The Labor enquirer., 1884-05-31


Let us suppose that you, my reader,
have been giving a little attention to the
sayings and doings Of the labor men,
that you have read and thought suffi-
ciently on the subject to have a pretty
good general idea of their principles and
aims, and that you find yourself more or
less in accord with them; that still you
entertain some objections and difficulties
and your mind is in a condition of doubt
and uncertainty. Now, let us suppose
you have among your acquaintance two
or three persons similarly disposed, and
that you invite them to meet you ex-
pressly to talk over the subject. Suppose
that, as a result of your first meeting,
you are all sufficiently interested to wish
to meet for the same purpose again and
again, sometimes IN the apartments OF
one and sometimes in those of the others.
Finally you meet regularly-say once a
week-and from two or three your num-
bers have increased to half a dozen or
more. In the meantime you have OBJ
tanned for yourselves and have read and
discussed together, or passed from one to
another, some labor literature. Perhaps,
also, you have thrown yourselves into
intercourse with some well-informed
labor advocate. :.
Now, my reader, will venture to say
that the desire which you first had to
study the subject for your own sake, will
have expanded by this time into desire
to spread your views everywhere within
the circle of your influence, and the same
desire will animate your companions.
Suppose, then, that each Of you while re-
tanning your organization as little club
"a "group"- should make himself the
starting-poin or nucleus of just such an
other club or group" composed Of per-
sons perhaps living in his immediate
nelghborhood, or associated in business,
ore in some other way. The formation
of these secondary clubs or groups, and
their development, will be easier than
that of the first, as each will have the
advantage of an intelligent teacher.
You see that in veryshort time instead
of one you will have eight little clubs or
groups, each having thread of commu-
nication with the first one, which will
continue to hold its regular meetings.
Within another short period these eight
clubs-meeting, perhaps, in different
wards or suburbs of a city, or in little
centers of rural population-will each in
like manner make of its members the
nucles of other groups or clubs, and each
of these again of still others and so on
ad ininitum.
This ls the system of organization
adopted by the International. Bear in
mind that it is for educational purposes
only.
Up to this point, it will be seen, that
this method of organization is very sim
pie and quite natural it is also free from
any expense for halls and advertising,
and no constitution or bylaws or other
ormality is at all necessary. 7 The time
usually spent in society meetings in what
is called regular business issentirely
saved. As the meetings are quite in
formal, and probably held near the home
of each member, there}will be no neon
venience in attending them. Another
advantage is--and this is an advantage
that belongs only to very small assoeia-
tions-namelv, that as each club will
probably be composed of persons of
about the same class and habits and
quite familiar with each other, there will
be no timidity about the expression OF
individual opinion; instead of half a
dozen takers and fifty listeners, every
one will be talker and every one q
listener, and of course all will be thereby
more interested and become more intel
ligent, and real friendship will be
likely to spring up between them. The
reciprocity of thought will produce that
effect. Another important advantage is,