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

sented. would not only have but little in
huence, but would render our efforts use
less tor all practical purposes.
You arr therefore ordered 70 take int
your consideration Immediately, the above
proposition for a special session Of the In
ternational Union, and report the result
of your vote to the International President
within thirty days.
Ii il also desirable. and We make it a
special request that each Union inform
the International President whether it is
their intention to be represented at such
special session Gf called in order that he
may be guided in any further action which
may ~ taken thereon.
Ry order ~ the Executive Board.
/ E,,rpticr Board VIM. J. Cannon,
Pres. Joseph Bokien, LIST Vice Pres.
Thee. Fitzgerald, ID Vice Pres. +. j.
CoN. See; Felix A. Lemkie, Asst See
| FELLOW CRAFTSMEN In inviting your
attention to the above. permit me again To
take advantage of the opportunity to adj
| dress YOU on the present. needs and condl-
/ ton of our organization, which now Is such
! that II must naturally carry reflection 10
| the mind of every thinking man who IS a
well-wisher Of our Unions, and is inter
| ested in their future welfare. We have
| for years, struggled in an unequal contest
against oppression, that We are now vlr-
! tua IN at the mercy Of those who never
vet failed to take advantage IF every oc-
casion which presented itself These at
tacks have been So frequent ana numerous
Of late that in nearly every case where
We have opposed them, we have been only
| unavailing protests. made 50 by the facih-
ty with which men are obtained To I'LL our
places, thus making cigarmakers become
the instruments by which their brother
wurkmen are impoverished to swell their
GAINS of their employers. This has been
repeated so often until at length to use the
language Of the memorial: " Union men;
men that have been in our ranks since the
| formation of our Unions are completely
discouraged. and assert that Unions are
Of no benefit ID them At present that II
| they attempt to assert their rights. oppose
the tyranny Of their employers, non-umon
men by the hundreds are found to take
! their place, and they are driven from city
to city, and finally be compelled to do al
most anything IN order e. obtain bread
| This statement is alas only too true, un-
der partial organization unions are but Of
| little value for practical results, many
! former members have fallen away from us
-unwillingly let US hope while others
yet remain III the hope that new and more
generous impulses will possess the men 81
our trade, and thus eventually work out
! our own salvation.
Tie causes which have lead to this lament
able condition Of our trade, can be mainly
attributed TO a lack Of unity and harmony
among those who follow it for livelihood. as
well as Il a defective organization. Ii must
Ne admitted by every candid mind, that as a
trade organization. We are behind the age IN
which We live, and that if desire to
ameliorate our condition, must commence
in the right direction. Cur trade can be or
gained effectively but It must be at the
sacrifice Of petty jealousies and local rival
ries; newer, and more liberal, and advanced
ideas III spirit with the altered conditions N
our trade must take the place Of those Of
former days, We must look on men Of our
craft outside Of our local organizations as
fellow workmen. having objects in common
with ourselves. men to he propltlated and
taught that spirit Of unity which j. 50 es-
sential to our protection, and by all the kind
y means at our disposal unite item with us
! ma, common cause Any plan of organiza-
where the soft mUcn a.sout this common
\Stream Of liquid silver tnrouss-- s.sS S.Is "
n unity Will be plans but n'sE am.
: will accomplish it unless the unhnching WI
and determination to succeed enters into OF
members
Our l)cal organizations have now arrived
the crisis Of their history when they must d.
eide for themselves the question whether the
shall continue to diminish their membe
/ with rapid strides to final humiliation BY
continuance Of those laws which virtual
prohibits from membership the larger porto
Of our craftsmen, open ortheir doors for the
aud admit them to fellowship with us.
The transition from Z" Union man. to
z
e from force and necessity, seldom from choic
but how difficult do we make his return mi
our ranks should he desire it, But let a gel
eral strike occur-in the mind. and what
change Immediately takes place in the methc
, of treatment; where before he was prescribet
now he is taken by the hand; the necessit
} and value of union principles is impresse
upon hun the tyranny of capital and e.
g
! ing, earnest language, we become sincere Ii
bor-reformers and even money is expende,
to send him away rejoicing cordially re-
commended to the fraternal consideration
all good members Of our craft" II lit
of this interest were shown and practiced o
, tener, it would tend materially to our benefit
The oft-recurring strikes to which our trad
is subjected by reason Of the universal sy
TEN Of bills Of prices established by I'll
local unions, has perhaps done more to reduC
our membership than all other causes con
bined. Hence it is that when any one en-
ployer undertakes to reduce the price estal
lished by "the bill, a strike Is a loss
members is the inevitable resalt, and in man
, cases both. These attempted reductions al
constantly occurring, hence, we are continu
! ally involved in a strike, and it is not III
usual to hear several at one time. Just accorC
ing TO the conditions OF business OF the gree
and caprice Of employers. The drain upo
our financial resources is constant, and nevel
ceasing, while the means provided to supper
such strikers are totally inadequate
; The worst possible way to support strike
q by special levies. or lirect taxation, q
they undoubtedly cause large diminution {
membership whenever resorted to. Al
devices are, resorted to in order to avoid the
payment; any loop-hole is ample large I
creep out OF, and anything M matter ho'
trivial, is made available As a pretext, and s
the aid which these men t:l demand for then
selves is withheld from Others Is it to
, wondered at, if, as asserted, "the Interns
tional Union is powerless to fulfill its promise
or guarantees OF protection made to its men
bers in the fundamental law Of our organizs
ton" Who makes these laws, or promise,
or guarantees of protection One union t
h. 1.kk H.. \