The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-08-14
THE CINCINNATI CONFERENCE.


The day fixed for the meeting of the
National Conference Of Labor Reformers,
Tuesday September Z, is rapidly approach
ing, and, strange to say, the leading Labor
Reformers of the United States have not
been invited, and | am plainly given to
understand by the sslf-constituted powers
that be, that such Reformers are not to be
invited. The play of Hamlet with the
character Of Hamlet left out, will be the
complexion Of the conference if certain
parties are allowed to carry the day.
The conference is to be held under the
following resolutions adopted by the Penn
sylvaniA Anti Monopoly Convention held
at Harrisburg, March I'd, Sd and 4th
Resolved, That the meeting and conference
together of the labOrIng classes engaged In
actual industry throughout the whole coun-
try. East, West, North and South, whatever
NAV be the final conclusion of their action,
would promote lasting benefits to all depart
ments Of American industry.
Resolved, That with the object to bring
about such conference and cooperation Of all
the industrial classes of this nation, that the
president and secretaries of this Convention,
together with the following well-known and
trusted gentlemen, be requested to act as the
invitation committee, with power to add to
their number such others as they approve:
w. Saunders, 0. H. Kelly, Washington,
D.. e.; C. B. johnson, Schuylkill Co. f. Nj.
Davis, T. Nj. Thompson, Philadelphia v.
II RI
f. NJ. Chamberlain, John Orvis, Massachu-
setts Alexander Troup. New Haven, CT.
H J. Walls. John Fehrenbatch, Parker Pills
bury. Ohio Marcus w Morton. Rhode Is
land 8 NJ Smith, Charles Boone. John
Hinchcliffe, A. T.. Cameron, Illinois Horace
II. Day, q. Osborne Ward, John Swinton,
New York.
ResoIred, That the invitation COMMITTEES
consider the propriety of getting the Confer
ence together not later than the first Of July
next.
By reference 70 the names specially en-
dorsed-by the convention, | find 4. NJ
Davis, Of Philadelphia, III. j. Walls, Of
Ohio, John Hinchcliffe and A. c. Came
ron, Of Illinois, who are now informed by
H. III. Day, of New York, that they mas
sign document prepared by him (without
authority from the convention), and a re-
fusal to sign will cause him to enforce the
following threat
1--WE give you this further notice that We
shall in such conference insist, that you
further refusal to cooperate in good faith
shall forever exclude you from that confer
ence"
The gentlemen named by the COnven'
vention as "well known and trusted gen
tlemen, are not to be trusted by crea
ture Of that convention another illustra.
ton of the fact that often is manifested,
that the creature is greater than the
Creator.
It has been proven beyond doubt, that
the powers claimed by Mr.. Day have never
been delegated to him by any person OF
persons with power 50 to do, and his at
tempt to exclude men from q conference
because they disagree with "my plan" OF
because they refuse to sacrifice their indi-
vidual opinions, and adopt the opinions
Of another individual, is an act that no
honest Labor Reformer will countenance.
My opposition to the plan Of the confer
ence is not based on personal grounds, that
is, so far as Mr.. Day is concerned but it
becomes personal matter with me when
such old, tried and true friends as Alex.
Campbell, Moses W. Field, R. F. Trevel-
lick, John Hinchcliffe, A. G. Cameron,
Robt. Schilling, E. NJ. Davis, John A..
Thomson, and the many others who have
been active Labor Reformers for ten years.
are to be excluded from a conference, be-
cause they dared to hold convention at
Cleveland which could not be ruled bv one
man. l have lately been investigating the
cause Of this bitter opposition to Cleve-
land, and find some very interesting his
tory, which will he related at the proper
time and place.
Mr.. Day claims his power from meet
ing held at Philadelphia, on March %, at
which ten gentlemen we're present. One
Of those present has publicly said
First, That Mr.. Day was rot made chair
man Of the Executive branch of the National
Invitation Committee, and that no such Exc
cutive Branch was formed
Second, That no agreement was come to
that the proposed conference shall
be secret, or that any man shall be excluded
theIefrom because Of his utilization with the
sO-called Cleveland or any other movement.
And to this date Mr. Day has not and
cannot controvert the statement.
In the face of all the facts, he makes
rule a. follows
-. In selecting members, reference is
made to the plan Land out in the address which
gave rise to the resolution on which we are
acting Selections made by any state branch
Of the Committee must govern, until the
body is organized, when the whole power of
this Invitation Committee is ended. If there
Ire those IChO do not approve Of our programme,
~ al ls substantial points, they are not
Isted TO b Of ~, and for the business u, hand.
u they are NOT for us, they must be against Us
" they 50 elect.
In the resolutions adopted by the Anti
Monopoly Convention, not one word is
'aid about plan, but now we are told, if
you are not for my plan, you are against
The Labor Reform movement.
Mr.. Editor, even egotism should blush
It the following from the pen Of Mr.. Day:
"When this Cincinnati conference comes
ogether, if it can promote the interests of
hose classes in whose welfare it il HONESTLY
eeking to act by union, official or otherwise,
will undoubtedly then be able to Judge.
md shall be most happy, if 1 find cannot
AIRY forward the work set out to accom-
'iish, On tie sOay think best, to there unite