The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-16
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At . recent meeting Of the miners Of
Cleveland, England, some excellent cd
vice was given 10 those assembled BY Mr..
Alexander Mcdonald, President Of the
Miners' National Union, . deal of which
was just a. applicable to the workingmen
on this aide - those on the other aide Of
the Atlantic. In referring more particu-
LARRY to that discord which too frequently
prevails in the councils Of workingmen, he
said /: ''Hs had come to congratulate the
miners of Cleveland upon their banding
themselves together, putting shoulder TO
shoulder and hand to hand together for
lone common interest, making the good of
AL the greatest object Of their existence.
He had come also for the express pur-
pose Of warning them that they fall not
''out by the way Hear, hear.) There
'was in every body Of men . more power
''ful enemy-if he was allowed for . mo-
''msnt to live more powerful enemy
''than ths enemy without, and that was the
''accurssd giant discord, if he got in. Hs
had seen with regret that there was to .
certain extent discord and he had come
ito ask them to be IN one man, to swallow
''up, trample under foot, and cruAh out Of
existence discord, to let unity reign in
their midst, and to remember that admir-
liable counsel given by St. Paul, Fall not
''out by the way Hear, hssr.) II an
individual was an enemy to parties, who
had q common interest, he endeavored to
get the parties to quarrel 30 that he might
greatly benefit by it. He urged them to
stand united. With regard to arbitration,
80 ably referred TO by the chairman, he
begged to say that he took deep inter-
lest in it. He did not mean to say that all
arbitration was fAultless, but arbitration
was reason. Strikes were madness. The
time for settling disputes by strikes was
gone and he hoped that arbitration
would be accepted Loyalty. They should
''ask their employers to form board, and
''let the ring and the clash of interest never
be heard among the Cleveland Hills, in
Durham, or Northumberland"
Now there is . sermon in these few SEN
fences, and workingmen must ponder over
and act upon this advice, if they expect to
gain the position to which they aspire. In
all unions there are some men, who would
sooner rule in hell than serve in heaven !;
who believe in the rule or ruin policy
and unfortunately they generally possess
cheek, craft and energy enough to paralyzs
the efforts Of the more prudent and eau
tious associates. II they, however, are
thwarted in their designs, instead of grace
fully acquiescing in the decision of the ma
jority, they are sure to asperse the motives
of those who differed from them, to form .
cabal of malcontents, to block the legiti-
mate business of the organization, and SOW
the seeds of discord in its ranks. Al .
matter of course, the end can be foreseen.
Disorgsnization and dissolution eventually
follow, and while they have claimed to rep
resent the backbone of the Union, they
have been doing the dirty work of their
employers using the livery Of heaven to
serve the devil in.
No truer test of mans fidelity to prin-
cipls can be evinced-or rather willingness
than desire to subordinate his own in
terests or views to the welfare of the ma
jority. We do not say that minorities are
always in the wrong-far from tor that
pusillsnimity may not be falsely taken for
magnanimity-but as q rule our reference
will hold good.
Now, then friends, fellow workmen, one
and all-the solution Of this question lies
in nutshell; it requires no process Of
reasoning, NO elaboration. If you expect
to reach the last round of the ladder you
must commence at the bottom. Are you
willing, are you prepared, under the new
dispensation" Of the Industrial Congress
to commence at the beginning to labor
honestly, with an eye single to the suocess
u viz S@ooos C'Ch IA yOoA SoAh1 sAOuA0 Oc
trampled on Are you willing to say God
helping me, will turn over Q new leaf
will try to build up instead of pulling down;
| will sacrifice my own peculiar crotchets,
rather than sacr4 6ce the organization in
short, after full and free experience, if it
il consigned to the tomb of the Capulsts-
if failure should mark its pathway can
lay the fattering JUNCTION to my soul. the
cause of its failure cannot be attributed to
my inertness and treachery.'" We entreat
you, then, to let by-gones be by-gones.
Commence anew. Discard the suicidal
policy you have been pursuing Work with
Q will work as though success depended
IN your own individual exertions, -realiE-
fhg that it is your interests that are sought
to be advanced and the workingman Of
America, beyond peradventure will a.
sumo the position to which their privileges,
intelligence, skill and Independence EMIT le
them
This is plain talk, but we are speaking to
plain men, to men with whom We have
been associated and connected for twenty
years, and whose progress and welfare 10
the cherished object of our labors.