The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-10-30

out under these circumstances, would
members Of the Organization be entitled t.
/ benefits, as prescribed in the Constitution
W. W. W.
When man becomes a member OF the
Miners National Organization, the sup
position is he accepts the Constitution
thereof as his rule and guide in the matter
Of all trade disputes that may arise between
the employer and himself If lie does not
do so, then he is not a member. even
though he pays his dues and attends the
meetings, etc. In the act Of becoming a
member, he declares to the whole Asscla-
tlOn that he has accepted the Constitution
and By Laws, and that body undoubtedly
| expects he will be controlled by their pro-
! visions. Now, in such a case as the above,
where the non-union men decide to strike,
and the members of the Miners National
are ignored, and they, by fear Of being
called " black-legs, quietly acquiesce, and
thus violate the constitutional require
Inents, they certainly would not be entitled
! TO any advantages guaranteed therein.
/ For those reasons, to strike III such a case,
and under such circumstances, the ConstI
I tuition does not strike them The members
themselves do not strike on their own ac
count IL is the non-union element that
Is doing the damage, and this organization
does not intend 10 be controlled and run BY
men who neither belong to it nor bear any
Of the responsibility that attaches 70 such
grave matters The men who attach them
selves to their trade union, as a rule. are
the most intelligent, the most conservative,
ana the best citizens, and hitherto nine
strikes out Of ten have been instituted by
men Who are outside the pale Of union
principles, and have little care for the sue
cess or defeat Of the movement they have
instigated They too often are on the next
tram for some other place, working even
at worse rate than the place they have
struck, and have left the good men the
union en-to fight their battle. We
have often known such men to 20 70 another
place and dig coal to supply the market
usually filled by those on strike at a less
tonnage rate. and attend the meeting Of
the strikers, and urge them still to stand
out. This Kind of practice must have an
end. Ii threatens the very existence Of
the National Organization, and what |
threatens II we must set our face against /
and Kill. The supremacy Of the Constltu- |
tIou must be upheld and made to govern, |
and not those Who neither belong to 1t nor |
have any principles defined, at stake. The |
principles IF this institution are defined m \
the Constitution. and every member has /
accepted them. The means to carry out l
those are also laid down. and as officers We
hold all members, under any and all cir
cumstauces, TO a strict adherence thereto.
Non-union men, with no stated principles
and no rule of action, ought not, because
If momentary gain. to be permitted t.
sway the members of this Association, and
cause them to have their Constitution a
living lie, or make 1t a nulllty. Its provi- I
sIons are Imperative 10 officers and mem
bers
Mr. Mclaughlin offered the following
and Mr.. Thomas seconded
WHEREAS, Many members coming into
a district. and having Miners National As
sociatIon cards, deposit the same ina Lodge,
but refuse to he governed by the district
rules ana regulations, simply because such I
rules are not specified in the Constitution
and General BY Laws, even though such .
rules and regulations be III strict harmony
With the same, thus creating trouble and .
hard feelings be 1t therefore
Resolred. That the Constitution be
amended BY adding the following as a new
section 70 Article IN "Any member
coming into district and depositing MS
card in any Of the Lodges, become subject
to all the rules and regulations in force IN
such district from the time he deposits his
card ~
The amendment, after some considerable
remarks, was passed upon, and With the
foregoing, ordered to be sent ont with
others for the decision Of the Lodges
ReSoired, That the fourth Article of the
General Bylaws be amended by adding a
new section as follows where two
Lodges are formed in one mining section,
where no District Board already exists, IL
will be the duty Of the members to have
district formed, and an Executive Board .
elected to supervise the affairs Of the Assb- /
citation there, for the purpose Of promoting I
the interest Of the members. When such .
district is created, Lodges subsequently, /
organizing in the region must attach them I
selves To the district and maintain repre-
seutation in the Executive Board
The Convention at this stage went into .
the question Of corporation on general I
terms, under a suspension Of the rules each Z
member who SO wished being permitted to
speak his opinion on the subject Short but |
pointed speeches were made by Messrs,
SIney, Mclaughlin, Chrisholm, James,
Archibald, Russell, Pollock, and all the
members resent to a greater OF less ex
tent. The general tendency Of the re
marks were To the effect that cooperation
in the production Of coal IN new fields
would be a mighty agent in bringing about
an improved social position to the working
miner who would embark in such enter
prises All believed the scheme contem-
plated practicable, and thought this to be
a. good time to put the ball in motion as
any other.
On the whole, they believed the princi-
pie the next in succession to which trade
unionis Is must aspire. The field being
broad one, the Convention took advantage
of il, and before eacn man had spoken his
sentiments, the night was far spent, and at
little past eleven o'clock, the Convention
adjourned till A. NJ, on Thursday morn-
ing.
THURSDAY MORNING SESSION.