The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-03-15
81. LoUIs, March 8, 1873.

81 LoCIS, March s, 1873
To the Editor Of the woRKSsNAN's ADVOCATE
am pleased to state that the plasterers
II this city have lately been honored ana
edited by visit from Mr.. John Ennis, Of
New York, Secretary of the United Order
Of American Plasterers. His visit to the
West was for the especial purposes Of mi
tiatIng the Plasterers Of this city into the
order. Accordingly on Wednesday eve
ming last our craftsmen met at their hall,
corner Chris5y Avenue and Fifth street,
to hear this distinguished representative Of
his craft The meeting was largely attend
ed. After it had been called to order, the
President, Mr.. Joseph Mcdonald, in
few well chosen remarks intro
duced the speaker Of the evening
He was received with the greatest enthu-
siasm, and spoke substantially as follows .
Mr. President AND Co-LABoRERs ~
stand here tonight on the west bank Of
the great river, eleven hundred long miles
from home have come here to grasp
you by the hand of fellowship. Far too
long have We been isolated. | am here to
declare to you that We are no longer stran-
gers The society that | represent is but
III It's infancy. 1t has, however, reached
eight Of the large cities Of the Union, anu
promises to extend its benehcent influence
over the entire country. Tonight we are
to erect pillar here III this mighty metro
polls that shall help to sustain the fabric
reared in defence Of labor. Wherever the
society has found footing it has prospered
hey ond all expectation. In the city IF New
York We number l, 400 III single lodge.
Before We entered into secret orr .u cation
our trade vas III a system of slaS cry. Ii
was the most degraded Of all trades. We
had to work 10 hours for small pay. In
New York plasterers got only 81 per day.
Our work has accomplished this. We now
get 50 for eight hours work. Ii is not our
purpose to lnaugurate war against our EN-
ployers We do not wish to make a war
upon capital. The interests Of labor and cap
ita are similar. To keep harmony between
the two is the mission of this order. Labor
ia this country is a force more potent than
any other when aroused. 1t IS recognized
a. honorable dignitied and manly. Capt
tai is the son, labor is the sire capital
projects, labor accomplishes the one is
creature. the other god. When arrayed
AGAINST each other the result is deleterious
to both We want the society Of journey
men plasterers to JOIN with US. We desire
your help in maintaining our rights and
those of universal labor These strikes
that are 50 common are a curse to all. !
hope the time is come when capital will see
that the strong arm Of labor il what sus-
tains our institutions, builds the highways
Of commerce and forces nations into civil
cation and power. In New York there has
recently been the bitterest strike ever
known in the history of this country. 1t
cost our society alone gil 900 We came out
for eight hours and we got it, That is long
enough for any man to labor Under the
new system we are doing better work BY
our combination We are able to show to our
employers and capitalists that we do not
wish to rob them. We demand good pay
for good work All capitalists are shrewd
men. They use every means to bring down
wages. They misrepresent the affairs of
city in order to get an over supply of labor
50 that they can get men to work for al
most nothing l admire the pluck that
this society has manifested. We are doing
a great deal in fair and honorable way.
By your request have come here to initi-
ate you all into the order of American
Plssterers. | hope no one viii object to
it on the score of secrecy when | assure
you that there il nothing in it that will
conriict with your religion, your politics or
your convictions Of duty. You will only
be pledged to keep the secrets of the soci-