The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-10-17
THE MINER
The Coming Convention



The approach of the second annual con.
vention Of the VI. y. L. compel. AZ, to
address the unions If your section IN the
Importance Of that meeting NJ Thorn ,s
veil A. 70 All "ther unions in the country.
From what W. now know We feel warrant
ed III saying that greater interests hang
upon tn deliberations and decisions ~
'hiS BODY - our trade, than any other that
has e' r preceded it IN the United States
One year has Just about closed since the
Miners National Association Was given
existence Such year laden with yam-
able yet bitter lessons t. every miner
among us In these twelve months II mas
oeen the fate Of many Of our noble men
to pass through vicissitudes. such a. the,
never dreamed Of as wrapt al IN their
destiny. The experience, however.
trust, has not been il vain, nor the lesson
taught them passed by unheeded ana mn
learned Many men may have passed
through me merry ordeal, and vet remain
lnpuriheo to that standard that enables
them 70 see they are the better for il
Others, We are satisfied are conscious of
the benefits, and Will come ~ the Gather
ing of the forces on the 27th inst Ur,.r,r-
sd I" handle the causes Of many of our
troubles, and project ways and means
whereby IN the future they can be avoided
While the members had been securing
drubblngs at the different points. the Off
GERS l expect, have not been sitting idly
~, uninterested spectators They have
many suggestions TO make for the future.
drawn from the teachings Of their term in
othce, and will lay them before the con.
vention, which if adopted will strengthen
the association, and place il On a footing
suiting It's magnitude IN numbers and the
interests involved In some places many
~ sfe holding aloof from lack Of faith that
as Institution can be made practical
benefit 70 the class Ia whose interests n il
formed, and by whom il is supported.
The inharmonious elements It has IA deal
with, and the diversified wants II the diff
terent places IN the various States are
standing obstacles OF an unsurm, untable
character The practice Of local unions
on which are founded the beau ideal II
organization with their proneness to strike
they believe cannot be overcome. and
must ultimately prove death blow
Others again stand IF because they have
their local unions, and think it is money
thrown away to support both Another
ess would he union men if by the pay
mem of dollar this week they could be
insured tive the next, and many there are
who tries the game. Others hold aloof till
they want TO travel. and they viii but use
the initiation fee q obtain card on which
70 travel, that il may be an open season at
some points where haunting such a passport
would find closed doors. Others keep
away because they do not believe the con
stitution is perfect instrument Others
again because OF some prejudice against
the principal officers, and many other rea-
sons are given Now let me examine the
nrst objection sLC see Why a man should
not be a member on those grounds.
Is there not IN any one place all the
component parts that 20 To make up the
mining population Of the entire country
Certainly there is. Select ANY one mining
district III the country and You have
among the men a representation for every
element to be found in the entire body.
fhe same individual wants are there. ever
craving to he supplied. The same troubles
Or those Of cognate kind, affiict one
place that does another-the same sympa-
thies that swell in the bosoms of the men
of one section. rise up in response to the
call for help ia the hearts of our men at
every point. The same spirit to resist
aggressions upon their inherent rights |
prevail at one point that exist AZ another, |
and if not IN active operation, still il is |
latent, and only wants 70 be aroused, |
which is often too easily done. If thew /
were linked t. local or q national chain /
Z max, really nc difference II the same
efforts be 49, forth on part Of the men
themselves, and the local officers to do
that which is lust right and proper they
should do, only that II give them greater
power. having longer base to work from
being connected with the latter -
That strikes will be the death Of the ma
t,onal, Do not believe, any more than it
will kin district or State organization.
One OF the primary objects Of the found
era in raising their structures was to re-
iua5e the cause Of those ever recurring and
dis.1slrous encounters between capital and
labor. Aaii differ il IL true as TO the
means to be- employed in the accomplish
ment Of this worthy end The ruling
men, whoever they may be, will certainly
be derelieet in this duty if they do not
make this special point Of their discipline,
because such is enioined upon them in the
constitution. We think our men are apt
to believe that the way to achieve this, Is
to keep up an eternal strike warfare, but
this fallacy must be removed, and in
stead the only true principle established
in their minds, viz A powerful organize
ton in numbers and IN wealth built up,
y hich will be slow to enter into an encoun.
ter, but mighty-When it does An or
SanIzatlon which will not only be the
dread Of the employing tyrant, but also Of
tltestr'ke agitators among its own men,
hers The idea is to raise it to that point
that it will be usetl simply as an arbiter Of
sas,,s.e h...s ssas 4 members and their en-
,,'sSer. asl asa used an instrument Of op I,
z ,..,,ssien N tlther side. Who is there
a,n oa,c the true union men who would not
he counted in with rs on such a mission, l.
md fears to make the venture Of few
dollars in tryiIk % make it SUCCESS II
Aatodistrictaxhieh have NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. I
lst ma see Why thu should be valid Objsc.
t;on. The nAtioIN in thb eansmight tay
-;th Him e. oad-L haEs nsAnaqs 70 de-
49,, hut 10 iullfk o. fbm.r No man
Who attended thnf1fpRs ~ Rsevsas
lion ct Younges there