The anti-monopolist., 1877-10-11
PROGRESS OF THE LABOR MOVeMEN
iN PENNSYL LVANlA.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24.-The Ia :
bor movement in politics has assumed
greater and wider proportions IN
PENNSYLVANIA than in any other state
in the country. Last year the Laoor
men and the Greenback men polled
over 900 votes for Peter Cooper, ana
today they put their local ticket In
the field to cope with the two great
parties. eon,
The first organized attempt to form
.Tahor or Workinymen party IN the
United States began IN Inllaueipn1i,i[' pn,i
On the Fourth Of July, 1875. The
movement WAS nothing more "
less than an offshoolo the lnteina'i1n- nd Da
AL Society the members OF "hlon' +ho
lieving that political action was tha;, .nS
only means OF accomplslll,S N.Y.
aims in the United States, anu iiasine
full authority under the ch"liio,oo
like constitution OF tne olg"llihs'ioil
to take any shape they plo"oou' ~
long as the central ldea ol Cho s'ooooia-
ton was kept IN view, Iesolveu W
form themselves into polltical parry
The organization spread raploiy, aiio
in six months time the halt dozen
men who organized 1t cOuld COUNT ao
least 5000 followers.
At this Philadelphia meeting there
were representative from the North
American Federation OF the Inter
national Workingmen' Association,
the delegates being from Pittsburgh:
where there are probably 1900 men.
under one name or another, connected
with the organization; the Working
mems Party Of Illinois, the delegate
beinr one ConZett, from Chicago, an
educated and intelligent German, eX-
tremely radical in his opinions, Jne
Social-Political Worklngmen ooclety
of Cincinnati (the same which recent,
ly nominated State ticket IN Ohlo.)
the Social Democratic Workingmen
PARTY of North America, which Is
well organized throughout New Eng
land. New York city, and the Middle
States: and the German Free Congre
uation of Philadelphia, which has
membership of about 400. The dele
rates from the associations formed
themselves into a congress, whlcf
was in session several days. A dele
cation from Sclavic societies OF thu
United States, who heartily sympa
thized with the movement. were re
fused admittance.
The congress resolved to call tn
movement ssthe Workingmen' part
of the United States.' Itrepudlate
all the old political organizations
pledged it's members to lndependen
action. and organized a secret propi
yanda for the spread of the principle
OF the party. Reports made at III
time showed that the societies affl
lated with the movement numbere
about 10000 members, that It's thre
organs, the Arbeiter St,mme OF Ne
York, the Labor Standard OF tn
same city, and Tordote Of Chicago ha
\ combined circulation OF about o,OO
Chicago has been selected Tor II
beaduuarters of the WOrkingmen
party, and every preparation ~ bet
made for vigorous campaign. III
movement has steadily grown ev
since. and, assisted by the rece
strikes. now numbers probably 1000
members.
The beginning of these strikes,
course, helped the movement thous
they had not been initiated by Il
organizers or members of the "W or
ingmens Party" and although it is
cardinal principle of the order
however, that these strikes were pl
iected into the movement the "Wor
inrmen's Party" initiated and II
tered the formation Of secret socletl
among the workmen and did all
could to help on the strikers.
leaders realized instantly that t
moment had come at last tor I
placing of their party directly a
openly before the people. These le;
crs all over the world have select
the United States as the grand bat
ground OF the socialistic moveme
They took hold of the wainmen $
ganization. the locomotive englnee
&c. and made overtures to every G
OF the oldfashioned labor unions.
In Philadelphia the cigar make
largely composed of Germans q
Bohemians. who were thorough
imbued with the doctrines of the
ternationalists, were the first to mo
Their committee on Propaganda s.
out circulars and cards all through
State, and gradually got nearly ev,
trades unionln Philadelphia into tn
way of thinking so tar rs the IN
lection of Il new party into the poh
of the city and State was concern
Even the Printer Union. Wnlcn n
bers over $4,000 men, and by its cl
ter. is deharred from political act
was enlisted in the movement by
means of a society call the Typogr;
zeal Labor Society. In the State
large. though there were some jar
elements. the movement was fully
ranized in the different counties.
Greenbaekers also have an organ
tion in every county. But man!
these county associations had
captured by old political party ma
especially was this so among
Greenhackers. The leaders there
resolved to forestall any action OF
part of the politicians: so they na
called State convention at Ha
hurg ION the 10th inst.,) nomlnat
ticket, and put it in the field. be