The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-22

| snO ODJoCts VI bne ORGANIZATION Known
the Knights Of st. Crispin, issued by tn
State organization of the state of Massa
chusetta, will, no doubt, prove Of especia
interest to our Crispin readers:
So many inquiries have been made il
relation TO the alma, objects and principle.
OF this Order, and so great desire for in
formation expressed even by those who
are, or who wish to become, members, that
this circular is issued, by the proper au
thority, to disseminate among the craft
and the public generally all possible
knowledge upon this subject.
Briefly, then, the order known a. the
knights Of Saint Crispin" is an organi-
ZatiOn intended to embrace within its rank,
every man engaged in any way, As an en-
Ploye, upon the manufacture Of Boots and
Shoes. 1t seeks to gather within its pro
tectlng folds the vast industry engaged in
this branch Of labor, and by concentration
OF effort, unity of purpose and harmony
OF action, secure to each the blessing OF
proper remuneration for faithful toll.
Carefully profting by the experience of the
past and stunning the shoals and quick.
sands which destroyed and engulfed the
old organization Of X. D. s. g., with q
hrm resolve to act with strict justice to all,
workmen and manufacturers alike, and q
determination to be loyal and fsithful to
each other, we hope TO establish the Order
upon a foundation SO broad and secure
that coming years will but strengthen it,
and the storms of opposition assail it IN
vain.
When the old organization presented an
unbroken front Of united and resolute
men, banded together for mutual benefit
and protection, the shoemakers of the
country rejoiced in Just and fair compen-
satlon for their labor their homes were
made happy and joyous by the comforts
by which honest industry, properly com
pensated, can surround the family altar
and the hum of the busy machinery in the
shoe shops throughout the length and
breadth of the Land gave evidence of thrift
and prosperity in the future. But con
scious power gave a false scense Of security,
and the unceasing vigilance which success
demanded was relaxed. Bad counsellors
led the rank and file astray. Evil-minded
extremists used the great power and re-
sources OF the Order for the qualification of
political ambition and the furtherance Of
unjust and injudieious personal measures.
Strikes were undertaken, against the judg-
ment and even protest of the best mem
bers, which resulted in oppressive assess
ments and finally brought ruin and disas-
ter upon the organization. One by one
the Lodges died, and the humiliating spec
tacle was presented Of laboHelass, EN-
bracing at least 200, 600 men, broken up
into its component elements, powerless to
resist the inevitable encroachments of the
manufacturer, and eager to accept, aye,
and welcome as boon, whatever OF labor
or recomDense capital deigned to offer
The sad experience which followed, EN-
bracing the history Of the past few years,
is too familiar to the craft to need recital
here. Reduction after reduction has been
made in the price Of labor until it is an
actual fact that in portions of Massachus
etts men have been employed in the man
ufacture Of boots and shoes for the enor
nous net inc me, above Findings" o.
ninety cents day Of thsrtsea hours dura
tton
Knowing these facts, feeling this op
preston, and wishing to lift thems elves
and their brothers from the condition int
which want Of union had brought them
the shoemakers Of Lynn organized anew
Unity lodge, X. 0. 5. c.
Competent organizers we're appointed
and in very short time the Lodge at Lynn
numbered over 1900 members, and the
principles Of revised CrispinisnI, through
their untiring efforts, began to spread
through the shoe towns Of Massachusetts
50 that at the Convention held at Lynn
1 l. - a % Al.
delegates present from twenty-eighl
Lodges in full operation. A Grand Lodge
of Massachusetts was formed, and meas
ures adopted looking toward the immediate
organization Of an International Crane
| Lodge.
The united, earnest and harmonious de
liberation Of that Convention augurs vel
for a brilliant success ia the attempt tC
again marshal the shoemakers Of the lanC
under the banner Of mutual protection anC
cooperation.
The handspring Of action which guide
the movement Of this revised r. D. S. @.
may briefly be stated in one wOrd-ARBIr
RATION No longer can one individual o
a score Of individuals bring ruin and dis
tress upon the Order and upon their fel
low wOrkmen by instituting a strike upol
the merest pretext. No longer can tn
power of the Order be used to crafty per
snnal spite OF snimosity. No, taught il
the school Of bitter experience, such
possibility no longer exists. The who'll
moral influence Of the Order il throw
against strikes, and a wise system Of mu
tual forbearance has been instituted il
their place, which is controlled by tn
Board OF Arbitration.
The Board Of Arbitration is formed from
among the members Of the lodge who ar
known for their sound judgment, coo
temper and wise discrimination. To thi
Board are referred all disputes between
workmen and manufacturer. II the work
men have q grievance, instead of going ou
on q strike, the Boardof Arbitration Is nc
tilted, and Immediately that Board proceed
to investigate the grievance. A committe
from the manufacturer, representing his in
terests, is requested, and this committe
with the Board Of Arbitration CAREFUL
consider the matter, and by mutual con
cession and manly forbearance a decisio
is reached without resort to the direst Z
all eXtremities-a strike. The decision Z
the Board iA final, for no strike begu
without its permission can receive the SUP
port of the Lodge or Of members Of tn
Order.
On the other hand, if manufacture
thinks his workmen are dealing unjustl
by him, he 10 privileged to notify th
Board, and in like manner a decision
reached mutually satisfactory,
By this slight sketch of this conversion
Of the foundation, a faint idea may b
gathered Of the spirit Of fairness and justlc
which inspires and animates the new Orde
Of X. q. 5. c. All that is needed to in
sure its success il the earnest, hearty an
Immediate cooperation Of the shoemaker
of the country
Come, Brothers, join and help US. W
work upon principles fair and just to worl
/ man and employer alike. We throw ava
: | II IL. Ill. urh,.h .A-an.lad tha old Ard.