The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-10-25
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS
MORNING SESSION


The Convention met pursuant to sd-
journmcnt, the President in the chair.
The minutes Of the previous session were
read and approved.
The consideration Of the Constitution
was again resumed.
On motion, the following additional
clauses were inserted
All subordinate branches or lodges OF
this organization may have the liberty Ia
govern themselves by constitution and
bylaws already in existence in their re-
spec i've organizations provided the same
does not conflict with the Constitution Of
the National Association.
The Constitution shall be provided with
= seal for the use Of the national organiza-
ton
A committee, consisting of biessrs Ar
chibald. Of Pennsylvania, Davis, of Ohio,
and James, Of Illinois, were appointed a
committee to draw up a code of By y-laws
And rules Of order for the Association, the
'hlne to be submitted TO the Executive
lnard for their approval.
MIR. Thompson, Of Ohio, offered the fol
l'Fing, which was passed
Resolved, That a COMMITTEES Of three be
apbinted, whose duty it shall bs to report to
thehext National Convention tue propriety
of amoTe general amalgalnatiOn II our local
laws so that the same laws shall govern all
the Ranches throughout the states, 50 far as
practicable.
Mesrs Thompson, Of Ohio Doyle, of
Pa, and Reed, of Ohio, were appointed
such cdmmittee.
The Committee on Address pesented
the following as their report:
To the Miners and Miners LdJorers hrouoh-
out the United States
FELLOW WoRKMEN 1t gives us PLEASURE
to announce that the organized mirers of
the United States, have at lengthbeen
aroused to a sense of their duty and heir
danger-have through their duly autaor-
lied and elected delegates, met in \ atlo,al
Council, framed an organization which
seeks to embrace within its fold every nj
ner and miners laborer in the country.
which guarantees and which can secure Il
its members-alike in the dav of prosper
ity and adversity-that justice which they
have In the past been denied. The neces
sity for such an association has been exp,.
rienced and advocated for years. as the ms.
tory OF the past has too often been a sys.
TEN Of tyranny, strikes and defeats. i'm
posed because Of our isolated condition,
While State and District Unions have nu
doubt accomplished a great deal of good il
stands to reason that where a bond 81
union or concert of action is lacking. their
benefits and operations must be limited IN
character. As a district union can accom-
Plsh more than a single union, so can a
National Union-embracipg every miners
organization in the land-accomplish more
than the efforts of single State, For
years the miners haS5 been crushed or de-
feated in detail-no matter how Iust their
demands, or how gallant or prolonged their
resistance. Although coal mining is com.
paratively in its infancy in this country.
rules more odious and tyrannical than
those imposed on the miners in the Old
World, are daily practiced in our own. and
unless ways and means are taken to secure
and enforce our rights. while they may be
secured, II requires no prophet to foretell,
that in few years our condition will be
more hopeless and degraded than that OF
the veriest slave. 1t is to prevent these
evils that the present Convention has been
held, and its Constitution framed. a COPY q
which we hope soon to present to
every local lodge or branch in the
country. 1t is liberal, catholic and
comprehensive in its recognizing
the rights, and legislsting for the benefit of
every mlner-no matter whether he tolls in
the mountains Of Pennsylvania or Mary.
land, in the valleys of Ohio, OF the prai-
ries of the West
And now, fellow workmen, that we have
tried to do our duty, we have a right to ex.
pect you to do yours. Many hands make
light work. If the officers Of the associa
tion are sustained, as we trust they will bt
if every member works as though the
success of the organization depended on hi,
own exertion-the Miners National Asso
ciation will soon occupy both numerical,
and financially the highest position in tn.
ranks OF Labor organizations.
To our nOn-union miners we have onl,
words OF kindness and announcement
Fellow workmen. whether you realize tn.
fact or not, your season Of grace 10 fas
passing away. To-day the workingmen o
the United States by cooperative effort, h,
y union of hearts and hands, by intelligent
concerted action, can lay the base Of al
organization founded on truth and justice
having for its objects the securing to tn,
toiler OF the fruits Of his labor, which car
and viii secure to you your God -giveI
rights, and also the perpetnation of repub
lican institutions, but If much longe
neglected, if the merciless demand
OF souless corporations are mucl
longer complied with il yoa No