The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-26
NUMBER %.

their illness The question may be asked
do not friendly societies. such ~ Odd FL
lows and Forresters, meet tins want III
this we answer, yes; but ouT wants do not
end here. All trade societies make pro
vision to meet the wants ~ their members
when thrown out Of employment through
slackness of trade and other causes over
which they have no control. The Boiler
Makers and Iron Ship Builders Society
paid &c, 900 in twelve months to their
members thus situated We pay a member
his weekly allowance when sick, not be-
cause he is sick, but because he is not able
to earn anything for the support VI him
self, wife, and family II the support
given by societies to their members when
sick is commendable, the support gwen
when members are out Of employment is
equally 50, for when the hands Of the
bread winners are involuntarily idle from
any cause. the result rs the same 70 the
| family. 1t is plain that no friendly society
! whatever could guarantee working men
support whilst out Of employment unless,
/ like trade union, II possessed some or
ganization for collecting information re-
specting it periodically, or the right e. call
on members Of the fund 10 take offers Of
employment, and send them to the markets
where they are IN demand. No ordinary
friendly society could pay members when
out Of employment, when a movement,
over which it has no control, might, at any
moment increase the numbers out Of work
and when it could have no efectual means
of ascertaining that the want Of work was
absolutely involuntary and inevitable. A
trade society can do this because 1t has
special means of closely watching the
movement Of the labor market generally,
and of each individual member. whose
necessities it relieves. 1t is beyond argu-
ment that all the following objects are In
every way meritorIous, and could not be
met but by a trade society, such as the
elaborate system Of reports Of the state Of
trade, the publication Of periodical statis-
tics the allowance to members on travel,
the list of members IN search Of employ
ment, and OF employers seeking work men,
the sending Of members to the precise-spot
where labor is wanted, the payment Of ac-
cidental benefit, and superanuation To our
aged members. Another sphere Of useful
ness is, improving the quality uf those
connected with Us fostering III them
greater spirit Of Independence TO the cap
italist; subjecting them to a wholesome
discipline for the promotion Of energy.
Preventing them by the use Of our funds
from undergoing the temporary demorah-
zation consequent on the fall Of wages;
and to make them more effective wurkmen.
To raise the character of a workman is to
make him feel that he il not an isolated
agent, subject TO oppression, but a member
of A strong united body, capable at once
Of defending his rights, and IN every
movement that really raises him IN dignity
and in worth, We see fresh manifestations
Of that divine energy which rules the uni
verse. and which flows ever in affluent
measure over the world. There may be
rocks ahead upon which many labormg
barques may 20 to pieces. There may he
many things to overcome, Lut the effort Is
50 sound, that il viii bear the strain NJ
many failures, while from each failure q
determination will be borne that vii bring
ultimate success the nearer.