Workmen's advocate., September 20, 1890, Image 1

About Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891

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(gpADYOCATE.
WOBKMEFS
Sixth a, gXo. 38
cw otU, jSaturitajj, .September 20, 1890
; , KCVM
ORGANIZED LABOR.
WEEKLY MEETING OF THE
CENTRAL LABOR FEDERA
TION. Sum ii el Gompers Objects to the Ame
rican Section Reply of the So
dulist Delegates-"No Step Duek-ward"-Tlie
Brick Boycott and
the War with the C. L. U.-In-structions
to the Committee:
"Every Union Represented in the
C. L. F. Must be Recognized."
It was 10.30 Sunday morning when
Recording Secretary Kandler gavelled
the delegates to order.
Delegate G. II. McVey, the old ve
teran, was elected Chairman and Simon
Gompers, nephew of the great "Samuel",
Vice-Chairman.
Credentials were received from the
Barbers' Union and the Shoe Workers,
and were approved.
The following letter wan then read :
New York, Sept. 11, '90.
Mr. Ernest Bohm, Sec'y C. L. F.
Dear Sir and Brother: I am in re
ceipt of your favor of the 9th inst. in
forming me that you were instructed to
make application to the American Fe
deration of labor for a charter. I beg
to inform you that the formal applica
tion should contain the names of seven
persons in whose names the charter can
be made out and to have the application
accompanied by the fee of $5.00. By
referring to the list of organizations
which you forward, I notice the name
of "American Section, Socialist Labor
party" and I cannot bring myself to
understand how a political party as bucIi
can be represented in a central trade
union organization. Of the merits or
demerits of the "Socialist Labor party"
it is not within my province to discuss
but the representation of that party or
any other political party in a purely
trade union central organization is to
my mind not permissible. I desire also
to ask whether there are any organiza
tions attached to the Central Labor Fe
deration, which, according to the con
stitution of the A. F. of L., are not
eligible therein.
Enclosed please find a blank applica
tion as per above and also a copy of the
constitution.
Kindly asking you to bring the mat
ters herein contained to the notice of the
C. L. i, for its early consideration I am
Fraternally yours
Sam'l Gompers, Pres.
The reading of this letter was listened
to with ominous silence and when
finished a general murmur of disappro.
bation rang through the room.
On motion delegate Lucien Sanial was
granted the floor and Bpoke in substance
as follows:
"The American Section of the S. L. P.
,was admitted here by a unanimous vote;
there was not a singla protest against it.
Lta admission was in fact, at the time it
took place, taken as a matter of course
and as the natural, logical, inevitable con
sequence of that bitter conflict in the
Central Labor Union which finally led
to the reorganization of the Central La
bor Federation. The separation of the
latter from the former was brought
about by the evident necessity of a new
departure in the labor movement; the
tendency of this new departure was
clearly expressed by the admission of
the American Section into this body.
The admission of Organized Socialists to
t the councils of Organized Labor meant
that an end must be put to political
scabbery. It meant that in the future
no wage-worker would be deemed a
good trade-unionist, who, after hVuting
capitalism in his shop and in his union
the whole year, proved a political scab
on the last day and contributed his vote
to the perpetuation of the capitalist sys
tem. The official representation of or
ganized socialists in the parliament of
Organized Labor meant that the unojk
cial representation therein of the boddle
parties would no longer be tolerated. It
meant, for instance, that Mr. Samuel
Gompers himself will never again have
an opportunity of coming here to ask
the C. L. F. to sustain his nomination
for the State Ssnate by the County De-
mocracy. In brief, it meant that the
--economic and the political labor move
ments must in the future be on the same
lines; that they must be merged into
one great, comprehensive movement,
having in view complete emancipation.
It meant that all future organization of
labor in this country must be on a
higher plane than in the past and that
the time has come when this must be
done here with as much vigor as it is
being done in England under the lead
of John Burns and his fellow socialists.
Of course, you will have to report this
matter to your respective organizations.
