The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-04-03
THE INDUSTRIAL CONGRESS.

NitN Tue accompaniment oI the saile pur-
I pose the amehoration Of the condition
# those Who labor for living As We
have had the pleasure OF participating IA
all II these deliberations, and have care
! fully watched the progress made from year
I "a year We desire to advance few sug-
7 sestions which have presented themselves
to oar mind, and which, ~e believe. vii
I prove worthy Of consideration In look
ing over the debates and platform We real
Izv the fact that the same arguments
\ have been presented and the same princi-
I pies re-afhrmed At each succeeding SEES
/ sion. and vet lutte or no progress Las
4 been made IA carrying them into execu-
I tlun. The working classes occupy vIrtu-
aily tbs saur position as they did the first
/ year they met for deiberation. 1t Is even
/ questionable II their position has been
improved ID tn, smallest degree. NJ mat
ter hat thcy may have affirmed "a re-
affirmed 10 matter hoW loudly they have
applauded the truths enunCIstad by their
advocates ~ matter hos often they have
resolved ana re-resoleed, the results have
lseft va and for tins there must be a
cause. and it Is 20 tins cause, or rather
these causes, Ne wish particularly 10 refer.
One Of the primary reasons why no ma
terlai advancement has been made, has
been a lack pf knusledge # the causes
which have produced the evils of which
they e Justly complain. and the nature Of
H., remedies proposed tu remove them.
Nh. honest Ia purpose and earnest in en-
dyavor. meet from time tu time. accept
responsible positions On committees, and
Nheu the tug at var comes find them
selves unable to cope with the problems
they are expected to solve. A great deal
oi valuable time Is generally frittered
away at the commencement 4 the session,
M splitting hairs and technicalities, While
( the ..ai work Is left untouched. A nights
/ session is generally deemed sufficient to
[ draw Up report, which means everything
I ur nothing, a. the case may be-. \ three
~ SIX line paragraph rs adopted which
usually leaves the subject where they
found il. Admissions are made aud ac
ccptrd that they have not studied ia, sub
ject ana. ia the hurry of the session. IN,
report is adopted, or the consideration "
Il left to thar Tomorrow which urVeI
comes, ami 50 the subject rests. Now thu
system Is radically defective. AID until i
Is rectlhed no beneficial results can be "a
pectrd &C. How from their deliberations
h0ori,iqt * polc,r, but when the knowl
rd-, i- lacking. the power will be lackint
usr. :
" l"'At '.'aissse ,tatfneuts IN no stArI
( Ut fault-hn,hng or depreciation. They ar
defects which care and attention can easil
rectlfy and ~ Is poor cause winch cannp
afford ra have the truth told Fer exam
plr, let tbs questions 4 arbitration ana
cooperation. productive sni distrlbutive-
t~o very Imp"rtau, questions. b. ,electe
for discussion " tlr uyIt session, u b
held w Butitio Boston. New Haven
Louisville W klchmond ~ the ease ma
.e. such discussion icing w order mime
diateiy after the rrganIzatj"u ut the cor
vantion " hat would w. the result 1
Apri, 1876, ever, delegate present woul
he prepared ~ state the news ~ his c1I
stituents with hneucy and authority
Valuable time would be uo longer wasted
There would be nothing hap hazard abou
be the lheX IT individual but coilectiv
wisdom the decision. IN fat. u MAJOR
ity # the intelligent, skilled mechanics o
the country, arrived at after careful an,
thorough consideration, and as such Nvul,
demand and command the attention Of Ia
public press The report Of the commit
tee embodying such views would exercise
moral influence on the action Of employ
ers. which has heretofore been lacking
ana strikes and lock -outs, in our opinion
would soon become a relic of the past
Another aud very important reason
who 81 little progress has been made
has been the tack Of funds We b.
ieve ~ sympathy and an open pocket
book going together The .aborer is VOL
thy Of has hire a. least such Is a carolina
doctrine III a wurkingman' $ creed and We
how few Of them practice what the
preach. Officers are elected TO watch owe
and advocate their interests. though the,
neglect OF refuse a. contribute penn
for their sustenanCe. Ot course, thes
men can live on faith, hope and charity
NJ matter nov they hive, 50 Ing as fund
to I'll the machinery are mol called for
Ten cents per annum from each membe
represented would furnish sum sutficien
to meet all ne essary requirements, ia,
the salaries Of all its officers, place organi
zers IN the field, and leave a handsom,
surplus What is the reason this cannot b,
attained What is the reason that mel
who will spend, without compensation
a couple Of dollars to entertain visitin,
friend # the labor movement. are to,
poor TO pay dime for the legitimate sup
port 1t those officials which they hav,
helped to elect, and from whom they exac
a performance Of duty Yet, the question
Is asked - What benefit is the Industrial
Congress to meF The question SHOULD
he What use have been to the Indus
trial Congress N If accounts are squared
You will find balance on the wrong sid
uf the ledger