The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-10-14
Written iOr the wosKISssax's ADvooarE)
the S0vEREl6M8 or INDUSTRY.
First Organization in California.
By GENERAL A. MI. VIM.

The Grange was established for the use
And~benefit of farmers, and has spread it.
self to every State and Territory IN the
United States. Nov they have over q
million of members- The necessity Of en-
bracing In one organization all lab0ring
classes was soon disclosed, and On the 1Ath
Of January, 1874, the Sovereigns of Indus
try had its beginning in Worcester, MAs-
sachusetts, under the management and
control of VIM. H. Earle, Who Is now the
President Of the National Council.
THE sovEREIGSs, LIKE THE ORANGES,
has proved exceedingly popular, having ex-
tended its branches into nearly all the
States Of the Union. Its principles are
cooperation, in its most minute and ex-
pansive details. enabling the poorest man
and the poorest woman 70 take part and be
benefited by its influences. Thousands Of
dollars have already been saved by Aggre-
gated sums used in Wholesale purchases Of
coal, wood, groceries, dry goods, and other
articles of consumption.
Thursday evening Sept. IA, 1876, the
first council was organized at the Senate
Chamber of the United Mechanics, in this
city. Fourteen of us made the application
for charter last May. and the organization
was consumsted under the direction of
James @. Lewis, National Deputy. The
meeting was well attended by men Of
character and standing in the community,
as will be seen from the names of the
OFFICERS ELECTED.
J. Earl, Manager of the Immigration
Bureau, was elected President Hon.
Charles G. Terrill, Vice President Gen.
A. M. Winn, Secretary Col. G. H. Deni-
son, Treasurer John A. Steinbach,
Steward P. S. MacGown, Lecturer R.
G. Lewis, Inner Guard John Thompson,
Outer Guard. The
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
are President j. Earl, Joseph Carol.
Amos Adams, Munroe Miller aad James
w. Duncan.
The Council will meet at the Senate
Chamber of United Mechanics, COS Wash
ington street. every Thursday evening, at
half past seven o'clock. J. g. Lewis. Ma
tional Deputy, is here now and ready to
organize other Councils. Fifteen men and
women Of good repute may apply for a char
ter, and he will organize them any evening
1t takes fifteen subordinate Councils to
organize State Council. The admission
fee Ia $2, hnd monthly dues fixed by the
Councils.
LABOR SOCIETIES
have greatly improved from one genera
ton to another, until the original system
has lost its usefulness. There must be
something in view that will attract, by
amusement or pecuniary benefit, or such
| Societies will surely dwindle and die. IL
il not evidence of wisdom to continue any,
thing when it fails to accomplish the pur-
/ poses intended. III we fail in one kind Of
business, we will hardly undertake to do
the same thing over again in the same way.
Societies are nothing more than individuals
united to do for all what each could do for
himself. They. however, azgrt gate per-
sonAl means and individual influence, add
ing strength to the chord by increasing its
strands.
the mechanics Of one trade, there is no ad-
hesiveneas between that and another. II
We unite NIL trades i'm one, there In no bond
of union between that and the other in
dustrious men, We lose tie powerful influ-
ence Of the women All industries have
one aim and object-All seek to better their
own condition and If united, they could
accomplish . greater degree of benefit for
each other than by standing alone in the
field OF toll.
Trade associations, as they nov exist, do
not afford the necessary incentives for So
(, cial intercourse or personal benefit they
do not convince the mind that the Advan-
tages compensate for The time and money
| spent in sustaining them Meetings held
In untidy rooms, with working clothes, and
none but sleepy, tired men, do mot en-
/ hven IN audience.
THE sovEREIGNs OF INDUSTRY
include industrious msn and women OF NIL
CLASSES OF labor, III Il whom are to be ben
shttsd By the organization. Il gives the