The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-12-20
FROM GEORGIA.


ana lADorers OF That city, explains itsen- we
need hardly add that we are pleased 10 see
our Southern brethren awaking to = sense q
their position:
The undersigned. committee appointed to
exp in the objects and benefits Of the Work
ingmens Industrial Union, bcseech yol. NJ
| fellow laborers engaged in a common cause.
and involved in a common peril. to unite to-
gether in the grandest effort II life to miti-
gate the wrongs we suffer, many of which are
traceable to
| sTAEvA TIuN WAGES.
! The laborer centrally subsists on a mere
pittance, getting his scanty supplies from
meal to meal, with little Or no hope fur the
gloomy future. He must pay his rent. NJ
matter how exOrbitant or y, sold cut II house
and home He must have clothing. no mat
ter how little is left for food. Demanded Of
a rightful share Of the wealth he helps to ere
ate. he can leave nothing hut want and misery
as a legacy to his children. Hungry. shiver
ing and helpless he plods alSng the weary
journey of life on the very verge of starvation.
while capitalists and employers hoard their
millions. wear purple and fine linen, and
fare sumptuously every day" In addition to
all this his suiferings are intensified BY being
RoBBgD or MS GooD NAME
The badge Of labor Is a mark Of disgrace,
which the laborer cannot escape tie is treat
ed as a mental beneath ordinary respect, e1-
cluded from positions Of honor as II it were a
crime to be poor, ostracised and sneered at by
affected superiority. The idler in good clothes
is respected, the honest laborer despised, un-
| til men have become SO ashamed to work they
would rather steal This is a grievous wrong
and calls for a speedy remedy He Who
steals my purse steals trash. but he who fileh
es from me my good name robs me Of that
which enriches not him, but makes me poor
indeed"
1t is burning shame that those who pro
duce the wealth Of the country, pay its taxes
as tenants and consumers, and fight its bat
ties, are doomed to inherit nothing but ienor-
ance, poverty and disgrace. We cannot es-
cape these wrongs by Indifference, inaction or
tame submission Our only remedy is in
prompt. decisive. organized resistance Di-
vided, we remain helpless united we become
invincible Organization, therefore. is the
pressing necessity Of the hour.
To meet this necessity the Workingmens
| Industrial Union has been formed, composed
of skilled and unskilled laborers. clerks and
tenants, who become members by paying the
initiation fee Of one dollar, and signing the
constitution. We quote from the preamble
the following
DECLARATION or PRINCIPLES
I" We. the workingnen Of Savannah. in or
der 10 secure united action and mutual pro
lection, withstand the insiduous encroach-
ments Of capital, render labor honorable. Is
tablish Just rates Of compensation, reduce
rents AMI the hours 81 labor, rather than the
rates Of wages. substitute arbitration for
strikes, abrogate all unjust determinations
] I.har laf...t all .
govern Or control labor W legislative enact
ment. and secure the blessings Of education
t. ourselves and our pOsterity do oriain and
adopt this Constitution for the Workingmen' $
Industrial Union.
In addition to these paramount objects aud
blessings sought by Tins organization. The
Constitution provides lmportant
SPECIAL BLSErTrs.
Fifty dollars may he drawn ftom the treas
ury to deiray the funeral expenses 81 deeeas
ed member, and sixty dollars for the benefit
Of member permanently disabled ny scci
dent
Arbitration
i provided ior BY the appointment ~ a boar,
81 arbitration u settle difficulties b-tweei
capital and labor that the evils resulting iron
strikes TO both parties may he happil
averted
A CaAETER
has been obtained from tn. Industrial Con
gess, thus making the mon a part of H.
most formidable national organization in tn
country. and entitled to IT, unconditional
moral support IN case of difficulty between
capital and labor. and to ample ptcuniarr
support in case arbitration fails 70 settle tb
I difficulty.
PERMANENT OFFICERS
have been elected from the ranks Of the work
ingmen themselves. St Patrick's Hail la
been secured for one year. and the meeting
: fixed for every Friday night.
Tie movement is now successfully inaugu
rated. 1t only remains t. till up the roll o
, members with men who dare maintain thei
rights, and resist the alarming combination
Of capital now made to
CONTROL LABOR.
This is the main issue now forced upon as
Already an organization is formed in Englan,
Of the most gigantic character the world ha
} ever known II is called the National Fede
ration Of employers. 1t is intended to eradi
cate at once and forever the principle y
STRIKES and numbers among its members firm
! representing five Thousand million dollars cap
ital paid.
I
information that concerted movement is be
ing made in New England to close all the cot
ten mills or run them only ON hiatt time, Tn,
0stenslble reason is sand to be the scarcity .
currency, but the project has other objects.
One il to take measures towards genera
reduction Of wages, the superstition bein.
that lower rates will bc more easily enforced
after partial or entire suspension Of work
, This Is most adroIt beginning aud will pro
duce profound impression upon the country
and bring certain poverty aud suffering to tn,
lab0ring classes
The Issue l. forced upon ms by these start
ling schemes and aggressIons Of capital. We
must decide whether we will I've slaves anC
tamely submit, or men and organize for stub
born resistance. They who would lie fire.
must themselves strike the blow He VIII.
dares to be freeman viii never be a slave
He who dares not, is a slave. Encroac lmeut
come thick and fast. Every telegram bring
news Of workshops closed, laborers discharg
ed or wages reduced The times are pregnan
with conflict, and wara us of approaching
danger The terrible conflict between cap
; tai and labor y upon MS. The peril Is Imml
nent. The FIXTURE Is overcast with gloom
Let us show to the world that We not onl
! have the courage to night for our country
, rights, but the manhood to defend our own.
, IHnS- MULIIGAS,
joins OMAHoNEy.
NJ e.. MCtAKrHY. H''''i' '7
n. HINDLE.
LONDON ESGINEERS. At a meeting q
delegates from various engineering firms il
London, on Saturday, II Was reported tina
the agitation for a minimum ~ :}Ss lie
week, was progressing favorably. It va
decided that tho following memorial Should