They may instruct you to say that they
do not understand it as we do, and in
this case we shall have to retire from '
this body. I have been many years in
tins laoor movement anil l am accus
tomed to kicks and culTs; anyone who
earnestly enters it must expect such
treatment from time to time. But I do
not Mieve that your respective organi
zations 1 will so instruct you. I believe
that a new spirit has taken possession
of Organized Labor; that a higher com
prehension of the aims of the movement
is everywhere apparent among the
wage workers, and that we shall unani
mously take up this gage of battle, de
termined to never again take a step
backward,"
Delegate Vogt was the next speaker.
He said that the labor movement in
Europe was one politically and econ
omically. "Only bust week Enirland
had swung into line when the conven
t;on in Liverpool took that most impor
tant step. We must bring the labor
movement of the United States into line
with the labor movement of the world.
The idea of separating the political from
the economic movement was first intro
duced by the English conservative
trades-union leaders in the interest of
the capitalist parties. When they could
no longer deprive labor of the right of
association and labor's influence became
a power in the hind, they with the aid
cf the conservative leaders emasculated
the movewent by setting up their sham
differeuce between political and econ
omic action. Under the leadership of
Karl Marx and Frederick Engels a
powerful organization was founded, the
International Working Peoples' Asso
ciation, which embraced trades unions
as well as political labor organizations
in every country, including England
and America, in which latter country
Samuel Gompers himself and his friend
Strasser belonged to a branch of that
Eolitico-economical organization. In
elgiuin and France trades unions and
political societies were now combined in
the same national bodies, while in the
other European countries the two
branches were closely allied. In America
the S. L. P. had not only been the
staunchest supporter of economic organ
ization, but had itself organized many
trades and even formed central bodies.
as for instance in Buffalo and St. Louis.
The Socialists have given to the workers
of New York city the most powerful aid
m organizing the trades by founding and
maintaining the JNew York volkszei
lung. iney edit your newspapers.
speak at your meetings, support your
struggles; are they not entitled to sit in
your councils The claim that the So
cialist Labor party should be treated the
same as any ordinary "political party"
is an absurdity and you should put your
foot down upon it. To act with the bona
fide political labor movement is the duty
oi every woruer. Dut let it be under
stood once for all that every organized
worker who supports the old parties is a
traitor to his class. It is the law of
progress that this position will soon be
come the accepted position of the whole
movement. Have the courage to place
yourselves nrmiy upon tins higher plane,
although the new movement is still in
its beginning.''
Great applause followed both these
speeches.
Delegate A. Delabar of the Bakers'
Union then stated that Samuel Gom
pers is using the American Section as an
excuse for refusing the C. L. F. a char
ter. The unions afliliated with the Ame
rican Federation of Labor should insist
upon a charter for the C. L F. and should
protest against Mr. Gompers' action.
The Bakers' Union had been one of the
founders of that Federation and his In
ternational Union would insist on know
ing whether the A. F. of L. was protect
ing the Trades Unions or the K. of L. In
numerous cities where central organiza
tions existed, Sections of the Socialist
Labor party were connected therewith.
Delegate McVey and others spoke
likewise.
Reports of Committees then followed.
The Committee to investigate Delabar's
clubbing reported having collected the
necessary affidavits and being ready to
proceed before the Police Commissioners
on next Tuesday.
The Committee compiling complaints
of open unions against the machinations
of the K. of L. reported progress and
that it will meet on Wednesday even
ings at 85 E. 4th street for further infor
mation. The delegates of the Building Material
Handlers were not present, but the dele
gate of the General Laborers' Union
stated that both these Unions had de
sired to know whether the K. of L. brick
boycott should be recognized inasmuch
as the K. of L. refused to recognize their
Union.
The delegates of the Building Material
Handlers and General Laborers Union
had received an invitation from Samuel
Gompers to attend a Conference at his
office between the Walking Delegates
and their Unions. Various speeches had
been made, but no result had been at
tained. Thia Conference would meet
again on Tuesday and they requested a
third memler on the committee. The
request was granted and the committee
unanimously instructed to insist that i
every Union represented in the C. L. F. '
muxt be recognized.
The Organization Committee reported
that the Passementiers' Union had do
nated $ 23 to the C. L. F. for the purpose
of organizing a strong union of their
trade. Referred to the Oriranizalion
Committee for immediate action.
