National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-03-21

inltted the following, which was received and
adopted;
THE ADDRESS.
WAsHISGToS, u. C., March ~ Is5a
GENTLEMEN: The committee appointed 10 pre-
pare an address to the laboting classes Of the
United States respectfully submit the suhjoincd
formula for your consideration.
WV. II. CHAMPION,
A. f. KEYSTONE
On tho Goth Of February, 1873, the National
Labor Council, located In Washington city, the
capital Of the United States, resolved that an
address be issued to the laborlng classes Of the
nation for the purpose Of uniting amt develop
Ing system Of mutual protection by and
through the cooperative deliberatiOn Of their
leRally.accredlted representatives TO this coun-
ell; therefore we, the committee appointed to
carry into effect the will Of the National Labor
Council, 10 most earnestly appeal to your con-
sideratlon OF the necessity for the movement
which Ia now being made TO elevate labor and
which properly belongs to those whose energies
are expended In mlnisterlnR to the necessities
as well as the luNuries Of mankind. The wealth
Of tho nation Is originated by Its productive ca
pabilltles; but while those producers VI the
n ecessHries to national aRgmndiZement are
educated more particularly In specially Of
their various ayocatiOns than in those peculiar
traits that engender sclf-protectlon and ward OH
the oppressive eNactiOns OF capitalists, q de-
based condition In life can only be the ultimate
OF our brightest hopes. II Is In consideration
Of the Impending necessity for a bond
OF closer union that Compels this novc-
ment on the part Of the sons Of toll, and
suggests that organized labor associations should
be projected In every section and locality
throughout our beloved republic; and II Ia for
this object and for the legal enforcement Of our
rights and the recognition OF our claims to an
equal share In all Of those blessings that result
from our unmtigltel and unrequted toll. The
Divine Father has decreel, thrOuyh Ills servant
Moses, that tho COX that treads the corn should
not be muzzltd," and II Ia to the end that the in
junction Of our common fathers with regard TO
oxen shall also apply to those who bear Ills
image and likeness that the National Labor
Council soliclts your Cooperative influence,
through regularly accredited delegates to this
council, for the purpose Of securing this lAudable
and redeeming object. Take into consideration
the fact that a national organization will accom-
pllsh more advantageous results, IN aid Of me-
chanlcal and other pursuits, chan coild possibly
accrue under the dsintegfated hicke rings OF sec
tlonal strife, and 1t viii establish an abiding con.
ldence between the heretofore antagonlstic
elements Of Capitalistlc cXactlOn and scryllc
submission. We therefore respectfully call your
attention TO the necessity OF prompt and early
action In this matter. Already the meagre re-
muneratiOn accorded to operatives In several Of
the departments OF productive industry Is being
menaced by an unnecessary importation "
Asiati0 lahOTers, and unless the combined effort
Of American ls6Grers he concentrated to thwart
the degrading influence that viii ultimately re-
suit from this importation, our condition, as q
iaboring class IN this land Of liberty, win he
humillating In the extreme. We admit the right
Of all classes who are Identified with the pro-
ductive industry that ministers TO the COM
fort or necessities Of civilization to partCi-
pate IN the enjoyment Of the boon Of free
dom which our loving Father has graciOusly
bestowed on the people OF this republic:
hut when the speculative propensit!cs OF
capitalists cause them TO combine 10 dcpross,
instead OF 10 elevate, AMI to Cypress instead OF
to ameoratc the condition Of the working mass
OF their own nation, their action calls for o re-
lnonstrance from the subjects OF their cupihlty,
and rehukc In the shape Of legislative nierfer-
ence. We earnestly request that YOU give these
matters your careful consideration AMI remen-
Der that unless yOn act promptly In the premises
the combined influence Of capital, the lmporta-
ton OF cOOlle labor, land monOpOes and other
debasing schemes detrimental to free labor may
assume such gigantic proportions that you will
be pOwcrless to effect your salvation from the
mental condition such circumstances viii i'm.
Mr.. RedstOnc, from the committee on holding
mass meeting, asked for further time.
Mr.. Williams believed that q mass meeting
would give impetus TO the cause, and that after
II did occur, the attendance at the council would
be larger, aud they wOull have representatives
from every labor Organization throughout the
country.
Mr.. Pueit said that on account OF pressing
ofhcial business the committee appointed for the
purpose had been unable to obtain an Interview
with President Grant, but would during The com.
ing week. The committee was continued.
Mr.. Redstone offered the following, which was
adopted:
Rssoirsi, That this National Labor Council adj
mlres the argument In, and recommends to
careful attention the article defining money, pub
lished In the Chronicle OF March 10, 1873 written
by Hon. John Mcguire, and earnestly re.
quest Mr.. Mcguire TO give his views to the
public as TO the manner In which the public
lands should he disposed OF, and his Idea OF how
the end Of securing each person a suilciency of
the soil may be secured.
Col. James l.. Fisk, Of Montana, secretary OF
the national executive committee, submitted for
the information Of the council a report of the
action Of the committee to the united working
men OF America, embracing a system OF national
ing the interest OF labor, securing consideration
aud Justice In legislation the ImprOyement and
elevation Of the ia6oring classes Of the country
In all that pertains TO their intellectual, moral
and physical welfare.
The report was, by unanimous voice, received
and Endorsed by the council.
Mr. A. W. Putt offered the following which
was adopted:
FURTHER ORGANIZATION PROPOSED
Rss0lrri, That the system Of the national or.
ganizations OF the united woFklngmen Of Amcri-
ca, established by the national executive com
and views OF the national council, and il il here
by recommended that the existing organizations
Of workingmen throughout the country conform
ent distinct organizations ia ali cases where il
may he desirable to them.
Resoired, That the supreme authority Of the
n nlted working men OF America Ia vested In A
natlOnal convention, while such convention is
In actual session, and when such convention il
not IN actual session the supreme authority is
vested In the national executive committee
Resolved, That the national convention shall
he composed OF two delegates at large for each
State, one delegate for each Congregational dis
triCt, two delegates from each Territory ami the
same for the District OF Columbia
RSsOirfi, That the national council shall con-
tinue for the purpose Of constant cOmmunlca.
ton between the working councils and for mu-
tual Information respecting the views, wants.
and general condition of wOrEingmen IN the va
riOus localities respectively throughout The en-
tire country,
Rfa0lred That a certified copy Of these FcsoIu.
lions be sent to the national executive commit.
tee.
AFTER TIE BOARD or WORKS.
Mr.. Robinson wished to call attention TO the
fact that the eight-hOuT law passed by the old
corporation OF Washington, was NOT being OH
served by the city authorities, as they had in
creased the working day 10 ten hours and re-
luCed the wages He moved that n Committee
Df five be appointed to draft RESOLUTIONS 10 pTe-
sent to Gov. Cooke and the Incoming District
Legislature, asking the enforcement OF the
right-hOur law passed by the CIV COunciIs.
Adopted.
The Chair appointed as the committee Mcssrs
Davis, Robinson Williams Smith, and Morgan. |
Ihe president, by a vote of the council was
added.
A letter was real from Hon. Jamcs q nlaIne
-egrettinR that he WAS absent when the nTesi
lent Of that council called on him, an inviting
aim TO pay another visit,
The special order for the evening, that OF In.