ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN PRODUCTION NOTE University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library Brittle Books Project, 2015.COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION In Public Domain. Published prior to 1923. This digital copy was made from the printed version held by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It was made in compliance with copyright law. Prepared for the Brittle Books Project, Main Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by Northern Micrographics Brookhaven Bindery La Crosse, Wisconsin 2015 (■ - -------1 m GOMMON PROCEDURE 1 -7$r FOR THE USE OF Federal Labor Unions -: and :- LOCAL UNION'S holding Certificates of Affiliation to the A. F. of L. New York : i. goldmann, printer, 7-11 new chambers st. ^ 1891. '• ^Manual of Common Procedure. It being desirable that a feeling of reverence should be cultivated for the noble aspirations underlying the Labor Movement, it is im- portant that the lines and obligations herein contained should be committed to memory and delivered in a respectful and impressive manneij-. It is also desirable that this Manual shall be kept under lock anjd key in the meeting room, and not be exposed or submitted to the inspection of any person not a member in good standing of the A. F. of L. without authority of the President. Not?■—This Procedure is not intended for Local Unions having a national! or international head. Dispensation from its observance may be obtained by any Local Union holding a Certificate of Affi- liation Ipy application to the President A. F. of L. Local Unions not having/a Dispensation, may suspend this Procedure by the President of fib Union, making a declaration of the expediency of so doing ioimti Lately upon taking the chair. Thiip procedure being adapted to the capacity of the smallest Union, shall not be construed as limiting the power of a Union to choose? any number of officers for the transaction of its business. The Odes herein contained may be recited instead of sung. 1 OPENING. The hour of meeting having arrived, and a quorum being present, the president of the Union shall take the chair and give One Rap with ihe i^avel, upon which all officers and members shall be seated and \ general silence observed. President:—"Brothers, the Guardian being- at his posjt to defend us against all intruders, the Secretary beiihg prepared to record the proceedings, and a suf- A !' _ 2 — ^ i-wv. ficient number of brothers being present, I declare this meeting duly convened and qualified to consider measures tending to conserve and advance the prin- ciples and policy of Trade Unionism as recognizee by the American Federation of Labor. All not me rubers of the Federation, will please retire." ; When this request has been complied with, if any of the officers are absent, the President will make such pro. tem. appointments as may be necessary. j Guardian : — "Brother President, by what authority do you invoke the name of the American Federation of Labor ?" / President:—"By the authority vested in this jUnion by the charter on this wall, and by the authority con- ferred by the formal consent of my brothers Ifreely expressed." J Treasurer : — " Brother President, what constitutes a Union of the American Federation of Labor." L President:—"Seven wage-workers, their felnrows and successors, who have solemnly devoted tliem- selves, individually and collectively, to the eman- cipation of their class from the threefold evil ojf po- verty, ignorance and selfishness." 1 Secretary:—"Brother President, what are! the means proposed to achieve this much desired eman- cipation ?" i President:—"The emancipation of the working class, which must be achieved by the working Mass itself, necessitates the thorough organization of the wage-workers as a class, their systematic education, and the habitual cultivation of the feeling of frater- nity. ^ ,Vice-President : — " Brother President, which one of these three means is the most important,—organiza- tion, education, or fraternity ? " President:—"There are not three means, but one means. Organization is necessary for the sake of education ; education is necessary to organization, and fraternity is at once the cause and effect of unity. In union there is strength, so, in the work of the or- ganization of labor, the most energetic, wisest or de- voted to us, when working individually, cannot hope to be successful, but by combining our efforts, all may. How say you, brothers ?" All (in chorus):—"Labor Omnia Vincit!" The President will now give Three Raps with the gavel, upon which all members will rise and sing or recite the Opening Ode. At ths conclusion of the Ode, the President will give One Rap with the gavel when the members will be seated. (Continue page 8, line 5.) On the occasion of the installation of newly elected officers, 01* the initiation of candidates lor membership, the following ceremonies shall be observed : INSTALLATION. The newly elected officers will take their places in front of the President's chair ; the President elect on the right, and the Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer, Guardian and Guide elect in the ordei- here stated. The President will then give Three Raps, and the r» embers wilt rise and remain standing. The President will then a dminister the following obligation to them collectively : President*.;—"Brothers, please raise your right hamls and repeat after me the following obligation, using your name when I use mine :— 4 — Installation Obligation. " I,--, do hereby sincerely pledge