The Advocate and news., 1897-12-15
Engineers Gall.

Inc IOhOWlnB cali mas Deeu lsSueu'
1t is worthy of the earnest consideration
OF every friend OF humanity.
TO Organized Labor and Their Friends,
Greetings
The Amalgamated Society of Engi-
neers, MachInists, Smiths and Pattern
Makers, and allied trades of Great Brit
ain and Ireland, are now, and have been,
fighting concentrated capital since the
first week in July for the establishment
Of an elght-hour day-a reform that Is
human, necessity, the hope and am
. bltiOn OF all true friends Of labor. This
fight started locally in the London dis
trict, and when three-fourths Of the
firms had conceded the eight-hour day
the federated employers stepped into
the field, and at this date 632 firms have
locked out $1,000 skilled and unskilled
workers This was done to defeat the
movement In London crush trade
unionism, grind down the workers TO
the level OF unciVlliZed natives of old,
or weld fetters Of slavery on them worse
than that of the chattel slave Of the
2 sixties The Amalgamated Engineers
have blazed the road of trade unionism,
has met every obligation, and in forty
six years has paid out $23, 101 1888 for
benefits, as follows: Unemployed ben
3 eft, 0,S54, ,994; special relief $489, 1926,
and In forty-One years has donated to
other unions In distress the world over
$820,000, or an average Of $4,000 per
year. Our members in the United States
have received in benefits, as above men
toned, in five years, 1888, 1000, or an av-
erage of $4,000 per year, and this with
q membership of 1000. Benefits are
paid as follows: Unemployed, SO per
week; sick, So per week; accident ben
eft, 5000; railroad fare, up to $9 insur-
ance on tools, up to $50; old age pen
sion, from $2.10 to SO per week, accord
Ing to number of years membership;
special relief, legal defence and other
benefits, according as case may require.
Z, When we were forced into this fight
we had 81 700 900 in our treasures. We
give the foregoing figures to show you
that we have always tried to help our
selves, and never turned a deaf ear to
others In need, and we have every con-
fldence that when the American worker
knows the true state of affairs they
will respond to our appeal all along
the line, as some few have already done
on this continent. The Continental
workers have responded nObly-German
printers, 10000 marks; German stone
masOns, 10000 marks; German metal
workers, 10000 marks, and other smaller
unions have contributed. Danish engi-
neers and smiths, 81 900; Austrian metal
workers, $l25 weekly; Swedish metal
NtAw Aveet
Zealand, $1,000; Montreal, Canada, ST.
5O0 Russia, Roumania Japan and
China are amongst the contributors.
The United States so far has sent $2500,
but we believe when these facts are
known they will respond worthy of the
name of unionism This Is an inter
national battle. The employers fed
Grafton, through its president, Colonel
Dyer, states that they will smash trade
unionism. We don't believe the worlds
workers will stand by and see our fight
ing brethren crushed. Eight hours there
means eight hours here. 1t is our per-
sonal battle. We appeal to every lover
Of justice and freedom to rally to our
support. Take no notice Of press dis
patches Of settlement; they are done
for effect to ruin our cause A dollar
now is worth ten In month. Up to
date the engineers and allied trades
have spent $2,6O000O. 1t has cost the
employers twenty times that, but they
have large bank accounts of other mems
labor, and can stand it better than our
brothers. Don't file this away. Don't
refer 1t. But let us know where you
stand, whether you can assist us finan-
cially or not
We remain, yours truly, the American
and Canadian Council.
HENRY WOODBOROUGH
President