Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-07-23
A PROTEST.
BUTTE, July Is. '9S.

|
tana No. 4, vote was taken on the
proposed amendment to the constitu-
ton and the ballot will not be closed
until after the meeting on the l7th
so that all members who have not
voted may avail themselves of the
privilege. There we're Il votes cast
at this meeting, all against the
amendment, and by vote the task was
assigned to your humble servant of
explaining our position.
Briefly, we were in the dark and
consequently disposed to make haste
slowly. We considered the date upon
which the ballot was taken as too
early and we desired the widest dis
cussion, SC that in event of its adop-
tion, the general membership would
have the ciearest possible idea of the
results and cons equences, and we
hoped that the disposition of those
responsible for or concerned in. secur-
ing its adoption would undergo
change, and that they would avail
themselves of the privilege afforded
through the medium of the official
organ of the Brotherhood to acquaint
US with the necessity of adopting it.
Our vote was as much a vote against
the vote being taken at this time and
under the circumstances as it could
! be considered a vote against the
amendment We vote no. therefore,
because should we make mistake by
so voting, we reserve the right to cor
rect it in the future: while if we vote
yes. and make mistake we forfeit
this privilege, because if this amend
ment is carried voting autonomy to
the colonies, it revokes the referen-
dunn in 50 far as it might apply to the
colonies in their relationship to the
sister colonies of the Brotherhood
When the B c c was organized
constitution and bylaws were adopt
ed, the essential features of which
embodied a compact merely, wherein
certain persons in order to attain GER
tain objects, agreed to comply with
certain conditions considered neces-
sary to their success. In other words.
a number of persons for the sake of
certain benefits to be conferred upon
the human race agreed to incur GER
tain personal obligations. This
amendment occurs to us as an express
sion of desire upon the part of GER
tain of this number of persons to
change the character and curtail the
extent of this personal obligation
and the question is, providing its
adoption follows, under what obliga-
ton are those outside the colonies
whose connection with the move
ment is due to a desire to see
it developed in its original in
tegrity Members of local union
No. / were, not knowing what the
amendment really meant: therefore
timid in voting upon it. To know what
results to expect they desired an eX-
preston from the colonists of their
| hiOliNSo anu oD.NNlo' l-olSl de IL LII
response to this desire an expression
has been made by several of the colo
nists, expressions disappointing in
every particular save in the one made
by Master Workman Swigart, which
| will consider.
1t was alleged that the desire of the
colonists clashed always with the au-
thority of the National Board and
then in support of this grievance the
aggrieved contributor proceeded to
deliver himself with vigor and at
great length upon his idea of the
clash in certain very abstract princi-
piles not necessarily involved. So
much so that our membership had
about concluded that certain ener-
getic. communistic cyclists, who be-
ing unable to found a colony of their
own had subscribed their names to a
set of collectivistic principles. had
promised to support and promote the
establishment of colleCtivistic en-
terprises and institutions. and had To-
Gated themselves in colony designed
for industrious altruists, with what
objects the development Of the fu-
ture alone would disclose, and who in
the meantime without any cause for
present discomfort but for the fur
therance apparently OF future care
fully yelled projects were seeking
such authority as would enable them
to carry them into effect. Others of
our membership desired something
like this To know at what time and
under what circumstances the colo
nists suffered an unnecessary re-
straint. Wherein were the National
officers either derelict, cumbersome
or unduly otiicious in the discharge of
their duty. etc, assuming in their in
nocence that the amendment was the
outgrowth of some simple and not
agreeable experiences. But Master