my honor to perform the duties of my office as prescribed by the laws of this Union ; and to bear true allegiance to the American Federation of Labor. I will deliver to my successor in office all books, papers and other pro- perty of this Union that may be in my possession at the close of my official term. I will aiso deliver all property of the American Federation of Labor to the President of the same upon demand. All of this I solemnly promise, with the full knowledge that, to violate this pledge,, is to stamp me as a man devoid of principle and destitute of honor." One Rap will then be given by the chair, and the members will be seated. The outgoing President will then surrender the chair to the incoming President, after saying : President :—" You will now proceed to your respec- tive stations, and perform the duties devolving upon you." INITIATION. When there is but one candidate, change from the plural to the singular number. President :—" Brother Guide, retire and inspect the candidates in waiting, and upon proof that they have been duly elected, you will introduce them for initia- tion." When the Guide arrives with the candidates at the inside door he will give the alarm. The President will then give Three Raps, and the members will all rise to their feet and remain standing. The door 1>eing opened, the President will signal the members, who will all join in singing the Ode of W elcome. At the first notes of the Ode the Guide leading the candidates, and the President will simul- taneously advance to the centre of the room and halt, the President facing the Guide, who will have the candidates on either hand (in the case of there being but one candidate, then that one on his right.) At the conclusion of the singing the members will be seated and the Guide will say : Guide : —'' Brother President, permit me to introduce Mr.--, Mr. - —, all wage workers, of good cha- racter, and duly elected in regular meeting, who now come of their own free will, soliciting to be admitted to the privilege of membership in the American Fed- eration of Labor." President :—" Fellow Workmen : It is my duty to inform you that the American Federation of Labor requires perfect freedom of inclination in every candi- date for membership in its body. An obligation of fidelity is required ; but let me assure you that in this obligation there is nothing contrary to your civil or religious duties. With this understanding are you willing to take an obligation which binds you* upon your honor as a man to keep the same as long as life remains? (Answer.) President:—"You will now, each of you, place your right hand upon your left breast while I recite the obligation : Initiatory Obligation. You, of your own free will, do sincerely promise to • tbide by the laws of this union ?"You also promise to bear true allegiance to the American Federation of Labor, and never consent to subordinate its interests to those of any labor organi- zation of which you are now, or may hereafter be, a member ? " You also promise to keep inviolate the traditional principles of the American laborer, namely : To be respectful in word and action to every woman; to be considerate to the widow and orphan, the weak and defenceless ; and never to discriminate against a fellow-worker on account of creed, color or national- ity. To defend freedom of thought, whether express- ed by tongue or pen.— With all the power at your command ? "You further agree to educate yourself and fellow- workers in the history of the labor movement, and to defend, upon all suitable occasions and to the extent of your ability, the trade-union principle, which jeal- ously guards its autonomy and independence from improper and unwarrantable interference, and regards Capital as the product of the whole past labor of the human race That the wages of Labor can never be considered as a full equivalent of the services rendered by the laborers; and, consequently, the trade union is, and, humanly speaking, ever will be, necessary for the protection of the workers from despotism smd anarchy? j " You further promise that you will never knowingly wrong a brother, or see him wronged, if in your power to prevent it, and that you will endeavor to subordi- nate every selfish impulse to the task of elevating thematerial intellectual and moral condition of the entire laboring class? "To all of this you pledge your honor to observe, and keep, and the same to bind you as long as life remains, or until you may be absolved from this ob- ligation by the American Federation of Labor." President :—" Do you, each and severally, thus promise?" (Answer.) All (in chorus):—" We bear witness ! *' President : — " You are now members of the Ameri- can Federation of Labor; and I give you my right hand in full acknowledgment thereof. The Vice-Pres- ident will give you further instructions. The Guide will then conduct the new members to the Vice-Presi- dent who will thus address them : Vice-President " Brothers, to gain admission to the meeting room you must knock at the inside door. When the Guardian opens the wicket, you will give him this Password (V.