Year: 1875

source OF Satisfaction 90 mt. as lt mus
also be to you


Representatives, the only real question


of Importance which we have to solve II


that Of reorganization. | exceedingly re-


greet that the local organizations are no


more numerously represented here to day


so that something Of real and permanent


value would result from your deliberations


yet | trust it may be reserved for YOU /,


do what Conventions larger in members


have hitherto failed in. | do not over-es


innate the impoF Fsance Of this question


when ! state that it is the only one v hich
you have to consider therefore entreat


you to throw aside whatever passion or


predjudices you may entertain and discuss
| the question IN a calm, reasoning manner,


keeping constantly in view the fact that


your actions here, will either tend "a eIe-


vate us an organization, or effectually
destroy it's usefulness. | have frequently
taken occasion, both bv circular ana IA
other ways tu bring the Importance of the
question before our local Unions but !
must confess that while all admitted the
necessity of It and desired its consumation.
there we're but few who cared to interest
themselves IN IT'S accom- tlishment II cigar
makers fully know the present condition
Of their trade, and the inevitable pauper-
ism to which they are rapidly drifting,
they would as one man tsolve t. stand
| by their organization, ana the resolve
would not be broken IL can be proved
by actual experience, coming under my
own observation, that during the last two
years, the price paid for our labor has, On
an average, been reduced twenty nve
per cent. on the last grades of our pro
ducts, and thlrty-tivv per cent on the ln-
ferIoT grades, and further reductions are
constantly taking place UnOrgamzed re-
sIstance y useless tO prevent them, and
the remedy itself lies IN the men Who are
compelled t. accept them The question
then presents itself how can We extend
the influence VI this organization 50 a. t.
reach. and embrace all Who work at the
trade or occupation Of cigar maklngl This
il answered by some, that by organizing
state or district unions, 80 that all within
a particular State OF district can be reach
ed, will effect the purpose more effectuai
than by any other plan Of organization.
This plan has received particular attention
during the last three years, aud | may
say, 10 rapidly receiving favor, Judging
from the vote On the late propositions to
hInt1l lnc NOiistAluliOll4 llt az NffDAAtH 81
this plan have with remarkable zeal ana
persistence dclared that it Is the only re-
source we.have left by which We may hope
to build up the organization. Bat this
plan Of organization is not without Its
strenuous opppsers, and they base their
opposition chiefly on the grounds tnat the
system is practicable only IN one State, the
State of New York, and only there By
reason Of their larger numbers aud the
close proximity Of the unions to each 9th
or, aA that it IS only the entering wedge
to disband all the other unions, aud so
destroy the International Union. In this
view cannot concur, as | fail To perceive
the benefit. any State or district would
derive by having all outside of it dlsor-
ganized With the facilities employers
have for bringing men from other sections
of the country in times of any difficulty. 1t
is proven that there can be no real strength
without all being organized alike. True
unionism knows no State or district lines;
it should know no sectional jealousy or
nvally; when the sale of the products Of
our labor are limited to one particular
State or district, 1t may be a matter OF
little concern to those outside If that
State or district, whether the men in IL are
organized OF not, but As the wants and re-
quirements e trade are not limited to
States and sections, t IS obvious that 20
limit unionism 70 any particular state or
section regardless Of all other places would
not give the strength which the advocates
Of the idea claim for it, state this, be-
cause it is claimed that eventually the
States so organized will withdraw from the
International organization, and act Inde-
pend entity u it, Thus State or district
having an apparent cement of strength
within itself, and being organized under
the proposed plan, and having its own Of
ticers, would, 1t is claimed, only support
that organization, thus impairlng the
strength and integrity Of the international
Union; but il will readily be seen that any
State OF district acting Independently Of
itself without due regard to the wants
and necessities Of other sections would
materially jeopardise its chances Of success
in any contest IN which 1t might become
involved, as the fraternal feeling which
now exists, and has been brought about
through the International Union would be
effectually destroyed have invited the
projectors Of this movement u submit
their views to you, and | trust you will
consider this question in all its bearings.
/ If it can be shown that the adoption Of
the plan Ct State or district unions will
help us to solve the problem OF re-organi


zation without destroying OF lmpaIring ma


tional unIonlsm, 1t certainly is


attempt. though ] am inc' CAPITAL