Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1889-03-02
FRISCO" FATUITY.
REACTIONARY TRADES UN-
IONS CAST THE DIE.
Socialist Time and Energy Which
May Be Used to Better Purpose.
Socialists Should Work
for Their own Par.
ty Hereafter.

ty Hereafter.
The reassembling of the Convention
of Trades and Labor Organizations of
the Pacific Coast took place last Sun
day.
In accordance with the invitation ex-
tended by the Committee of Arrange
ments, the delegates of both the San
Francisco Sections of the S. L. 2. were
on hand
1t appears, however, that the vitalil-
ing measures introduced by the social
ist delegates at the former sessions had
proved unpalatable to some, and precau-
tions apparently had been taken to ex-
,clude this undesirable element Yet the
first intimation that the socialists had
mittee to report favorably upon their
credentials. After a somewhat heated
and protracted discussion, in which the
socialist delegates took no part, they
were rejected upon the ground that
they did not represent bona fde trades
union or labor organization. However,
the defeat was not so disastrous, all
things considered. The motion was
carried by bare majority, and it is the
opinion of many that had a division
been called for they would have been
admitted.
As previously stated, our delegates
took no part in the discussion as to the
admission but when both sides had ex-
hausted their arguments pro and con,
Comrade p. Ross Martin then secured
the floor, and stated that he had been
instructed by his constituents that
should any opposition be offered to the
admission of the delegates of the S. l..
p, which he was proud of having the
honor of representing, that they should
quietly withdraw, for the socialists
were not there for the purpose of caus-
ing any dissensions among trades
unions.
Many of the delegates of the older
unions of the Federation withdrew in
disgust at this exhibition of ignorance
but at the earnest request of the rejected
socialist delegates they nearly all were
induced to return and represent their
unions.
1t was amusing to note, however, that
during the discussion of the question,
many avowed socialists, representing
unions of well known advanced radical
views, were mute as 'the harp that
hung on Tara's walls"
I presume that it is unnecessary for
me to state, after the foregoing, that
the Chinese question gained the suprem-
acy to the total exclusion of any practi-
cal or useful measures. What the con-
vention will accomplish in the future
remains yet to be seen; SO far it has
done nothing, though there are many
able men among the delegations.
And now, Comrade Editor, right here
want to give you the opinion of many
of our comrades, tried and true. And
this is that it is about time that the So
ciaIists stopped sacrificing themselves
for the benefit of others, in building up
other organization, to the detriment of
their own and the movement for which
they are organized to advance.
For years they have been devoting
their time and labor in forming trades
unions and labor federations, invari-
ably in the end to find the door shut in
their face, with but few, very few ex-
ceptions.
In pursuing this course, and from
their activity in aiding, organizing and
directing strikes, they have rendered
themselves unpopular, and at the same
time never, never been free from the
doubt and suspicion of the very ones
they were endeavoring to assist, not
withstanding the fact that they have
proved their truth again and again,
upon the scaffold, and some of their
best men lie rotting in dungeons all
over the civilized world to-day.
And all for what? Because we have
adopted the mistaken method of array
ing ourselves as class party, and ap
pealing to class prejudices, while in re
ality we contemplate injuring no one
but are laboring for the advancement OF
all humanity. Do we not stand ready
to accord to even the most degraded
beast of brutalized capitalist the best
enjoyments of life. liberty and happi
ness, as readily as we would accord the
same to the most honest horny handed
son of toll that ever lived? Do we mo-
wish to assure him pleasures and enjoy
ments far beyond the present power OF
his ILL., gotten wealth, even though i
were ten times that of a Rothschild
in perfect peace and safety, free forever
from the fear of want, yes, and his chill
dren after him, and his children's chill
.dren, on to the very end of or the dura
.tion of the human racer
L.