, 1874-01-18
THE W0RK!NGMEN.
Large Ratification Meeting
Last Night.
The Platform and Plan Of Operations
Endorsed.
No Division Of Property, but Justice and
Fair Wages.

Fair Wages.
Bection S O. the Workingmen's Association
OF Illinois held large and enthuslastlo ratlhca-
tiou meeting last evening at the corner Of Church
street and North avenue fog the purpose Of rati-
fsing the platform and plan Of organization,
which Iere fully reported in last Mondays
TRIBUNE, and of which the other morning dailies
have as yet had no tidings. still waiting for the
large mass-mecting to be held to adopt these
documents as the Jews wait for the coming of
tie Messiah.
Mr.,H. schlueter was elected President, and
Mr. Il. Stahl Secretary.
aR- scH1UErgR
on taking the chair stated that when tho work
inemeu marched to tho Council about four
weeks ago, their Committee Was told that the
Council could do nothing, because there was no
lnw urde- which they could assist the working
men. They, therefore, had banded together to
ses to ses to it TINT such laws wero mndo as
would give the worldngmen their rights. A plan
of organization and platform had been prepared
meeting last Saturday, and Of which The
Tribune alone had published q full and
correct report. This platform and plan Of
organization would now be read and explained
TO t1El4 pJ LII. 1uU1SuAlh, d4kEI hl4Eu I'LL LILO
worGngmen Who were willing to fight for their
political and social liberation would be expected
to step up to the Secretary and sign their names
to the platform.
MR. THonsMAnE
then read the platform and plan OF organization
which appeared in last Mondays TRIBUNE, at
the conclusion Of which he went on to
say that from the platform they could see
that the wolk.ngmen were in enrnest about tho
movement. AL organizations heretofore we're
rroftaY fha pf mn -iDfr 1nfiffn11
capital IN the interest OF few unprlnciplcd
scoundrela, but this organization Was pure and
undefled one, made for the sole purpose Of e1e-
vating the woriiirgmen to that position in soci-
Taught that all beginnings were hard, and they
should therefore not expect to win an
easy victory. Many organizations OF
the same sort wore started during
the last decade, but went to pieces again on &C
count of want OF harmony and unity among
TIE workingmeu. This Association, unlike the
others, would live and be
CROWNED WITH VICTORY,
it each worknsman put his shoulder to the
wheel, and joined the society, which was deg
tined to procure them their liberty: It VAS their
holy duty to Join in the work which had been 60
ausp spicious1y begun. They we're not infallible,
aud mistakes might be made, but theso would
easily be corrected. if tley only worked with
will ip harmony and unity, and before long they
would become such power as no host on earth
could Withstand.
RAILROAD ColPAsIEs
had lately become go imppdeaa, al1-impor-
tant, and self sufficient Us to demand such rates
from the farmera for bringing their products to
market as would ruin every farmer in the
country. They had, therefore, like the work
tngnen, organized an association, similar to the
Workingmens Association, under the name OF
GzapgeTR, for the purpose OF resisting the en-
croechmentB Of these bloated monopolists. The
farmers were also working1oen Who were or
pressed by the Eaonopolists, and who we're
striving to shake off their yote; it was,
therefore. the duty Of the working-
:ause, and show these impudeat corporations
that they could no longer do "a they pleased.
lid that the laborert had also Bome rights which
had to be respected. He then showed the ad-
classes. If the State would take charge Of rail-
roads, cann1s te1egraphs etc Many might say
tl;a State could not properly manage those enter
prises, because othceholdetB were dishonest, but
when the workingmen became strong enough,
they would elect none but honest men to Office,
and these objections could not be urged
TIE BAEINGS BASEs
Ehonld also be managed by the State. bocauss
wo1kingmen lad their small savings deposited
in these institutions, snd if managed BY private
individuals, they might lose their money through
dishonesty Of tile officers. In support Of this, he
referred to the case OF F. S. Wiaslow, OF the
Scandinavian Bank, who ran away to Italy with
the hard earned savings Of hundreds Of laborers.
abDAALAAAtAt1
contract system, because contracts we're
usually given to unprincpled scoundcels,
who wanted to make al the money
ont OF them they could, and who
When &c, 600 workingmen stood in front Of the
Council Chamber, the Aldermen promised
everything, but so Boo1 as they had left they
refused to do anything. II the work we're given
&c the woikingmen direct, it could be done
much cheaper and at times when work Tas
not easily obtained elsewhere.
CHANGE TIE LAWS.
There should be change in our present eys-
TEN Of laws, because they were made
N onoPeata 5Pe 's Sot o. only u did fsn worRngan Ra ao
racaiTe small wages, but. in numberless in
stancea be could not obtain this hard d-earued pit
lance. and If he sued for it he YVES unable to OBJ
tain Justice According to the present system Of
work should also be under the supervision Of the
State, instead Of contractors, who paid but SO or
CD cents for conyict'e work, and these scamps
were getting rich On the work of the unfortu-
nate prisoners.
He advocated in strong terms
CONF uLSoEy EDUCATION,
for how could man who could neither read nor
write be expected to obey laws of which LIE had
no comprehension And besides. an ignorant,
classes, and particularly By tic press. Poor
men would prefer to send their children to work ;,
il factories to earn living ratb,easa'nea1thy ta,a
them to school, unless cn.o"v0 make place for |
vas a shannaf-' *sscy would work tor less
r1e-~-~
BOW TO AAKE ALDERMEN HONEST
He advocated the paving Of salary to eyerv
't1icial, because it would prorent much stechuc.
ldefmen would not be compelled to steal. IF
ney would receive salary. It was a matter nf
sct that the highest wages were paid to thoss
Tho received no salary at ali "0
ORGANIZE.
The last plank in their platform, to o7ganize
orking1nen' q associations, was the SHORTEST. hnf
lost important OF I'll. II workincmen wanted r
requisite and manage their own aGairs thoq :
'u.d only do 80 BY strong and powerful ~ {
an1zatlon- They must elect such men to of7cea
at the State will finally assist and aid WORKING ;
en'e associations.
MR. ZEPEL /
Is next introduced. and commenced bv sarfno {
at, after sach an able speech as they lad just
tened to, but little remained to be said. The 4
evailing idea Of the public was that il vas +
ar intention to divide With the rich but this a. a.
. great mistake. AL they desired was to q
9vent aristocrats from ruling the country. y,
I that the workingmen should be the ruline +,
wer hereafter The small storekeenera an3 ~
lima