The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-08-27
FOURTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS
MORNING SESSION.

FOURTH DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
MORNING SESSION.
The Congress met st 0 O'Clock. The
roll was called, after. which the minutes
Of the last session were read and nc
cepted.
Mr.. Cameron, of Kansas, arose to q
question Of privilege. He was unable
to say what the spirit of the gentleman
who offered the resolutions, recently
passed ct Leavenworth regarding him
self, " as, but he believed the trainers
were governed wholly by desire for
notoriety. He proceeded TO review a
movement in which certain parties were
associated, and went as certain gentle
men thought, too far into the motives
for the action taken, and point Of
order was raised.
Mr.. Troup, Of New York, stated that
the gentleman had no right to 60 be-
yond q vindication Of his character,
which was attacked in the document
referred above.
The President decided the point of
order well taken, and Mr.. Cameron was
requested to come directly to the point.
In relation to the charge he had moth
ing to say. He was only thinking Of
the interests of his constituents when
he concluded to refer to the matter at
all. In the charges made, that he is in
afiliation with demagogues and politi-
clans, he did not know TO whom the
trainers referred. He acknowledged to
be a member of the Labor Association,
out further than that he claims no
membership whatever in any union or
clique. He stated that he never held q
civil Office in his life. He never asked
v muu 20 veto Ea.-hia- nomination or
election to any office; and with this
explanation he thought it would be
plain to the convention that the matter
referred to the convention, AMI not to
him, and with this knowledge they
would proceed to act.
Mr.. Cummings, from Massachusetts,
offered the folio wing resolutions:
Resolved. That we recommend the i'm
mediate formation Of an independent Politi-
cal party, to be known as the National La
Dor Reform Party, for the purpose Of using
the power of the ballot to protect the interest
and rights Of the working people Of this
country.
Resolved, That the president Of this Con-
gress be empowered and instructed to ap-
point committee Of one from each State
and Territory represented therein and the
District of Columbia, whose duty it shall be
to call, at the earliest practicable moment,
q National Convention, in order to COM
plete the organization Of q National Labor
Party. 80
Mr. Cummins thought the labor ques-
ton presented two phases, one the
purely industrial, the other the political.
He believed in q distinct movement In
both the political and industrial world.
He wanted the President to have the
privilege Of calling q Congress which
shall consider both these matters. He
wanted this association to psrtake Of
the character of more than q mere
trades union or political party. There
should be higher purpose, and that
purpose should receive early and earn
est attention.
BY the plan he suggested political
party can be formed to take care of the
interests Of the laboring classes without
offending the prejudices of any connect
ed with this organization.
Mr.. Wear, colored delegate from
Pennsylvania, opposed the scheme Of
organizing q political party. The his
tory Of all reform movements in this
country showed that the causes sdvo-
Gated had gained no strength by politi-
cal organization. Take the snti-slavery
organization, for instance. 1t was not
a political organization, but, by work
ing outside Of the political orgsniza-
tons of the day, steadily inculcated .
public sentiment that finally overthrow
slavery. Mr.. Wear then referred to
the charges against the Republican
party of corruption, wasting the public
lands, &c.
Several delegates suggested that
labor congress was not exactly the
place to deliver a eulogium on the Re-
publican party.
Mr.. Troup, of New York, Warmly Advo-
Gated the formation Of political party
independent of the trades-unions Ex-
perience has proved that the introduc-
ton of politics into the trades-unions
had impaired their usefulness.
Let us keep our trade-unions to take
care of the industrial interests of the
lsboring men, and outside Of them
organize political party in which all
of our wOrkingmen could take part
without interfering with their loyalty
TO their trades unions. Trades unions
were composed Of men Of all existing
parties, and it should be our aim to
drag laboring men out of all parties
and place them on platform of our
own.
Mr.. Lavine, Of Illinois, made brief
and earnest speech in favor of the res
olutions offered by Mr.. Cummings.
The time having arrived for the dis
cussion of other matters, further de-
bate was dispensed with.
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