The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-08-22


the president says SAT the late session,
4 prize q 500 was offered for the best
essay on the beet method to secure the CO.
operative efforts Of the workinmen aud
workwomen in America, under one organ
ization
In your issue Of June 9th, the same In
sident under date Of June 10th is reported
to have said "The committee was In
session yesterday. Eight essays were sent
in. None contained plan q organizs-
ton, and neither could be used as a ground
work for the constitution. You then re-
peated p" the offer made at Rochester, ana
kindly requested the committee to recon
vene. since which, the circular and
pamphlet have been published. This new
general organization outside the Trader $
Union. is named Z" The Industrial Broth
erhood of the L 1ited States As no
notice was given, no invitation for new
essays, or any account Of new meeting,
either 81 the committeeor 81 the members
Of the new organization, a number 81 ques-
tons naturally arise.
/. Is it intended that this new " In
dustrial Brotherhood of the United States,
outside the Traders Union will secure
the cooperative efforts Of workingInen in
America outside the United States
2. When did the committee ''reconvene"
and adopt
3. When was the first meeting Of the
new Congress, and how many delegates
were in attendance
a. Who composed it, and elected the
! officers ~ rhis general organization
In strong party times, at a primary
meeting or caucus, there happened to be
but one person present very large nan
The meeting was called to order, chairman
and secretary appointed, resolutions offer
ed and passed = unanimously" and pub
lished with the proceedings Of this large
and respectable meeting" Our new Con
gress may have been three or four times
larger
J. As it professed to be outside the
Trades Union, why we're its officers select
ed from members Of Trades Unions
s. Who gave this president authority to
appoint deputy presidents Of this new or
DER, IN all the Y nlteu states
No fault should be found with the Mas
ter Of the I'D Industrial Brotherhood
(supposing constitutional power for being
willing it should cast its skin, and assume
one more shining, the head becoming the
first vice president of the new general or
ganization outside the Trades Union.
The whole thing would suggest the sus-
picion, if it did not clearly indicate that
the president had in his mind plan of a
constitut On-that when a majority Of the
committee, one took one essay and another
another, then some Of them were read in
a hurried manner, others scarcely, that TO
one was analysed, (how could it be in the
few hours they We're together) that some
one, perhaps the president) remarked, II
see no constitution LAID down IN the
/ essay. We want a constitution The
other three assented to the same intelligent
decision, and 50 the whole batch of essays
were unanimously rejected
Is any one 50 near demented AZ To ex
pect that the Patrons Of Husbandry, nun
Dering million members. the Sovereiyns
Of Industry, numbering as many in pro-
portion 10 the time u their existence,
having now councils In % Or 80 States
The National Lqbor's Union, having a
brief unexceptional platform, and other,
who were never wage laborers, and a elias.
Of men who were opposed t. secret sOcie
ties, that all these will cordially pay tn,
president Of the outside organization (self
elected, perhaps) hive dollars for each loca
lodge, and twenty-five cents, each mem
:. IT e BE- l -, s into this NV industrial
names from Grange, Council. or Union L
Lodge, and then independent with an
other fee for withdrawal or travehn
card, and all for the glorious privilege q
being members Of one general organiza
tion outside the Trades Union
II the president, who Is certainly al
excellent chairman Of a deliberatIve body
does not become ashamed 81 this con
glomerated scheme to unite the influence
Of all the workingmen and women q
America, he has not the sagacity we nav
usually attributed To him. or this writer i
deficient IN a respectable share Of common
sense.
The vast overwhelming importance o
unlicatlOn Is admitted by all ID Is great
IN To he regretted that among all the ESSAY,
presented the committee could not find on,
which could be used as a foundation for ,
constitution. Il we're still more to be r.
gretted If instead Of uniting all existing
organizations, this pamphlet should becom,
bone OF conten'IOn, divide the friends y
productive industry, and leave this natior
a prey to the already gorged vampires
bankers, demagogues and mnnopolists.
In the WORKISGMAN' : ADVOCATE If the
21tn of July, - a constitution, said 10 have
been proposed IN the essay publish.
ed June 9th. We do not know that any
other Of the prize essays has been publish.
ed. Some have said that this plan would
convert every labor organization in Ameri.
ca; that It was simple, efficient, appropri.
ate and practicable
Had the committee seen proper to adopt
this or asimilar method. a meeting miyhthave
been held and the unhcation completed Of
all industrial organizations in body where
all are represented equally The members
of the Representative senate are already
elected. No new charter is needed: no
change Of seals required. II is the friend
Of all; IN conflict with none.
The Senate representing every organiza-
/ ton IN America would be better able "a
adopt rules and regulations To all, however
diversified, than could be expected, how
ever wise Of any essayist. or small commit
tee. A. FRIEND ~ UNIoS AND REFORM.
Mass Meeting at Braidwood.