The Barbers' Union urged union men
to patronize only barber shops display
ing the union card and especially re
quested the United Jewish Trades to be
more active in this respect.
Delegate Adolph Jablinowski of Cigar
makers Union No. 90 reported that 3
strikes had been won last week and that
a large number of new members had
been admitted. They also aided Eceen
trie Engineers No. 3 by insisting that
tne engineers in several factories join
mat union.
Delegate Theodore Hard, of Paperhan
gera 182, reported that his union was
gaining members right along, and that
Walking Delegate Archibald had whis
pered around that something must he
done to kill Union 182. The delegate
further stated that a report had appeared
in the New York World to the etfect
that Mr. Archibald hud collected enough
money from delinquents to pay the ex
penses for his union for a long time to
come. (
Several delegates informed Mr. Hard
that the rosy report in the World could
be accounted for by the fact that Archi
bald had used his Democratic influence
with that paper to have his chum and
fellow-member of the "Clerical People's
party", Alfred Ashley, appointed a re
porter on the stair of the World.
The Carriage and Wagon Makers will
shortly hold a mass-meeting to strenghth
en their union,
The Clothing Cutters' Progressive
Union reported that "Charley" Miller's
K. of L. Cutters were doing their utmost
to strike them out of shops, but unsuc
cessfully. So they had tried to organize
the shop of Steinhard, Heidelberg &
Co., Broadway and Eighth street. Three
men had shouted lustily for the K. of L.
and fifteen had joined the open union.
All sorts of tricks and devices were used
to bulldoze the cutters. For instance, at
the aforesaid meeting it had been claimed
that Steinhard, Heidelberg & Co. had
insisted that their cutters should join the
K. of L., while Mr. Steinhard author
ized a committee of the C. L. F. to make
in his name a emphatic denial of that
statement.
Delegate Delabar reported that having
business at Clarendou Hall on Thursday,
ne, togetner with delegate Unsimnger,
went to the cellar of that place and
found, snugly tied up as left by the
printer, some 10,000 boycott circulars
against Fleischman's yeast duly sealed
by the C. L. U. He and theother dele
gate had carried them to headquarters
and were going to distribute them.
This report occasioned shouts of laugh
ter. The Architectural Iron Workers re
ported a strike at Hoffman &Schuhbach,
corner Royal and West streets, against
the employment of non-union men. The
Housesmiths' Union K. of L. remained
at work and had accepted delinquent
members of their union. They expect
to win.
The Parade Committee will meet Fri.
day night, 8 p. nr., at 85 E. 4th street, to
settle up.
Financial Secretary August Waldinger
reported that to the Italian Stone Ma
sons belonged the honor of selling the
largest number of tickets for the Labr
Day pic-nic, namely 000. A committee
was appointed to visit that union.
Under the head of new business the
Corresponding Secretary was instructed
to lodge a protest with the American
Federation of Labor against its action in
apparently protecting the K. of L. at
the expense of the open unions. In de
bating the motion it was said that Mr.
Gompers contemplated the formation of
an ultra conservative central body in
tliis city and that his union, Cigarmak
ers 144, had been the instigator of this
scheme. It was assumed that this new
body would be patterned after the
famous 10 Stanton street combination
which years ago had been formed as an
offshoot of the Socialist Labor party by
disgruntled elements, prominent among
whom were A. Strasser. S. Gomners. J.
Speyer and others.
Next Sunday s session will be held as
usual at 2.30 p. m.
As we go to press we receive from
Mrs. Pauline Hansen, of Washington,
a letter announcing that in answer to
the appeal of the Binghamton strikers
in our last Issue a subscription list has
been started in that city. We shall
publish the letter in our next. In the
meantime let the same good work be
vigorously pushed elsewhere.
All corporations agree on the labor
question, and we mu t remember that
all our chief newspapers are published
by corporations.
Isaac Emery, brakeman on the Rome
and Waterton R. R., has accepted a
Labor nomination for Congress, and
been discharged by the Railroad.
