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

The second session Of the Canadian La
Dor Union was held in the Parliament
Building, Ottawa, commencing August 4th.
Mr. Carter, President Of the Union. Was
as Secretary Fifteen delegates were in
attendance representing various organiza-
tons in the Dominion. The Union was
in session two days
The following is the report Of the com
nlittee on organization
COMMITTEE ROOMS, rAEuAVENrE.lpiNGS,
OTTAWA, Aug. :. 1874
t. he Ogfcsy-s amt Msmisrs ~ NJ. CoA,1j;aa
L0bor Union:
GENTLEMEN :-lou committee appointed
to consider the question Of organization, beg
leave to report as follows :-
At no time IN the history " Canadian labor
has the question assumed such Importance as
At present. Within the past few years We
have seen the employers in almost every
branch IF industry, handing themselves to
n rsai1tv i6t aggression on the already over
-oming home from his daily toll, tired, weary
and DIRT -begrimmed, l. but too glad to throw
himself upon his hard couch. to seek that
rest which viii enable MIN 70 renew to-mor-
row toll, and when reminded Of his duty to
Il the Union, Is to apt to eNclaim against it as
taking the only time he has e. recuperate his
exhausted energies, forgetting that hy union,
he can secure for himself, his fellows and his
children, such a recognition Of the rights Of
labor a. shall gain him shorter hours Of toll,
with more Just compensation therefor. there
by enabling him to devote some portion OF
his life to elteducatlon and the proper tram
ing up Of his children, the Just compensation
for his labor securing for him at the same a
modest competence for his old age
How shall We, as the chief labor association
Of the Dominion, secure thorough organiza-
ton among the various branches of industry
in Canada is question that may well en-
gage our most earnest attention As all as
soclatIons Of tins kind are necessarily volun-
tary. cOmpulsion being alike unknown, i'm
possible and undesirable, II viii lie apparent
all that the work must he done by voluntary
means and the success or non success of our
efforts must depend upon the measure Of our
individual and associated efforts
our committee would recommend that the
plan Of organization pursuedslast year Iby
means Of a standing committee. named a. 'far
as possible with regard to the best men in the
best localitles-that Is those places where the
material Tor union is abundant, but where or.
ganization Is unknown, be continued during
the ensuing year
II may be urged that the plan spoken Of
and tired last year, was not decided success,
or, that 1t was, IN fact, failure This can
not be denied, hut II cannot be said to be fault
OF the measure. but the blame must rest up
on the want Of exertion displayed by that
committee as whole, IN rega. d to carrying
out the Instructions OF this Union
But your committee do not by any means
think the plan adopted at last Congress for
the organization Of labor ought to be ranked
among the failures. In the Presidents re-
port read before your honorable body it ap-
deared that no less than seven charters were
taken under the authorities Of the Canadian
Labor Union. This is a good record for the
first year Of its existence, and if carried out
with an Increased amount Of energy will he
doubled in the next twelve months
There is yet another plan, and one perhaps
more efficient, that is by having paid organ
izers IN connection with the association, but
your committee TO not feel that they can,
under present circumstances make any recon
mendation in this direction
In conclusion your committee would beg tC
place upon record their entire confidence il
the retiring officers Of this Union, and hops
the incoming officers will be equally alive u
the necessity of promoting the organization
of the labor of the country and that they will
be ably seconded by the members and tbs
friends Of the rights Of labor throughout tn,
Dominion.
The Ontario Workman, from which the
foregoing is promises to print the
conclusion of the proceedings in its mex
issue-and we suppose we must conclude
to do likewise.