The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-08-23

Behold them We have line OF Unions
from New England to Nebraska, from
South Carolina to the Canadas. What in
duced cigsrmakers 10 organize themselves
into Unions Would they have done 1t
had there not been a National or Inter
national Union Would those Unions
that then existed xis I, day without the L.
ternational Union 1t is true many II the
Unions organized during that period have
become suspended, but new ones have
sprung up in their stead, and I'D ones have
re- organized, and o-day we number eighty
eight Unions in good standing, spread over
a larger territory than at any previo tame.
What would lie the condition Of the trade
to-day we're it not for the InternNtI"nai
Unionl Though We are but remnant oft .
body Of cigar makers, still We wield a Po~ :
erful influence. Have We not checked, to
a great extent, the great evil Of the day,
the filler breaking system, but what could
we accomplish we're we a united body (
Then we might accomplish what the cigar
makers Of belgium accomplished a little
over year ago They broke up the ill, r
breaking system, root and branch. But
this can only he accomplished by Orgamz
ing this very labor into Unions, but unt |
.hat j. accomplished it is folly to speak of
it AS general thing in the trade. Have We
not maintained bill Of prices, that would
have been impossible without organiLationl
Ii has ever had its BENEFICIAL results in
many localities where Unions exist ia non
Union shops, for even they have received
more for their work than hey. or We, would
have received had It not been for our
Unions. Have We not through our organ
izations created a fraternal feeling among
the cigar makers Of America Has not the
International Union united and kept in
bond of unions and fraternity from three
to five thousand cigar makers IL is some
satisfaction to know that the International
Union has been beneficial 50 far, but to
make it a success, that success for which |
started out, il must embrace under its
beneficial folds all classes " parties, and
all sections Dissolve the international
Union and how many Unions will We be
able to count twelve months thereafter.
believe | can safely assert that not half a
dozen. for they will then have nothing t.
exist for Singly We cannot stand. Il
. only in Union that there Is strength
| Therefore, gentlemen, when you assemble
on the first IL September next. let your
| deliberations be for the welfare II the
entire trade We have tried nine years o.
legislating for the minority, and found that
we could not induce the mass IL the trad,
to come III with US. Now let Us try Tia,
system Of legislating for the majority. anC
see if we cannot induce those who are oui
side Of the folds Of the InternstionA
Union to join hands with us. ! am happy
to see a movement of that kind ON foot II
New York city. This may be the las
chance you have of uniting the trade
therefore, do not sit by idlely with fact
staring you in the face, and all the i'm
pending dangers han ging over you. II yo'
do not make an effort now, the day vii
come when you will repent your presen
apathy. but then it may be too late. TheI
you will curse the day Of your Incidence
Adopt the motto Of one of our glDriou
States, and let that ever be in your heart
% nted stand.
| Divided We fall
remain, very respectfully yours, etc.
EDWIN JOHNSON