The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-10

| menced at MOluers nali, ClAth streeI
Springfield, Ill, ON Tuesday, January 9th
at 10 O'Clock a. M, President Kingdom IL
the chair
Owing to the unavoidable absence OF the
Secretary, Mr. James, by sickness, MI
Walter Rutledge was appointed Secretary
pro tenn, and Mr.. Daniel Steele, OF Alma
was elected Vice President.
The char appointed Messrs. Mccain,
II Lincoln. Slater Of LaSalle, and Nor
ran. Of Belleville, q Committee ON Gre
dentials
The following list Of delegates was re-
ported by the Committee on Credentials
as being entitled to seats in the Conven-
ton. with the number Of members repre-
sented
District No. of Illinois. John Nor
gan, VIM. Z. Owens, Daniel Steele. Rep
resentaion, SEQ.
District No Of Illinois: Daniel Nc
Laughlin, 613; Patrick Mccain, IS; Rich
ard Walliscroft, - Total, 693.
LaSalle District, Richard Slater. Rep
resentation, 100.
District Nos. l and Of Indiana, Geo.
Adams, 1000.
Walter Rutledgo, Coal Branch Madison
County, =.
Total representation, 3, 420.
5 Es5s,s s' : TtS4,r, Committee.
The report was unanimously adopted.
On motion, the Convention adjourned
till o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting was called to order pursu
ant to adjournment, the President George
| Kingdom in the chair.
Tie credentials of Messrs. J. J. Lock,
hart and Robert Mclean, of Girard, Ma
coupin county, were read and accepted, and
the delegates admitted to seats in the Con,
vention.
On motion Of Mr.. Mccain, A. c. Cam
| eron's expenses to and from Chicago were
allowed by the Convention.
The President then presented his annu
al report, which read as follows
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: We
have assembled at the expiration of another
year to report the progress of our union, and
counsel together as to the best means to adopt
for our future prosperity; TO plan wise meas
ures whereby the miners Of America may be
/ benefited
| One wear ago / was chosen your leader by
| the delegates representing scarcely one-tcnth
Of our men. the only really organized district
being district No Of Illinois, district No. |
Of Indiana not being represented. The stu
alton appeared gloomy enough To discourage
the strongest heart, but three delegates being
present This small attendance seemed t.
| Indicate that the miners " the Northwest
cared nothing whether our organization lived
or died.
An address was prepared and sent to all
parts, urging upon the miners to organize
| also asking aid to enable us TO put good man
| in the field to hasten the work OF Organiza-
ton. Unfortunately this plan failed. No
response was received to the call Miners
| throughout the country were either ON a
strike to resist a reduction Of wages, or ask.
| ing an advance, each place struggling for it.
| self 1.-The Miners Bill. which was passed
by the legislature, through the untiring labors
| of onr friend the Hon John HinchcIiffe. was al
The time inst beiny mt IN oDeration and
cansed no doubt many disputes between Ms
and our employers. To these and other can.
SEES may be attributed the slim attendance at
| tbe convention and the careless manner with
which the address was treated
District No. of Illinois also expressed it.
self IN favor AZ attaching any other district
! or STATE to Il throuOh their delegate and as
IN aynressiop NJ Their feeling refused "a A..
I-noyvIedge or recognize NV ofi;ce The treas.
nv vas IN no condition to sustain the ex.
pressed desires OF the convention. This con-
and nothing else But the inscrutabIe cir.
cumstances which surrounds mankind have
opened a channel that believe will lead our
| bark to a harbor Of safety. Through the ef.
! forts Of John James. Daniel Mclaughlin and
others lodge was established at Braidwood.
under whose influence and nourishment near
| " the entire part Of Northern Illinois has
been organized. A district comprising three
lodges has been established in Danville, Yer.
million county. The miners of Alton Coal
Branch have a good organization of about
eighty members. Other parts Of our State,
whose names have forgotten, are busily EN-.
ployed organizing. Indiana is doing well.
Several strikes have occurred among them,
but have not seriously affected their union.
Missouri is dead, as Ear as | can learn. II
must be resurrected A special call for an
extra session Of the Grand Council was an
nounced in the WoRKINGNAN's ADVOCATE.
Circulars were sent to every mining region
The convention was held. For some reason
district No | of Illinois failed to send dele