The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-11-06

/ AAoJ OhohCO W 10 lCs CillcI duVOcateH III
certain place. Some object to it wht
they think they are wrong aud fear n
test OF rigid, disinterested investigator
Some object to it because there are chanc,
of getting unfair decisions from the boar
or umplres who are chosen to discuss an
determine the question at issue Som
object to this plan Of adjusting grievance
and trade disputes out Of pure ignoranc,
which has an intimate associate distrus
OF every human being and every motiv
for mans actions.
No man who has taught himself I
think and has studied the relations betwee
capital and labor, and the rights of indiv
lduals, hesitates one second to pronounc
in favor of arbitration and Cancellation !:
the settlement Of trade disputes. In Eng
land, can say with assurance, this plal
has been a success, and 1 see no goot
grounds for doubling the same results from
an earnest, sincere application of it here
| am. satisfied that it does not do absolut,
justice in every case-as in everything
else, men, though strictly honest, are liabl,
to err. So long as we ourselves are i'm
perfect, we cannot expect perfection il
others, and it is worse than folly to objec
to any plan because we think it will moi
cover every case. What is claimed by tn,
best advocates of this method is that il
will determine what is right in more cases
than the old brute force plan Of striking,
as is our practice, and by so doing prevent
the suffering, the hard feelings, the excite
ment and the sometimes lawlessness that
grow out Of strikes If it were an argu-
ment why it should not be encouraged.
that 1t does not cover every case, how cas-
lily 1T Is answered in the fact that strikes
seldom ever bring just award, and abso-
lutely fail, in five cases out of six, to ac-
complish even portion of their purpose
This truth, if any proof were need to make
1t PLAIN to you, might simply cite you to
the experience or yourselves, not tor any
term Of years, but Of your whole lives
In the light Of this truth, let us, of this
body, give some adequate expression to
our appreciation of arbitration and conci-
llation In the settlement of all our difficult
ties over the system Of striking, as Is and
has been the custom. My sincere wish is
that not only the miners but the employers
will show desire t. cultivate this princi-
pie. There can be no well founded doubt
In the mind Of the fair man, whether Of
the one class or the other, as to its desir-
ability. Our members are really more
in this than any other set Of
men, and it appears to me they cannot be
good members of the Miners National
Association who are not prepared to make
as great sacrifices to lcin by its adoption as
they are and have been in fighting by
strikes. As | view it, the true interests "
both parties are to be faithfully served In
this way, and they have not been so in the
other.
COOPERATION.
Let me now call your attention for
short time to the darling scheme of the
age for the emancipation Of labor from the
thraldom of capital. In corporation | see
the revolution of the entire social fabric in
the generation to come. AS the invention
4 steam, the printing press and telegraph
have been the great instruments of the
worlds civilization, having brought the
iisrant cities Of the world togeth
into close communion, and carry
ing the news of every days trans
actions to each other almost the same
lay they transpire, so we in Cleveland can
'Ao WI az anu ICdQ MDdt was uOue
Yesterday in the far away parts of India,
and almost every other part, so do |
ook upon the cooperative movement
among the working classes as the means
which will place the workmen Of the world
1n an entire footing of equality True, Co
operation is a great democrat Ali mem
Oers of cooperative institution, whether
d productive or distributive nature, re-
,eIve their just dues, and this is genuine
republican docrine. Trades unions are the
stepping stones to this higher principle.
Out of them | expect will spring the dew
slopment Of this idea, till the condition Of
heir members has attained to the highest
standard. The wages system keeps us
slaves, and to perpetuate it with all our
remedies, which only touch effects, is to
make our children heirs to an inheritance
men should be ashamed of. 1t is a blot on
our age-the fact that we keep running in
the same old ruts as did our forefathers.
They adopted combinations and strikes to
defend themselves against certain set Of
They did bring them
wider sphere Of action. They did by this
means obtain greater liberties. But must
we stand still where they left off \ Must
we live on what they gave us ; Is it not
as incumbent upon us to free ourselves
from ills we know we labor under as it was
for them Have we no tax upon tea or
other obnoxious duty to throw off Do
we owe nothing to posterity If so, then
Is our boasted civilization and boasted age
OF progress farce, and life has no object
| claim we have wrongs we can right. !
claim we have higher end in life than
simply to live and enjoy the fruit Of
others toll. | claim there are thousands
in our ranks who are ripe to adopt the
scheme OF cooperation, ard look to this
body to make a start. This land teens
with fields that are full Of opportunity and
for US in such enterprises Let
us carefully and practically consider the
subject
Since we met last, we have had some
chances Of looking around, with view of
fixing on locality whereon to try this
plan, if this society would do anything to
favor the attempt. We have also had some
correspondence from different parts of the
country relative thereto. Your secretary il
now in possession of an address by gen
tleLan in Tennessee, who has made some
overtures to the organization in connection
with tract of land which he thinks is
eminently suited for this purpose. At the
conclusion of this he will read it to you fol
your consider alton. The plan is worthy
our best efforts. 1t should not simply be
read and passed over, but it should receive
as much Of your time and attention as al
other questions combined, and should not
be let 60 until definite line Of action il
determined upon.
When we consider the amount Of money
that has been subscribed by our member:
this year to support the strikes that have
grown up, and no return whatever made
the subscribers, it is something astonishing
Take all the strikes Of our trade, and thii
year there must have been no less thar
$50, 600 paid for their support. To whai
purpose was it paid The object was de
cidedly to keep the prices Of the employed
labor up higher than it would otherwise b
if all were employed. The object was (
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