A clerk, accused of forcing his em.
plover's name, pleaded, but without
effect on the sentence, that he was starv
ing upon a pitiful salary cf four dollars
a week.
THE CAMPAIGN.
FOURTH MEETING OF THE
SOCIALIST CONFERENCE.
Fourteen Assembly Districts Organ
ized Br. Franz (ierau Nominated
for Judge of tlio Court or Appeals
Nominations for Mayor and
other County Ofllees to he Made
on Thursday, September 2.j.
The fourth session of the Socialist
Labor party conference of trade and la
bor unions, was held last Thursday,
September 10, at Clarendon Hall. We
regret to say that it was not as well
attended as it should have been.
The delegates of the following 18
unions (out of 49 organizations) were ab
sent: Tailors' Progr. Union No. 11,
Shirtmakers', Progr. Laborers' No. 1,
Hans von Sagan, Social-Democratic
Turners, Confectioners and Cake Bakers'
No. 7, Millwrights' and Millers' No. 1,
Pianomakers' Lodge No. 4, Beer Driv
ers' Union, Ale & Porter Union No. 1.
Dramatic Society "Fortschritt", Car
penters' & Joiners' Lodge 404, Barbers'
Union, Progr. Musical Union No. 1, Ad
vance Asso'n, Passementiers' Union,
Bartenders' Union No. 1 and Tailors'
Progr. Ijnion No. 1.
The Secretary was instructed to notify
these Unions of the negligeinx-iif their
delegates and request punctual attend
ance or the withdrawal of their dere
lict representatives and the substitu
tion of new ones.
Delegate Alexander Jonas presided
and Adolph Jablinowski acted as Secre
tary during the early part of the session
in place of Ernest Bohm, who was tem
porarily absent on important business.
Credentials were received froruJBakers'
Union No. 9a, Section Morrisania,
S. L. P., and the 8th Assembly District.
They were approved and the delegates
admitted.
The Organizers reported as follows:
The Sixth Assembly District was organ
ized and will meet every Friday at 80
Clinton place.
The Eighth was organized with a large
membership at 125 Rivington street,
Public meetings held every Saturday.
The Tenth was organized at 414 E. 5th
street. Meets on Tuesdays.
The Twelfth was organized last Friday
at 129 Ave. C.
The Fourteenth was organized on
Monday at 220 Ave. A.
The Fifteenth was organized on Fri
day at 350 W. 39th street.
The Sixteenth was organized on Fri
day at 409 E. 14th street.
The Seventeenth was referred to
Branch No. 2, S. L. P., and will be
organized in the course of the week.
The Eighteenth will be organized on
Tuesday at 231 E. 33d street.
The Nineteenth was organized on
Monday at 316 E. 54th street and will
have an agitation meeting on Wednes
day, Sept. 17, in the same hall.
The Twenty second was organized on
Monday at 1422 2d Ave., with a good
membership.
The Twenty-third was organized on
Saturday at 2008 1st Ave.
The Twenty-fourth will be organized
on Thursday, Sept. 18, by the Morris
ania Section, corner 157th street and
3d Ave.
The Executive Committee next re
ported as follows:
1. That it was not advisable to call a
State Convention for the purpose of
nominating a candidate for the only
elective office of Judge of the Court of
Apeals, but it suggested that all the
Socialist Sections in the State be re
quested to sanction the nominees of this
Conference, or propose one.
2. That the candidate proposed was
our old friend, of Brooklyn, Dr. Franz
Gerau
3. That a Naturalization Bureau be
opened at the Arbeiter-Zeitung, 81 Lud
low street, and at the Lalwr Lyceum,
25 E. 4th street.
4. That subscription lists le issued, so
a to give sympathisers an opportunity
of contributing to the campaign ex-jK-nt-e.
The recommendations were ill adopt
ed. It was then decided that members of
the S. L. P. who join their respective
Assembly Digtrict organizations should
also pay the full dues levied by these
organizations, namely 20 cents.
Delegates Vogt, Jonas, Waldinger,
Ensminger and Hilkowitz were elected
a Committee to present nominations for
the County offices at the next meeting
of the Conference, on Sept. 25.
