The Labor enquirer., 1884-03-22

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 sutfi-
ciently on the subject to have 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 acquaintances 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
week-and from two or three your num-
bers have increased to half dozen or
more. In the meantime you have OBJ
tained 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, l 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 "groupn-should make himself the
starting-point or nucleus of just such an
other club or group" composed of per-
sons perhaps living in his immediate
nelghborhQod, 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 a very short time instead
of one you will have eight little clubs OF
groups, each having a 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
nuclei of other groups or clubs, and each
J of these again of still others and so or
. ad infnitum.
This is the system of organization
adopted by the International. Bear il
mind that it is for educational purposes
: only.
Up to this point, it will be seen, tina
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 othe
ormality is at all necessary The tim
usually spent in society meetings in wha
is called regular business" is entirel!
saved. AS the meetings are quite in
formal, and probably held near the hom
; of each member, there will be no lncon
venience in attending them. Anothe
/ advantage is-and this is an advantag
, the tbelongs only to very small associa
, tions that as each club vii
/. probably be composed of persons Q
0 about the same class and habits an,
S quite familiar with each other, there vii
t be no timidity about the expression Q
4 individual opinion; instead of half
t dozen takers and fifty listeners, ever.
one. will be a talker and every one
i listener, and of course all will be thereb
g more interested and become more intel
ligent, and real friendship will b
C likely to spring up, between them. Th
g reciprocity of thought will produce tha
:, effect. Another important advantage i.
e that there will be little likelihood of an
g one member assuming such authority a
9 to become "boss," self-constltuted IL