The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-06-19


To tie officers and Members 81 Local Unions
under the Jurisdiction Of the International
Union, and CiJdr Makers geaeraHy
FELLOW CITIZENS
There is at this time strong movement
on foot to organize State Unions, with the
avowed purpose Of superceding the In
ternatlonal organizations, and to this end
circulars have been issued setting forth
the reasons why such change is deemed
necessary.
The first and most prominent reason in
this circular is, that the legislation Of the
International Unions has been sectional,
or in other words, tine laws, rules and reg
ulatiC.-s promulgated for our guidance
have been made more for the benefit Of
the particular localities in which the SEES
sIons have been held OF the officers reside,
than for the general good.
Now, fellow-crafIsmen, this pretext is
tiimsy and unjust in the extreme, the
sessions of the international Union have
been held by representatives from all sec
tons Of the country, and if any particular
locality supposes they have been over
looked, it is very probable they have not
been represented in such a manner a. to
fully bring their grievances before the
convention. 1t is certainly impossible for
any organization, either National or State,
to legislate for every locality under its
jurisdiction. The international Union
can only make laws applicable in general
sense, and it remains for local unions to
more fully carry them out. That the In
ternational Union has been beneficial to
our trade, no one can deny that it is more
beneficial than any State or District
Union possibly can be, is so apparent that
1t needs no further comment. Even sup
posing for a moment that the charge of
sectional legislation is true, what is to
prevent a State organization from being
liable to the same charge Suppose the
cigar makers of the State of New York
succeed in organizing State Union, and
the first session of the convention is
held in the city Of New York, do you think
sntl emen, that the laws would be framed
without a special regard to the city Of
New York, and what would that be but
sectional legislation
Secondly, The assumption is made by
this self-constituted committee, that the
International Union il about dead. and
hence it is necessary to organize something
new to protect our interests as cigar max
en. Now, fellow craftsmen, leave it for
your consideration how long it would be
before these same men, who find SO much
fault with the international Union, would
have the same complaints TO make against
State organizations, and in any event, if
these same men were to apply the same
amount Of energy for the International
Union that they are now applying against
it, the international Union to-day would
stand more firm and be Of more lasting
benefit than when it was first organized.
Fellow craftsmen, there are in all trades
as well az our own, a certain class Of men
whom we call agitators these men are
never satisfied unless they can get up an
excitement OF agitation Of some kind, gen
orally with an eye 10 some Industrial
benefit.
Cigar makers, let us net be led by such
men, let us do our own thinking, and not
be led by one sided circulars, but look at
both sides Of these questions That the
international Unisn is open to censure in
some matters, ] do not pretend to deny,
nevertheless think it far more effective
than any State or District Unions, and to
expect perfection from any organization
is more than we ought to demand. Let
us, therefore, stick by our international
Union, support it with q will, and my
word for it, we will succeed better than to
organize new institutions.
ONE or THE CRAFT.