The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-01-11

subject up, review II, and aIter having
ventilated It to our satisfaction, arrive at
4 conclusion. set it on our minutes, recon-
mend it 70 the members, and there is an
end L. IT, For aught | know to the
contrary, much Of what We do 10y way of
resolutions remains dead letter, and is
seldom or ever referred to. Without
doubt. and aside from the general good re-
sulting from our annual meetings, we have
added weight to the efforts " our friends
in the legislative assembly here, when
they we're struggling for the passage Of our
bill. during its last session, and we intend
to ASSIST them further during the present
term. N rendering said law more effective
and perfect IN some Of It's parts than IT now
il. stu there IS something more than
these required to induce our men To creep
in under the folds Of our Institution, and
make them feel IL Is protection aud "A
succor to them IN the time Of their distress,
as well AS tower Of strength IA thor
midst When a4sailed by INSCRIPTIONS and
designing men There is something need
"a TO bring most III our men IN together,
and make them a solid phalsnx, So that
they can move With ease and harmony
when their own interests and occasion de-
they move for anything which It IN right
they should haye, their pressure cannot be-
resisted nor thcr petitions slIghted. As
1t now IS when dispute arises, IN many
places at least, between the employees and
their Wurkneu, the question with the mon
IS NOT. can We arbtrate wIth the employ
rrS.i whether It he 10y our reasoning with
thom, ar whether II lie by cessation az
work. Dut now lar will our men act with
unanIuuty nr IN concert, or how much sup
port vii they give US who dispute the
right 1T the question submitted. | think
You viii bear me out when ! say it Il not
50 much the opposition Of employers We
have 10 contend against, as the united OPP
position Of employees, and those amongst
us who with slavish souls and dull percep-
tons. cannot see the force of the prpyerb
that H III UNION there is strength.
These, MIR. Chairman, and friends Of this
convention, are evils which 1t Is our duty
to direct attention to, and, Al possible, pro-
pound remedy for. During the last
two years We have tried to extend the in
iluence OF our society, and 10 increase its
mcmhtrs. This we have DONE to "a Ger
tam extent, but not sufficiently to afford
Us much congraiuatIon. Our members
are not large enough 70 encourage US to
hope Tor speedy anal gamatIun of the
whole, nor that reforms Of any magnitude
could DE attempted with anything ike a
chance az success by the miners Of one
state This condition Of affairs | attribute,
not 90 = want ~ desire on the part of or
officers ~ push the interests Of the society
nor a lack Of zeal, hut to a want OF system,
and a want ~ men whose especial duty it
! should be ~ attend 10 the organization Of
lodges, ami the uurturing OF union princi-
pies among the men, That this Is neces-
-arv to the very ire o: our association,
think must be evident to most of you
When we lpok Al any institution, Of which
, soever kind 1t may be, and see how they
are managed, We cannot but see the i'm
portance Of this suggestion. Every society,
which a a success to-day, in all tins broad
land, or even over yonder in the old
world, is 50 because they have such force
engaged IN this work and sustain them
therein. The means employed in the sus-
taIuance Of these officers Is counted Ia rs a
/ part VI the expenses, on the same prIUcI-
/ pie as any business man would count In his
! hired help such as his clerks, etc Did
We raise $1,000 90 for the purpose Of invest
! ing 1t IN any kind of business, buy the
goods ana I'ut them IN room, We would
never think Of letting them stand there,
or think by their 50 doing they would DO
MS any good NO! our 1irst consideration
( would he to have some one in whose hands
We could place our property. and on whom
We could depend to devote their whole
time ana attention tp our business, for
which We would agree to pay them all that
service was worth q rs. We would yntrust
| the whole matter to them, and would eI-
| pect them t. MAKE proper returns to is III
| regard thereto 50 Il It with our assoeia-
] ton. Here Is our constitution and by
! laws which SITS forth the Objects. and
pom ~ tine way To their accomplishment,
/ but they stand hke the goods IN the room
with none to take care Of them, and s8e
/ that they are used t. and for the interest "
! those for whose beIeht they were framed.
! Take any Of our benefit societies FOR exam
| pie take our secret societies whose prime
| objects arc . henevOlence aud charity,
and what is in them that draws their mem
beers N and adds steadily 10 their mum
bers Ii Is their very love for each other,
| combined with a system which they are
taught to revere and do revere and III SO
dong they carry out al the provisions and
| requirements eXacted IN their constitutions
and by laws. Have not We inserted in
our constitution these very principles
Are they not made the very base Of our IN
stItuuon, the chief pillars on which it rests.
To- raise funds from its members for the
assistance of each other when unable, from
accident, to assist themselves What
more charitable object than this could
there be (! What more calculated to in
spire kindly and affectionate feelings, one
towards another and build up an association
which would be at once support to them
in the time Of need, and protection when
attacked by the strong arm Of oppression.
! Again it says 8 also to assist the unwary
and dlssipated In their attempts to reform,
by throwing around them the influence Of
moral associations. | do not know u
any nobler objects an association could
have than these, and / am fully confident
that by judicious and proper presentation
Of them 10 our workmen throughout our
western States, they are all ready to &C
knowledge their worth and embrace the
cause. The fact is, however, slow We NAV
be TO admit it, that the spirit Of our asso-
citation is too little understood by the great
majority Of our men, and look upon it az
our duty to provide ways and means
whereby they shall have fuller knowledge
Of it. l do not know Of any other plan
than to have men appointed to meet with
them, see them lndividuallyif needs be, tall
over our association and its objects, explain
these fully, and Undue them with the feel
ing and belief that it is the highest duty
| they owe to themselves to be TINS connect
ed with an institution that has, for it.
chief objects, the amelioration Of its men,
bers, By relieving their wants when over.
taken. by accident elevating them BY
showing them a higher moral standard,
and helping them to attain it and by pro-
tecting their interests, by influencing leg
islstive enactments, and assisting them lin
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