The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-07-03
THE CIGAR MAKERS INTERNA
TIONAL CONVENTION

~ luN lihiC olRAOoShNS 80 A''-o
biennial session Of the Cigar Makers In
ternational Convention in view Of the
depressed state Of the trade, and the dIth
culties against which the craft for years
have had to contend, it behoves the local
Unions to select as their representatives
THE q .os+. shrewdest and most reliable
men within their ranks Life o. death is
the stake to be played for = to be or not
to be" the problem for their solution.
Without exception, the Cigar Makers Of
the nited States have had more difficult
i 20 contend agalrs' during the past
~ir years than any other calling. The
molds, the sweating or damnable tenement
system and coohe competition have follow
al each other III quick succession, against
I'll Of which they have had to contend. We
have had the pleasure of attending several
of their conventions, and venture the asser-
ton that. although Oh most Of the leading
questions presented a diversity ct opinion
has presented itself often Of a serious and
most decided character as a whole the ar
guments, pro and con. have possessed
more than ordinary ability, and We feel
satisfied that if the same talent, honesty
and earnestness, is brought to bear IN the
coming Convention, a new career ot use
fulness and strength IS open to them.
One fact, 40 matter how unpalatable
the admission meets them at the outset
that, despite the vigilence, integrity,
and unquestioned ability Of the gentle
men now at the head Of the organiza-
tion (who, by the way, are simply carry
ing out the provisions Of the constitution,
as adopted), the c. NJ. |. U. fails 70 meet
the requirements Of the age An enlar
ged, more catholic, comprehensive policy is
demanded. PreJudices and preferences
must be over-ridden sectional or local
ideas must subordinate themselves to the
good q thMNhole. An arbitrary, de-
cided policy, under an circumstances must
be discarded, and greater latitude allowed
" AONdA = libilSs hLlS AAftlANt ~ Allt AhANAAd
tional being always kept III the foreground.
1t is self-evident that 50 long as an over
whelming majority Of the craft are outside
the pale Of unlonlsm, no control can be
exercised or reform inaugurated, and in
order to secure their cooperation n is ne
cesary to keep IL view the fact that self
interest is the Key to the human heart to
convince them that 1t is to their interest
to ally themselves nth the Union. The
fed. Argument generally succeeds where
denunciation fails A half a loaf is better
than no bread. If the molds are a sue
cess, let the Cigar Makers reap the advau-
tage if they are failure, let them be in
at the death. The charge Of the Light
Brigade at Balaclava showed matchless
courage, but id poor generalship. 1t
is this fact that impresses members, that
fails to secure dues, OF striking levies in the
hour Of need, and finally demoralizes and
disrupts unions. Before any effective ac-
ton can be taken, the organization itself
must be reOrgdni=ed, and the cooperation
of our Cigar Makers, especially in our
large cities, such as New York, Phila-
delphia, Chicago, Detroit, and Boston
secured
With reference to the baneful effects OF
the Tenement House System" against
which the Cigar Makers Of the metropolis
have to contend, we cannot do better than
quote from the circular Of President Can
non. He says
But perhaps the worst, and most abject Of
all kinds or methods of manufacturing cigars
is what is known as the " sweating or
Z" Tenement House system. To show the
depths of degradation to which it is hoped
cigar making may yet be brought, let me
quote the language OF Que Of the leading
F" Sweaters IN communication addressed |
to leading newspaper Of New York City |
After expatiatlng at length on the merits Of
this beautiful system, he says BY this
system IRE egpect 10 successfully compete rah
tie Chinese labor Of California and NJ prison
labor Of the Vest
Beautiful prospect, isn't it think over it,
you who inquire what in the h is the |
good Of the Union anyway" Turn it over
in your mind you gentlemen who would |
rather - cab it than give a few cents to |
support your organizations. Digest it, YOU |
who prefer to " withdraw from the Interna- |
tional Union than give ten cents a week to |
support your trade II you can afford to
work at the same rates that are paid Chiaese
and con0icts, ,ce cannot. For that reason we
belong to Union, and for the same reason
we want every one working at the trade Of
cigar making to belong to it and for the
same reason we submit TO you these amend
meDts, In order that they can belong to il
and thus curtall the infamous system which
not only curses them now but will eventually
make US curse ourselves.
But even should the proposed amend
nents fail, we insist the Cigar Makers
nave the remedy in their own hands.
There is no trade in which the system Of
cooperation cannot be more thoroughly
established than cigar-making, because
wen under the most disadvantageous cir
;umstances the major portion of the evils
If which they complain can thereby be
sffectually removed. Less capital is also
required than in nine out Of ten manufac-
turing businesses, while more immediate
return for the investment is guaranteed.
The money expended for strikes during
he past five years, judiciously expended.
would have established a cooperative
isctory and shops in every city in which
Union is located, and if this had been
lone, the molds, the Coolie, or the Sweat
ng system, would have been shorn of
half their terrors but then experience
> the test teacher, and it g never too late
% mend.