The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-05-19

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make wax threads for tile privilege Of listen
ing to the Old cobbcr's tales OF land and sea.
He next touched on the subject of Co., p
Grafton in its three-fold capaeity-co-opera-
tive manufacturing, co-oPera i've buying and
cooperative building, ami illustrated the
benefits to be derived from it, practical oper-
alton
Referring to the subject Of Organization he
sand it was the chief subject he had intended
to speak upon. Il was the yearning OF ev-
cry man nature, the main spring to his mo
workingmeE, ana the producing classes gen
orally, for 1t Is the keystone Ia the arch :
May We not. sand the speaker, take lesson
from capitalists ia this respect:
If it Is necessary to attain any great end
capital viii unite, combine and cooperate
II a bank is to w established capital will
unite If a railroad j. To he buil. capital viii
unite To achieve the end If canal Is to be
constructed, We have the example But Low
Is It with workIngmeu. II any thing j, to be
done for their interest ana Advancement,
they hold back ana look with suspicion upon
those no are trying to elevate them. +
TINS not sad commentary On the working
classes Of America; Is it uot a sad reflection
on their intelligence, and common sense.
The speaker then addressed himself to the
knights Of It. trlspin h sand there was
a time when the shJe makers had a proud
reputation, and could boast VI having mem
beers Of their craft IN ou-ress. Roger Sher
man signed the Declaration u Independence.
and Henry Wilson was Vice President Of the
United States The errors of the old organ
lzation, it was not his pHrpose to defend tie
was willing u admit u had its errors, ana So
has all human institutions, still It had It's adj
vantages, and he wanted t. know from those
who ere members Of the Oh organization
If their wages we're not better, ana ii there
was not less competition between themselves
under it then has been since It mas gone down?
1t was better for you and better Tor the mau-
ufsctuFer 1t vas better for the latter be-
labor, and left only the brains Of the men
who sold the goods to compete vi h. 1t pro-
cured co-equalization Of wages, and protected
the workmen BY obtaining for hun good
wages.
He then went on t. advocate the new or
ganization as trades union, and sand. arbi-
tration was the grand object sought to be
achieved.
He pointed 70 the power Of arbitration in
the settlement Of grave questions, and cited
as examples the case Of the Alabama claims,
and the United States and British Columbia.
If, said, Mr.. Litchman, arbitration can set
tie questions involving the peace Of nations,
why cannot it settle disputes between indi-
viduals.
Nr. Litchman appealed to the common
sense Of his hearers to come to the support Of
the men Of organizations, and he reminded
those outside Of the union that they we're in
the same position the boys stealing apples.
when they were caught they all got punished
alike He cited the Thugs in India. and
the massacre Of St Bartholomew aa examples
Of mans treachery, aud said history was full
OF the depravity Of human nature but said
he, when you ask me t. show you the mean
est creature ON Gods fOotstoOl, | will point
you to the man who Joins a trades union. and
afterwards 90 back on his fellow men.
In conclusion he said, there was one i'm.
portant point overlooked by workingmen, and
that was the support Of the labor press. The
press was an element Of power, which ought
not to be ignored. IL was and is a potent
power in the organization Of labor. and should
be in the hands Of evety workingman. This
he said could be easily done a. it would no,
/ cost the price of schooner # ale" Brother
Scully he said, had risen from the bench. and
the indicator had done noble work for tn.
X. 0. S. c.
Mr. LItchman closed his lecture with ;
poem, and took his seat amid the most en-
thusiastic applause.
Mr. Litchman is a fluent and agreeabl,
speaker, holding his audience well ia hano
without resorting to the too common practic,
of vulgar Jokes, and iudiscret jests INDUCED
IN by he orators Of the day. His fault il
perhaps a too rapii utterance, defect which
can be overcome with time aud practice.
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