It was decided that every Assembly
District was entitled to three delegates
he Conference, and the Secretary
instructed to have "delegate cards
was
printed.
J mancial
ported that very few unions had paid
uit-ii uues. up to dale tne following
unions had donated money: German
Waiters' Union, fill; Silk Ribbon Weav
ers' Pr U., 15; United German Irani-
' w 1 1 1 1IHHI tin
ers, 10; Socialist Liedertafel, .", Br;
wiht-rn io. i, f,i; t igarmnKers t'nn
No. 90, $10; German Section, S. L. 1
25.
only titteen unions had remitted Ihts
of their members nnd one, the Progr
sive Assembly of Cigsrmakers, hi
positively refused to do so.
A committee was elected to wait
Progr. Laborers' Union No. 1, ami r
quest that the union should send del
gates regularly.
All unions were also roirnnMl.nl i
to
arrange special agitation meetings ft
l'i.'tKnuiiK Hie economic llllU politic
principles of the party.
The Conference ml innrm-il tn n
al
et
again on Sept. 25, when the candidate
ior county unices will be nominated
(Jootl Work in the 2:lrd Assembly
District.
The campaign in the 23rd was begun
with great epirit and good prospects
last Saturday at 2008 First avo The
meeting room proved to lie too small in
spite of the rain. Organizer Thiinme
opened the meeting and explained its
object. Comrade Konen was elected to
preside. The floor was then given to
Comrade Bruckmann, who, in an ener
getic speech in German told tho people
present why Organized Labor had to go
into independent politics and why tho
Socialist Labor party, the international
party of tho workiugmen, was the only
one fit to lead them in tho battle for
their rights. His remarks were listened
to with the closest attention and the
applause that greeted his utterances
proved that his hearers were with him
heart and soul. So eager were they, in
in fact, that the meeting did not indulge
in any debate but at once proceeded
with the work of organization. This
they did with a will, 48 enrolling them
selves.
William Bueksath was elocted Record
ing Secretary. Edward Thimme, Cor
responding Secretary, and Conrad Scholz
financial secretary. r,dard J liimine
was elected Organizer of the District,
while Comrades Voerg, Wilke and Falke
were elected to represent the district at
the County Convention. The officers
constitute tho executive committee.
Persons wishing to join the organiza
tion are invited to not if v th n rum mVui
E. Thimme, 1071 Lexington avenue, of
meir intention.
Public ineetiniM w ill lie lul,l
the next will take place on Saturday,
Sept. 20, at 8 p. M, at Eberhard's Hall,
20(18 First ave., cor. 107th street, and
will be addressed by speakers in English
and German. All our comrades, friends
and sympathizers in the 23rd District
interested in the cause of Organized
Labor and Progress, ought to be there.
This district is a good one and if proper
ly worked will give excellent results.
Next Saturday's meeting is especially im
portant; not only because of the sound
advice and common sense which those
present will have an opportunity to
near, but because measures will be taken
to organize the election districts.
SPECIAL WARNING.
A Swindler I h-ciilating Subicrintiou l int
of tlm 8. I,. I', with Forged Mfc-natui-oK.
On Saturday morning, Sept. 13, the
labor reporter of a New York daily was
at the New Haven Railroad station
waiting for the train to New York,
when he was accosted by a man who
requested a donation aud showed a sub
scription list headed "Socialist Labor
party" and signed by Sergius Schevitch,
Alexander Jonas and Ernest Bohm.
The man said it was for the campaign
fund of the New York Sochlists.
The reporter knew Bohm's signature
and immediately saw that the name was
forged. He requested the man to wait
and went to the telegraph office and
notified Bohm of his discovery. He
returned to get more information and
cause the swindler's arrest, but the lat
ter had wisely departed.
The man is about thirty years of age,
of slim figure, and looks like a consump
tive. He has small blonde side whis
kers, was dressed in a gray suit, and
spoke very good English. A fac simile
of the genuine subscription list has been
mailed to the New Haven Section.
The (irand Jury find Black well's
Island to be a hell upon earth, but Com
missioner Porter says the clergy there
do not complain.
