The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-10-14
FIR ON NEW YORK.
SYRACUSE, Oct. 10th, Ii

SYRACUSE, Oct. 10th, 1876.
TO The Editor Of the workingmans Advocate
have just read the mastery and unan-
swerable argument, delivered before the
great Cooper ratification meeting in your
city, by our nominee for Vice President,
Gen. Cary, which found in the last issue
Of the ADVOCATE. Although | am out of
employment, and to use alstereotyped say
ing, 'as poor as church mouse" will
endeavor to raise my portion of a contribu-
ton for its publication in pamphlet form
for distribution amongst the working men
of our distressed country. The next best
thing | can do, is to loan the paper 70 my
neighbors until it is rendered unreliable
from use. The response is that his argu-
ment is introconvertible, but they ask
despondingly "What can We do it is wild
ness TO indulge the hope Of electing the
Cooper ticket" Well perhaps it is, but
for my part believe In striking for the
right, and leaving those who.ponder to cor
ruption, for fear Of throwing away their
votes to bear the responsibility Of perpetu-
ating the disastrous policy that has already
brought our country to the verge Of ruin
and disruption, and for one shall cast my
vote, if live to get TO the polls, for Cooper
and Cary, If am the only man III Syracuse
who votes it. So much for politics, and
now in conclusion, please allow me word
about secret social societies, trades unions,
etc, etc. In a city like Syracuse of fifty
thousand inhabitants, these secret organi-
cations will number in the neIghblrhood
Of two hundred, with membership rang
Ing from ten 10 five hundred each, whose
calls for regular and special meetings are
SO frequently published, IN which the
secretaries urge, beg and pray for an AZ
me that a word of comment will not be out
Of place, at least in the estimation uf the
apparently wearIed and discouraged OH
GERS. Whatever may be the purpose f,r
which these organizations we're instituted.
We certainly have the right to sup .ose
that it embraces sufficient interest 70 beget
the necessity If not the desire u attend a
meeting occasionally, without forcing those
who have accepted office, upon the condi-
tlon that they SHOULD be sustained to re-
sort 50 often to the old thread bare expe-
dent of advertising urgent business" as
a ri IA
possible that III some cases, mlsreprt senta-
tlon, or mlsconceptlon mas induced persons
to become members. |, deception has thus
been praticed to decoy you, act up at once,
to your sense Of honest manhood, and leave
such a society. This is free country and
you will not be coerced to remain But
fancy very few will try to shield themselves
behind subterfuge 80 ridiculous Nv
neglectful friend, if you will confess the
truth-you will say, you simply neglected
to attend because you trusted the business
would be wisely transacted without you,
aud then the saloon was 50 facinating. and
it was so nice to spend leisure hour upon
the street corner smoking your cigar, and
crlticislng the appearance Of passers bye
that you could not think Of burthening
your mind with business, although YOU
were far from being indifferent to its i'm
portance. If the meeting was not called
to order for the want Of quorum, your
voice is the loudest in denunciation, be-
cause they did not do something. If they
were so fortunate as to have quorum, your
tongue is busy for week after the meet
ing, In censurlng its action, which did not
agree with your idea Of the matter. which
you freely discuss in the presence Of out
siders. My dear sir, of what ever society
you may be a member, permit me with all
the charity | can command, 70 charge you
with beng a sneak, whose conduct j. sus-
ceptable OF but one construction-unmiti
ted meanness. A. Dow.