-P. gives current password). When you enter the meeting you must advance to the centre of the room, face the Pres- ident, and give the Entering Sign, which is to extend the right hand, knuckles down, to the full extent of the right arm, straight to the front and on a level with the shoulder. You can then take a seat in the meeting. Shou d you wish to retire before the close of the meeting you can ask permission of the Vice-President, and then give the President the Retiring Sign, which is t > extend the right hand as in the Entering Sign, but with the knuckles upward."The Guide will then conduct the new members to the Secretary, who will present them with their cards of membership ; and then conduct them to reserved seats, where they will remain till the close of the meeting. President :—" I now declare this meeting open for the transaction of such business as may legally come before it." The President will then conduct the meeting according to the laws governing the Union. CLOSING. President:—u Therebeing no further business before the union, we will now proceed to close." The President will then give Three Raps, and the members will rise to their feet. He will then say : President:—"You will all bear well in mind your obligations. Cherish the Union, for it teaches you how to live ; have faith in the Union, and it will com- fort you in need ; have zeal for the Union, for in its growth you will find happiness for yourselves and your fellow men. We will now join in singing the Closing Ode." Af:er singing or reciting the Ode, the President will Rap Once and say : President :—" And now by virtue of my office,'! de- clare this meeting duly adjourned, unless specially called, until our next regular session, when I hope to see you all present."Diagram of the Position of the Officers in the Meeting Room: Secretary. in cc uj m President. Trustees. 2 : : : Guide, Vice-President Treasurer. | Guardian. [dooit ] I^Bij to Cipher1 for1 private and Confidential —fi=g Communication^. ALPHABET. A B c D 1 E F G H I 7. 13. 74. 6. I 8. 17. 80. 4. 32. J K L M N O P Q R 9. 25. 40. 83. 2. 5. 12. l. 15. S T U V W X Y z & 35. 18. 3. 28. 82. 68. 10. 14. 23. NUMERALS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 At 1 To It If As Is Of Or Be In NUMERALS.— 10 - OPENING ODE. Tune : Auld Lang Syne. Shall song and music be forgot When worlungmen combine, With love united may ihey not Have power almost divine ? Shall idle drones still live like kings On labor not their own ; Shall true men starve, while thieves and rings Reap where they have not sown ? No! by our cause eternal, No ! It shall not forever be ; "And Union men will erelong show IIow the workers can be free. No ! by our cause eternal, No ! It shall not forever be ; And Union men will ere long show How the workers can be free. OR THIS. Tune : Andreas Hofer. We'll not give up our Union, Great Labor's Right and Truth ; The blessed staff of hoary age, The guide of early youth, The lamp which sheds a glorious light O'er every dreamy road, The voice which speaks a brother's love Beneath the heaviest load. We'll not give up our Union, Nor heed the crafty tongue, That would this treasure take away Ye treach'rous one, begone ! For ye would fain condemn our minds To glooms of moral night, But we defy your utmost power, Hurrah, for Labor's Right.— II — ODE OF WELCOME. Tune : Marching through Georgia. Start the music, brothers, we will sing a labor song, Sing it with a vim, that will speed our cause along, Let it ring throughout the world, m chorus full and strong, Yes, we are the members of the Union. Chorus. Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Union makes us strong; Hurrah ! Hurrah ! It helps our cause along ; So we'll sing the chorus wherever we may throng As we march onward in Union. Take the pledge to Labor, boys ; but aftef it is signed Put your trust in Union, and work with heart and mind ; Opposing all oppiession, leaving every fear behind While we are members of the Union. (Chorus) Hurrah ! Hurrah ! etc OR THIS. Tune : To all you ladies how on shore. May every*year but draw more near The time when strife shall cease— When truth and love all hearts shall move To live in joy and peace. Now sorrow reigns, and earth complains, For Mammon still his power maintains ; But the day shall yet appear, When the might with the right and the truth shall be ; And come what there may to stand in the way, That day the world shall see. Union men, ne'er of truth despair, Though humble efforts fail, Oh give not o'er until once more The righteous cause prevail ; The brave and the true may seem but few, But hope has better things in view ; And the day shall yet appear When the might with the right and the truth shall be ; And come what there may to stand in the way, That day the world shall see.— 12 — CLOSING ODE. Tune : America. Come, let our voices raise. In thankful songs of praise For Union's might ; May we as brothers kind, In union strong combined, United heart and mind, Uphold the right. OR THIS. Tune : Push off, push off, zve"* 11 gaily row. Brother toilers, cease your slumbers, Listen to your children's cry Hark ! united, countless numbers, Swell the peal of agony. Lo, from Labor's sons and daughters, In the depths of misery, Like the sound of many waters, Comes the cry : " We can be free ! " Comes the cry : " We will be free ! " Winds and waves the tidings carry , Electra in your fiery car, Winged with lightning, do not tarry, Bear the news to lands afar ; Bid them sound the thrilling story, Louder than the thunders glee That Columbia's workers, ripe for glory, Are determined to be free ! Are determined to be free !This book is a preservation facsimile produced for the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. It is made in compliance with copyright law and produced on acid-free archival 60# book weight paper which meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (permanence of paper). Preservation facsimile printing and binding by Northern Micrographics Brookhaven Bindery La Crosse, Wisconsin 2015