The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-05-02

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HsAD4r ARrgRs CIGAR MAsERs' lNr. USIoN OF \. A.
CLEVELAND, o., April %, 1874.
To he Ofcars anil HemberS W Local Unions.
GENTLENES -FOUR attention IS invited to
the law requiring the collection Of unpaid
loans. and other indebtedness, due sister
unions by members under your jurisdiction.
Frequent complaints reach us, that many
Unions utterly fail to make any effort to col
lect these moneys, yet expect all other unions
to enforce the laws relative to collections
for their special benefit. Upon investigation
we lind many of these complaints are not
without foundation, aud that the fault IN a
great measure lies III the indifference OF the
various officers Of the unions in doing their
duty to their sister unions
The long and constant drain upon the local
treasures incidental to the 'lOaning system,
supplemented by the unusual seventies of the
winter now closing, rendering it absolutely
necessary that not only every union do its
duty, each to the other, in the collection Of
loans, but the members who have been recipl-
ents Of the loans, should also feel it to be
their duty to pay up as promptly possible,
and thereby assist the unions who IN time OF
need extended to them helping hand. The
publication Of a partial list Of loans received,
Will doubtless cause many members to open
their eyes with astOnlshment, when they
their names among the delinguents, and as
owing moneys which they have paid but this
is only one Of the many evils incidental to the
system, ard all such cases should be reported
through the union OF which they are members,
to that which claims the Indebtedness, giving
in all cases the proper proofs Of such pay
ment, etc.
Several unions have written us expressing
their willingness to cancel ALT ar loans, fines,
etc, provided all the others can be made to
do so. While the advantage which would re-
suit to the various unions by the general
adoption Of such action ON their part are OBJ
vious. vet until all our unions are actuated by
the same spirit, and an earnest desire to or
game the trade there would be no material
good gained by the cancellation Of loans and
fines in isolated cases. The matter Is one .Or
each local union for itself to determine, 1t be-
ing essentially a question Of local character,
vet we think II is certainly worth the earnest
consideration of every union, as few are so
sanguine as to expect that even twenty per
cent. Of the total indebtedness will return to
their treasures, while there can be no doubt,
that in many cases they act as barrier against
the return Of those who might again desire to
be enrolled in the ranks Of the union. II may
indeed be claimed and with a certain amount
of truth-that such acquisition would not be
desirable, they having by their past actions
proven recreant to their principles, and be-
trayed the confidence reposed in them, etc. !;
but We submit the question whether 1t would
not be for the best interests, and the general
good OF all, to give them an opportunity to re-
claim themselves, and bave them acting with
us in anon, rather than fostering an element
which must eventually lead 10 bitter feeling
and enmity TO the union on their part. we
could. If necessary, recite numerous instances
where men have made application for member
ship, but the overwhelming claims or charges
poured in, compelled them to abandon all hope
of redeeming themselves, and they stand ar
rayed against us to bear witness to the unre-
leHting and uneOmpromising spirit with which
they are pursued.
We have no sympathy with bad, unprinci.
pied men, devoid of all sense Of honor, As
some have undoubtedly proven themselves to
be; neither do we desire it to be understood
that we favor the readmission Of such men to
membership on the contrary, our unions are
better without them, they only bring us
into disrepute among those who are ever ready
to Judge the acts Of individual members as the
acts of the whole body. This work OF pnrit
cation we can place to the credit OF the loan
ing system" and for this at least, there II
much cause to be thankful. 1t is an undeni
able fact that our membership could be large
ly increased by an effort on the part OF th'
various unions to cancel or annul the variou
claims or ''charges' so called-which theI
have standing on their books. Each unloI
could in this manner make an amnesty proc