New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-06
LABOR REFORM.
CONVENTION OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ON
TRADES-UNIONS.

CONVENTION OF woRKINGMEN-DIsCUssIoN ON
TRADES-USIONS.
The present activity of the Labor Reform
movement has prompted Convention, which Is holding
IN this city, under the auspices Of the NewEngland
Labor Reform League The Convention will assemble in
Cooper Institute to-day, $50 and 1880 on Sunday,
sn Tammany Hail. at 1880 ~, $50 and 1870 p M and
on Monday 1t will again held in Cooper Institute at
1GSO am, and 1850 p. preliminary meeting was
held at Cooper Institute last evening, at which H. W.
Hume Of Rhode Island presided. In his opening re-
marks he said that he believed great revolution is
coming upon us-the labor revolution. He announced
the question for discussion, Are Trade Societies. as
organized injurious TO the laboring classes" and
called upon Mr. Haywood OF Princeton, Mass, TO open
tho discussion the affirmative Mr.. Haywood said
especially wish my friends, the workingmen, TO I'M
derstand that in ctcisng Of the faults Of their or
ganizatlon do 1t in the spirit Of friendship Trade
societies as now organized monopoly, the main ad-
vantage being to gather within the lines Of organization
the amount OF skill in certain trade, and thereby en-
desVor 70 control the market into which that skill comes
70 be sold shall endeayOr that in the first place.
trade societies opposed liberty in the second place.
they impede progress in the third place, they dest
tute Of moral principle and fourth. they are self
destructive IN practice They despotc in their nature
and tendencies because the chief object as defined In
their own constitutions 10 limit the spread OF know
edge there any right that is sacred to all classes 1t
a. the right TO acquire mechanical knowedge one OF the
great means for providing the necessarles OF me- some
years ago there was what called a Know
Nothing movement the chief object OF whleh
was TO prevent foreigners from coming here and
as they said taking away the means Of Life to others
The Irishman the Frenehman, and the German caEo,
and was found only good for them but good for U.S.
Nov Chinese want 10 The cutlery against them
similar 10 the old What is the trouble with the
Chpamani He ia poor but has be not right TO Gomez
and be can make better article for less price than
Others is not that fact title before the worldf lap
plausel Now these societies would drive every man
from the shop who viii not JOIN the organization fhe
employer cannot set the price piece OF goods he Is
manufacturing until he gone up into the fourth story
and asked parcel there what he can sell IL ror
The employer Is limited every side. Then, again.
supposing this scheme succeeds, and monopoly Is
established the existing trades it carries up the price
all consumer and, II the trades gain what they
want the great class Of defrauded "
large extent
In the second place this scheme is hostile TO progress
1t prevents the spread OF knowledge. The young man
who wants 70 any trade is told that there Is sur
plus OF labor; and they refuse TO instruct him. What
can he dot He must beg, steal or starve. If the sys
TEN succeeds it puts periodic the worlds progress at
once and forever The progress OF civilization owes
great deal 20 competition-the right Of 10 do
better than another The tendency Of this scheme is TO
nulfy that great and universal and beneficial law Of
free composition Of improvement also in the making Of
machinery.
FAs scheme. in the third place. is destitute Of moral