The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-08-08
RESIGNATION OF A. M. FoRAN.

We regret to announce that Mr.. A. M.
Foran, President of the Coopers Inter
national Union, with whose career and
writings our readers have long been famil-
lar, has dissolved his connection with that
organization. We regret to make this an
nouncement, for several reasons. We have
never been man worshiper, and never
intend To be. We can afford to be Just.
when, much against our nature, we can
not afford to be generous and for this rea-
son, if no other, We can without fear or
| favor afford to tell the truth
The resignation Of Mr. Foran in itself,
is Of secondary consideration. The cause
of his resignation, is the old, old story re
peated, and carries with it a moral, which
workmgmen cannot afford to overlook.
| They cannot expect TO slaughter those who
have stood on the breach those, who in
sunshine and shadow have plead their cause,
without eventually feeling the result Of
such treachery. Let us suppose for the
sake Of argument, to meet the croakers on
their own vantage ground that Mr. Foran,
IN advocating their interests, had ali ak to
grind for himself What uf it ! II the
same grindstone that ground his ak ground
theirs, were they Impoverished Not at
all But from hat source, except their
own evil thoughts had they any reason to
believe that their statements were founded
on truth Substitute Mr. Foran for Mr..
Blank and the same hell-born spirit of
repruach would reassert its state ments.
And right here is where the disparaging
aspect Of the labor-movement appears.
Men devote their talents ami energies to
the labor-movement, and consequently
must subject themselves to all charges Of
bribery, demagoglsm, cowardIce, &c, and
are eventually slaughtered in the house Of
their friends % Now, if that same
talent was devoted to business which
the world calls legitimate competency
if not fortune, would be the reward. By
what standard Of Justice has any class Of
men right to expect that some Of their
fellow-laborers will sacrifice their prospects
to depend on the interests of those who
will Witty OF desert them when the hour Of
adversely comes or coolly inform them
or rather insinuate because a viliier is in
variably a coward that such a course
vas taken because it would rebound to their
personal advantage
The loss of Mr.. Foran at this time is
one which can lily be spared AS
speaker, writer and executive oficer-he
has occupied a commanding position, and
we have no doubt that in his new field Of
labor-that of law he will win an equal
ly honorable fame. We trust, however,
that although Withdrawing from active
participation in the movement, he may
long be spared to give his counsel to, and
WELD his pen in behalf Of those to whom
he cannot but cherish the warmest feelings
and in the advocacy Of whose rights his
earliest laurels have been won.
The following statement may not be al
together out of place III this connection
A few years ago We received visit from
a professor in Notre Dame University
who informed us that he had long taken a
deep interest in the Labor Reform Move
ment, and had read with pleasure several
articles, which had appeared in the col
umes Of the ADVOCATE. Said he, I"
think | can reply to that last article in the
T-e in such a manner As to carry con
viction to every reader" Yes, we re-
piled, "but what guarantee have you that
it will be accepted OF published : The
very fact that it Is unanswerable will in all
probability secure its rejection However
you will be better able to Judge when you
have had an interview with the editor"
"Oh, never fear, was his response, he
cannot refuse to publishit 1t will get mas
sure as my name is Prof Lee" In
the course Of an hour he returned some
what excited " have called to apollo
gise," he said, land tell you you were
right when you told me they would not
receive my communication. No wonder
you have such uphill-~ork. These papers
publish all the ISLANDERS they see mt, and
then refuse to give the other side q hear
ing. Curse such state Of affairs. But
intend to use my pen and influence in be-
half Of labors interest, notwithstanding.
short time afterwards passing
through Cumberland, Maryland, We had
the pleasure of meeting our friend, and in
response to an inquiry-as TO his position
on the labor question, with shrug Of the
shoulders, he replied sob, my dear sir,
| have abandoned it entirely. When in
Chicago, | learned there was nothlng to
expect from papers in the interest Of CAPT
tai, but thought workingmen themselves
were alive to their best interests, hut
have found them to be their worst enemies
and | am not philanthr"pist enough TO
devote my time and talents for the benefit
of men who are unwilling to help them
selves.
We leave our readers to draw their own
conclusions as to the truthfulness Of the
Professors statements.