Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-02-02

| organization. Every attempt on the
| part of the boss brewers to destroy the
| brewery workmen's union failed. Meth
er threats nor brides could demoralize
the union. But want, and nothing but
bitter want, compelled the greater num-
Der OF the brewery workmen to again
take up the miserable yoke of slavery
and obey the will of the bosses. But
few within the Brewers Union sue
cumbed to bribery, and these are brand
ed for life. No honest workman will
keep their company. The contest of the
brewers would have had victorious
contamination if there had been devel-
oped a greater feeling of solidarity on
the part of workingmen in general, had
the resolutions on the part of various
trade-unions been strictly carried out by
their respective memberships. This was
not the case, however. and we must.
therefore, hold the greater number of
the workingmen AZ sharing in response.
bility for the defeat of the brewers. To
utter this truth is bitter. Yet, when it
comes to honoring truth, the United
German Trades Unions do not hesitate
to speak out. Although the so,Called
boycott was initiated by organized labor
in general of New York and vicinity, it
remained for a small band of advanced
workers, who We're true to principle, to
practically carry on the fight against the
BOSSES And that this boycott has not
been and is not Intellectual, is apparent
from the fact that the pool bosses used
every means to free themselves from its
oppressive weight. True to their pecu-
liar conception of honesty as a purchas-
able. commodity they endeavOred,
through their secretary, Seifert a tleXi-
bic individual-e with the assistance
of a paid servant Of the people, who was
actually one Of those whose duty it was
to bring crime to the light-to bride re-
representatives. of organized labor to lift
the boycott,
Unfortunately we must admit that the
qualifications Of morality and decenCy
are IN an embryo state among many of
the labor leaders, many of them having
received a bad bringing up, as they
seem unable to properly Judge of their
actions
What could have influenced James
Wood, George }. Jones and r. 7, Davis
to act as they did: Were they not
aware that besides prostituting them
selves they dragged organized labor in
the mire? Otherwise they should have
been Withdrawn by their constituencies
as suffering from mental and moral i'm
potence. If, however, they knew that
that their transactions were mean and
contrary to honesty; that they only fol-
lowed the meanest instinct of money
getters, reckless thereby aiming the
hardest blow at labor organizations; that
they betrayed and sold those SO needful
of help the brewery workmen (and we
have no reason to doubt this; then they
should be expelled from the Central La
Dor Union Of New York in shame and
disgrace, and branded by their respective
unions, which have the doubtful honor
of being represented by such creatures
for all time. We had expected that
upon the publication of their transac-
tons, the C. L. L. would have suspended
them from the offices they held during
the investigation. We had expected that
these gentlemen would have displayed
at least SO much pride as to withdraw
from everything that would connect
them with labor organizations, pending
the investigation OF these serious
charges.
Never, in the labor movement, was
meaner treason displayed than in this
case. Capitalists, police and character
less labor leaders showed their utmost
depravity.
What is the lesson to be learned from
all this: 1t is the duty of workingmen
to join together more closely in the
fight against the ruling class. 1t is the
duty Of those who clearly comprehend
their objects, binding themselves in
solidarity, to agitate and organize those
of the Indifferent masses, to draw peO-
pie to their organization who are able to
control themselves, who are able to take
up the organization Of the new society
which will follow the rapidly decaying
present system. Every present organi-
cation should regard their so-called
leaders with suspicion, and supervise
their officers with sharp scrutiny; and
whenever such raise themselves over
their organization, thrust them back into
the darkness of their own unclean eX-
istence. If the wOrkmen are not able to
free their organizations from such crea-
lures, then their organizations are
doomed to destruction, and they will
earn the contempt of all honest organza-
lions and all their contentious will come
to naught.
Therefore, fellow-werkmen, clear your
organizations of such leaders who use
their unions as political step-ladders.
This clearing out should be the more
hastened in view of the coming eight
hour movement, which would rive such
! corrupt leaders and their following a
wider field for reasonable activity.
With fraternal greeting,
! THE UNITED GERMAN TRADLS- UNIONS.