The receipt of a sample copy of this
paper is an invitation to subscribe.
to tl
POLITICAL ACTION IN CLEVE
LAND, O.
The SorialUta hikI National!! hold a
Joint Convention ami Nominate
a Ticket.
An independent labor ticket has been
placed in the Held by a convention held
a few days ago under the joint auspices
of the Socialist sections and the Nation
alist clubs of Cleveland.
The Bakers' Union, the Carpenters'
Union, the East Side and West Side
Arbeiter-Bunds, and a number of labor
clubs answered the call and were repre
sented by delegates.
Comrade E, (J. Vail called the Convert
tion to order. Comrade W. Shurtleff
was elected Chairman and R. G. Holt
Secretary, A Committee on Credentials
was then appointed, consisting of Com
rades Weingart and Vail, of the Ameri
can Section, and Com, P. Christiansen,
of the German Section; also, a Commit
tee on Platform, composed of Dr. Tuck
erman and Mr. Rice of the Nationalist
Club, and Comrades Christiansen and
Waechtel of the German Section.
Tho proceedings were harmonious
throughout. The platform, which was
unanimously adopted, demands among
other measures of immediate relief, tho
government ownership of railways, tele
graphs, nnd all industries that have been
syndicated or trustified, or the control
of which has passed into the hands of
foreign capitalists; the establishment of
Postal Savings Banks and the substitu
tion of banks owned and operated
by the government for all private or so
called national banks; the restoration of
our ocean carrying trade, not by
granting subsidies to corporations, but
by enlarging our navy and converting it
into a merchant marine. Resolutions
were also adopted commending the
New York Central Railroad employes
for their vigorous stand against corpo
rate tyranny, condemning in scathing
terms the employment of Pinkerton
cutthroats and train wreckers, and de
manding the indictment of "Spider"
Webb for complicity in tin? crimes com
muted by his murderous hirelings.
The ticket is as follows: For Congress,
E. G. Vail; for Sheriff, S. Bethel; for
County Commissioner, Wm. E. Beck;
for County Clerk, Win. Whitworth; for
Prosecuting Attorney, J. Kane.
Dr. Tuckernian, of the Press Commit
tee, reported that in tlm m if it'll? na m
paign the receipts were 10.91 and the
expenditures 10 30, leaving a balance
of sixty-onu cents in the treasury. The
report was received and the committHH
discharged.
lhe following were elected rnemliera
of the Executive Committee for the
coining campaign: Dr. Turkoman.
Miss C. Lands berLr. W. (!. Wi,-I.fl W
Shurtleff, R. (1. Holt.
two ladies represented a Snninlmf.
club as delegates. This was the first
political convention ever held in Cleve
land that was conducted with tlm do.
coney required to make the attendance
of ladies a possibility.
Our comrades of that citv extinct that
their action will cause a healthful agita
tation among the working people and,
by plaeinir the old boodle imrtiHs on tlm
defensive, will force their mouthpieces
to uiseuHS other questions than those in
volved in the petty quarrels of poli
ticians. Thty expect also that the
Archibalds of Cleveland will thereby
lie unmasked and compelled to show
themselves in their true colors.
The President of the American Feder
ation of Labor has issued a special ap
peal to Organized Labor against the
Anheuser Busch and the Wm. Lemp
Breweries of St. Louis, who are the
head and front of the beer pool. "In
the Anheuser-Busch concern", he says,
tho heartlessness is even greater than
in any other brewing company; a majo
rity of its employes in the bottling de
partment are children between theaues
of eight and fourteen, who are forced
to work long hours for meager wages-
eking out a life of misery, stunted in
their intelligence, and robbed of the op
portunity of a healthy development and
mental advancement." While the or
ganized bodies of Lal)or are asked not
to relax their efforts in bringing every
unfair brewery to terms, they are espe
cially requested to exercise the utmost
pressure from all parts of the country
upon the t-rc foresaid concerns.
Job! job! job! Police Commissioner
Voorhis don't like one job propose, (to
number the election ticktt.:) and prefers
another job!
Purcell, of Rochester, denounces a
strike as editor of the Union, and then
"arbitrates" it as one of the State Arbitrators.
' I.
V
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