The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-09-25

suspension, Nnlcn was cOncurreO IN. L ne
are Nos. 10, Elmira; q, Toronto; %
Westfeld; 20. DanviIle; 40, Patterson; 80
indianapolis; 80, Louisville; 81, COving
ton; II, Hannibal; SO, Schenectady; IL
Boston; So. Montreal; I22, Warren; l37
Dnnkirk; l25, Peru; IO7, Cambridgeport
and SO. Poughkeepsle OF these there ha
been reinstated' Nos 10 Elmira; q
Toronto; 80, Montreal, and 40, Patterson
In dealing with individual members y
those suspended Unions, ] find the law
silent on the subject, consequently, to met
out strict and impartial justice To then
was attended with considerable difficulty
Members of a suspended Union working
IN a place distant from where the UnIOT
met would write me that their local Sec
retary had never informed them of any
special assessment being levied, and that
they did not wish to be excluded from
membership in the International Union
through no fault Of their own, etc. II,
after investigation, | found their state
ments correct, | would direct the Inter
national Secretary to forward them cards,
to deposit them in the nearest Union.
This considered only justice to this class
Of men, though | am aware that our laws
do not contemplate the issuing Of cards to
other than local Unions. 1t should, and
doubtless will receive some attention at
your hands, so that some suitable and
equitable provision will be made for the
relief Of such members in similar cases.
The question of strikes is one that has
received the attention of the best inform
ed minds, not only Of this country, but Of
Europe, ami nothing that | can say will
add any weight to the unanimous conclus-
ions at which they have arrived. | have
frequently during the term expressed my
views on this question through our official
paper, and need not, therefore, rehearse
them here We have elahoratelaws u pro-
vide for the support Of strikes, whereas our
principal object should be to devise the
best plan to prevent them. That th XII
have reduced our organization 70 IT. pr =
ent condition no illIlligent man SIll deny,
and if the same policy is to be persued, the
total humiliation Of the organization IL
simply a question Of time. by our laws
every Union could be On a strike st one
time. aud in the last two years when we
should have had no strikes, We have had
over dozen to support at once. This
should be prevented; 1t is an element Of
weakness and has baneful and denorai-
izlng effect Our trade has now become
such that t. strike at any time. OF in any
place, is the sheerest folly and absurdity.
Entering into strikes with a small fraction
only of the trade organized we must eK-
pect in all cases to see our places filled
with men from other sections Of the coun-
try, and the inevitable result Of the strike
is i" failure" 1t never can be otherwise
until we have our trade organized BY
the reports which will be presented to you
il will be seen that our S2O, 600 has been
expended during the two years principally
for abortive struggles Of this nature. This
judiclously expended ia organizing the
trade and assisting our members out Of
employment would have had a tendency 70
prevent strikes, while it would have ma
terially Increased our membership.
One Of the most unpleasant features IN
connection with these strikes was the dl-
vision which arose between the members
Of Union No Of Baltimore. The inter
ference % the Executive Board being
found necessary to enforce the laws OF the
International Union. as v ell as for the pro
lection Of those Of its members who OBJ
serve them, it decided in the only way
which it deemed consistent with right,
Justice and a sense Of duty. As al the
circumstances which led 70 this division
has been reported through our official
paper, | only reter to it here to state that
all the correspondence aud papers IN the
case will be laid before you for your &C
ton.
Among the laws devised st the last SEES
sion. which 1t VAS thought would inure to
the benefit Of she organization was article
10, or as it wss generally termed, The
endowment plan
Il was hoped BY its projectors that the
payment Of a small sum of each member
would create fund which. although small,
would place the friends Of the deceased
member who were dependant upon him
from actual want, as well as to provide for
a suitable and decent interment for those
deceased members who might be strangers
among us, and that the adoption of such
a law would increase the fraternal feeling
existing among us, and bind us more firm
ly together IN the bonds Of union The
spirit which prompted 1t was commendable,
and the only objection that seemed to be
urged against it while it was under dis
cussion by the local Unions was, that the
amount of ten cents, upon the death of a
member, was altogether too small. But
when after the adoption of the law the
members were called upon to pay the as
sessment levied under the law, it was found
that the amount was altogether too large,
and that a member, however valuable and
honored while living, was not worth ten
cents when dead. Resolutions we're pass
ed in local meetings denOunciatory Of the
law. which resolutions were inserted IN the
public press, forgetfnll Of the fact thet they
were publicly prOclaimIng their own IllIb-
erallty. These resolutions were eagerly
taken up and adopted by the othel
Unions; feeling of hostility was created
against; the best law in our constitution
was denounced as an " incubus, and final
| " its provisions came to b, utterly igT
/ ed by them The Executive Board g
| deemed 1t best to submit a propos'"
4 suspend the Law, and the eagerr
| which the Unions voted to adoph
in the first instance was onl/r
the eagerness with which D
annull It, Resolutions Of
deceased member. and erT I'M 4
pathy for the family, - u ~ 4
adopted as usual, howev-
this selfishness are appgD I'm Is4O.
few disappointed widows iEs EACH "
children, from whom | am =
Y ceiDt of-letters detailing then
~ ,a,nnells them {,
sity which c0hfxEAnk R0NT
for that whiah tbsy think and r654
that they have right 10 receive, and it
morally the duty Of our members to give
| feel strongly on this question, and
must express my earnest conviction tha
the action of some Of our members in thl
matter is q reproach to us AS an organizs
tion, and as an individual member OF II,
FaaI aahamed and as an officar huDiIiatAf