The Ottawa free trader., 1886-08-14
An AdtlreaG.

Gil, was held on Tuesday, Aug. 10, At n
l.. Hall, Ottawa, at which all labor organi
zations were represented. The following Ad
dress was adopted, and is here published b!
request
To THE FARMERS AND AGRICULTURAL LABOR
ERs OF La SALE COUNTY:
The Representatives of the labor organi
cations of this comfy in council assembled
give you greeting:
1t has come to our knowledge that mis-
conception of the aims and tendencies Of oul
organizations is prevailing among you, anc
that you are pre- JUDGED against US because
of this misconception. We feel that you are
our brethren and we desire your friendship
and sympathy, as you now have ours. We
believe too that We have such common inter
ests AS will warrant us in joining our forces
for the accomplishment Of common pur'
pose. As producers and laborers, we stand
on a common ground and are natural allies
In view Of these facts we ask you to con
slider our position fairly and frankly, and
accord to us the same consideration you are
claiming for yoursev 8. We see in the CROWN
of poverty and the concentration Of wealth
that history is repeating itself in this coun'
try, and that unless something be done that
we shall soon be in the same copdition as
the working classes of the old countries
In our humble way we are putting forth our
efforts to prevent this state Of affairs from
coming to pass. 1t is true we do not kno"
lust what to do; and we are frequently in
error, doubtless, as to what the true remedy
fer our trouble is; but we are making an
earnest honest effort TO better ourselves by
using all the means Of improvement that we
know of. We are confident that the free in
stitutions Of this country offer US an ample
opportunity to work out for ourselves and
our posterity the problem Of industrial free
dom, and we are unaltersbly opposed to the
methods of anarchists or revolutionists who
propose to achieve reform by subverting the
institutions OF this country. We glory in
our free republic and are loyal to its prin-
ciples. We are convinced that II our cause
succeed by adhesion to these prin'
ciples it ought to 90 down. All we ask Is
the sympathy, encouragement and counsel
Of our fellow laborers in our effort to avail
ourselves of the opportunities we have hith'
erto neglected. Surely We shall not appeal
in vain TO the generous ullers of the soil,
who SO nobly and selfsacrihcingly gave
their blood and treasure for the emancipa-
ton of the chattel slave.
We believe that some good can be wrought
in our condition by Legislative means. We
are not hoping for legislative panacea that
shall cure oil our ills, but we are certa n
that, with just representation, we shall be
able to Illustrate the passage of many bad
laws in the interest Of corporations and
and, perhaps, shall be able to
secure the passage Of some beneficial laws
in our own interest.
Now, we are large body of the voting
of this country, and we have
never been represented in Springfield by
man whom we regarded as a representative
of our views. Is it not fair, we ask you,
that we should have such representation?
We have been constantly told by politicians
and pubicists of all opinions that our RENE
DIV lay in an intelligent use of the ballot. Well,
we are now trying to follow their advice.
Fellow lahorers of the soil, are we not right?
And have you not voiced the same com
plant we are now giving utterance TO? Have
you been represented in the halls of legisla,
ton according to your numbers, your intel
ligencc, or your moral worth? We think
not. Then why not grasp the extended hand
of fellowship that we warmly and heartily
profier you and Join with us in an earnest
and honest effort to better ourselves and our
common country. Do not be misead by
what you have been told concerning our
actions and purposes. We confess that we
have committed errors, and have not always
done the best or wisest thing, but would it
be less than miracle if, out of our first
crude efforts at organizing men who are held
TO be of the lowest grade in the social scale,
we had been perfect in the results obtained :?
We have dsne the best we could under all
the circumstances, and shall do better rs we
become more familiar with the methods of
collective action. In this self.improvement
you can help us. Will you do it?
We will not recite to you the specific
measures which we now think will benefit
us They can be found in the main in the
platform Of the State Convention of the
Knights of Labor, recently held AT Streator
We think you will find little therein to which
you will object but if you do, we have still
to say that our purpose is, primarily, 10
impress our spirit and tendencies on the
legislation Of our time. We wish to be real
factors In the government of this great coun-
try which we are proud to own as ours. We
may ourselves change our views, as we grow
in political knowledge and wisdom, rs to
what the true remedies for our ills NAV be