by its really marvellous
past, we don't think it presuming too much
to say that the day is not far distant when,
among the labor organizations Of the world,
it will hold unrivaled and unapproachable
pre-emInence.
One year and eight months age, few
men from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and Maryland, met in Cleveland and laid
the foundation Of this-now stupendous-
structure, This noble band represented
constituency Of not more than fifteen hun
dred men, and it was extremely doubtful
whether even these would indorse the action
Of the Cleveland Convention The few
delegates who composed that body left after
its deliberations had closed, for their re-
spective homes, with deep soIicitude for the
future. They knew teeir legislation would,
if successfully carried out, place the coOpers
If America on the path If prosperity, hap
piness, and higher sociality But would
the coopers Of America 81 regard it That
was question that time alone could an
swer. The lapse Of time has answered the
question, and answered it affirmatively.
At the New York Convention, held three
months ago, it was found the order had ex-
panded and extended over nearly half the
continent. 1t was also found the order
numbered one hundred and fifty-two
branches, representing an aggregate mem
bership of 1871, Of whom 6,723 were in
good standing.
Since the adjournment Of the New York
Convention, notwithstanding we have
been numbered by want Of Rituals, Con-
stitutions, and other cognate organizing
agents, besides being pressed for time, still,
we have organized twenty eight Unions,
and find the order to-day numbering one
hundred and eighty branches, representing
an aggregate membership Of 10,O5O q
whom 8, $50 are ir good standing.
This is an increase of 1,679 members in
three months. At this ratio of increase. we
will number about IL 900 members ere the
dawn Of 1873 our membership will then,
if anything, exceed that number. The or
ganization is going steadily and rapidly for
ward. The entire number Of members in
the Unions that have disabanded since the
formation of the ordea did not number 45O,
and all these Unions are in fair way Of be-
ing again re-organized. Cincinnati and
Cleveland are the only cities in which we
have lost prestige. In Cleveland, the in
PRODUCTION Of machinery, consequent dull
ness in trade, and subsequent dispersion Of
members, was a serious drawback to our
progress and stability. In Cincinnati, at
present, there is but one Germad Union.
numbering but forty members, although
there are over six hundred coopers in the
city. At one time our membership in this
city numbered over 200; bad officers. ig-
norance, and little petty feuds left their
hideous mark here, but we intend 10 mis-
sionize these heathens as soon as Brother
Schilling will have waded through the bal
ance of the translations
On the whole, we have reason 10 be crate
fully thankful for the seeady, uniform in
crease andprosperous condition Of the order
OF the January journal" there viii be
issued 9, 600 copies in English and German
| We receive, on an average, nearly fifty
letters day, and send out, on an average
over seventy-fve packages and letter.
daily.