The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-03-15
Trades Unions from a National Point
Of View.

CONTINUED.
In some highly staple trades, the even
tenor Of things may be interrupted for
long time without exciting these alarms
and calling down these tempests, although
the effect Of such stoppages, if they were
not timely removed, would be sens'bly felt
by every customer Of the splendid supply,
were the demand for many days or 70 a
palpable extent, unsatished. The consul
mer, however is often a creature who does
not rely upon his head for keeping watch
and sounding the alarm on the approach Of
an enemy to his system Of self indulgent
enjoyment, but is infinitely more sensitive
at what may threaten any Of his five senses.
Abridge by a hair s breath any Of his house
hold and personal comforts, and he is in a
panic Of fear and rage instantly.
While. therefore, labor has To make way,
foot by foot, III the expostulation with capi-
tai, and may find present reward in the
increasing readiness " capital To listen tO
reason, and to share the proceeds Of Joint
production in inequitable divisions between
theinvestor of money and the fourth-putter
Of sinew and skill, it is a natural conse-
quence of such success in relation to some
trades to give encouragement to laborers
III mere occupations, in everything, in fact,
wherein work Of any sort is gwen for hire,
to try the experiment Of union among
themselves for mutual advantage in deal
. ing with their employers. The colliers
afford no new example Of the kind but
the agricultural labors and the gas stokers,
not to speak of the policemen and some
others, furnish more recent instances. and
some Of these instances Of the precise kind
| mean
These men ought not to be blamed for
uniting to get better terms from those
who employ them. On the contrary, they
deserved to be encouraged All will say
in the way of criticism Is, to counsel them,
and all others IN like circumstances, to take
good care that III initiating the older trades
unions, and especially what one may call
the trades union proper, they initiate them
throughout ; not simply in the resolution
with which they proceed when once their
minds are made up TO act, but in the eau
tion which experience has taught them to
observe Of making sure that thev have A
good case to put before the masters. or, If
necessary, to carry before the public. and
at the same time to see that they have
funds III hand to sustain them during their
struggle. | am not so foolish as to expect
to propltiate the consumer in the selfish
and unreasonable character in which have
presented him to notice But among the
consumers at large, there are thousands Of
fair, reasonable, and intelligent men not
remarkably selfish, and perhaps entirely
uncontaminated by luxury. whom, if we
would surmount difficulties in the way and
L.maEn 4..lara hlxv urnnpth anI r,rar4f,oIla he
path to success we shall find it advisable
by all proper means to endeavor to carry
along with us. These men are not. like too
many others, the slaves Of blind prejudice;
but they have eyes in their heads What
is more they keep them open, and they
are at this moment keenly watching the
tendency and progress Of trades unionism
towards the full extent Of universal adop-
! tion and adaptation.
This. feel sure, will take place and
nothing, in my belief. can hinder it from
being fully effected But while mar of
US share in this persuasion and conviction,
We probably share, to an equal extent, in
the desire that the process may 60 forward
not in a spirit of unworthy compromise or
timid misgiving on our part, but with wis
dom and open frankness, with reliance upon
reason and fairness, both in ourselves and
in those with whom we have 10 negotiate.
as the means best fitted to promote justice
and ensure success. A permanently wise
manner Of conducting the operations Of
our unions will not only conciliate tenn
porary prejudice, but effectually guard
against the rising up of such sentiments in
the minds Of the observant public at dis
cussions between labor and capital which
must take place.
In this brief paper have satisfied my
self with having simply Indicated few
practical points, not unworthy of your no
tice. Principles of course are paramount,
and must never either be yielded or con
cealed. Yet some years experience in such
matters have served to impress very vivid
ly upon my mind the unspeakable value Of
circumspection and good temper in nego-
tiation and argument, and especially when,
in spite Of themselves, men are driven into
struggle and controversy. In my thinking,
we cannot do better, at the present stage