The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-06-15
dick ALLEN Reflected.
Not Admitted as a Delegate
to the Central Labor
Assembly.
HE HAD RUN FOR SHERIFF.
And Was Too Much Of a Politician
for the Workers. Views of Labor
Men.


Richard j. Allen, late candidate
for Sheriff on the labor ticket, had
been denied admission as delegate
to the Central Labor Assembly, which
met Thursday night. To ascertain if this
were true called on him at his home,
No. 80 Cottage street, and had an inter
view. At first Mr.. Allen was very
reticent, but finally he consented to talk.
WHAT MR. ALLEN SAYS
He said that he was a member of the
Executive Committee of Eccentric Lodge
No. 8, Engineers and Firemen; that each
lodge had been requested to send three
delegates to aid in forming the Central
Labor Assembly, and that as chairman Of
the Executive Committee he appointed
himself, John Mccain and William A1pe
delegates. When he handed In his cre-
dentials Mr.. Allen was told:-
mo credentials will be received from
politicians
II replied" he went on, "that we would
wait outside until our credentials were
considered. In about half an hour Mr..
McCann was admitted 1t seemed from
what learned that McCann was objected
to because he was a politician. McCann
denied this and asked TO have the man
produced who stated this His request
was not granted and resolution to ac-
cept Mccain and Alpe was adopted"
We'll, about yourself, Mr.. Allen"
asked.
"Some one introduced resolution in
the Committee on Credentials to drop me,
but it was not adopted. A debate of per-
haps three-fourths of an hour took place,
and when vote on the resolution to drop
me was taken it was defeated by vote Of
6 to 5. A resolution was then offered that
my credentials should be accepted. The
vote stood 5 to 5, one delegate not voting.
suppose was rejected, but some friends
of mine today said the chair had intended
to decide the other way"
"WaS the only objection to you that of
being a politician?o
"Yes, Sir; and l am not politician in
the sense of the bylaws. 1 told them
would vote as pleased, for i have that
right Powderly was Mayor of Scranton;
/ would like to see them try to oust him
on the ground that he is a politician.
had no desire to remain, and / offered to
retire, but the majority wanted me to
stay. / shall not attend as delegate
| again, and will substitute good man in
my place. have lived here q quarter OF
| O century, and am pretty well known,
| and don't think the action of the dele
gates will hurt Inc much among those
| who know me"
| It goes without the saying that the ru-
| NOR of the rejection created no end of
discussion among labor workers and
! politicians, as to the relations which
| politics and labor should bear to each
| other.
| WHAT MR.. MULLINS THINKS.
| Dennis Mullins, Jr., ex-president OF the
| United Order of American Carpenters and
| Joiners. and at present State treasurer of
| the Federation of Trade and Labor
Unions, seems to have lost considerable
| faith in the integrity OF organized labor,
and is only awaiting the assembling Of the
next convention of the Federation In
| order to resign his present position. Mr..
Mullins is now boss carpenter He has
| had much experience in labor matters,
and carefully watched every move Of
| political or social nature onthe part of or
ganized labor for the past twenty years.
| He does not think it wise for a labor or
| ganization to take an active part in
general politics, simply besause of the
lack of political experiences OF the average
aHe has not that tinss,,' said he, .and
| that experience in the usages of society
| which would enable him to conduct sue
| cessfully trade organization in connec-
| ton with political party.
| II admire the workingman who sticks
up for his rights, if he does 30 intelli-
| gently. Our system of government Is q
| beautiful one; but you can plainly see how
easy it is for the political sharper to take
| advantage of the masses of uneducated
workmen The time will come when
workingmen will be able to mould politi-
cal sentiment on all matters OF social
| economy; but that time is not yet.
"When we first made display of our
| strength here in Jersey City our plan Of
| organization was such as to easily permit
| the professional politician to sandwich in
| a number of his heelers, with the result
that we could not control our own NOM
| inaeions; and the laboring classes, from
political standpoint, were thrown into
| disrepute.
II cannot see what direct connection
professional politician can have with
| labor organization. | hold all politicians
in esteem except those who take care OF
| their friends at the expense OF the
country"
s'The majority of labor organizations
| have clauses in their constitutions and
bylaws forbidding the discussion of poll
| tics: but every American is a politician
! in the church and lodge room as well as
| at his home But he is not yet fitted to
| cope with the professional politician"
FAvoRs A POLITICAL FIGHT.
| President John Flaherty, of the Clerks
| Early Closing Association, seems to favor
a political fight on the part OF organized
labor. He does not think, however, that
| deals should be made with other parties
! sIf.n said he, there are no available
| labor candidates in a district where may
| be located labor organization, the organ
| ization should not endorse candidate of
another party and thus pledge its MEM
| bers TO support him. 1t has a tendency to
weaken and disrupt the organization and
| thus retard the political as well as the
| social progress of labor. We should have
no connection with the professional poll
! tician.n
OTHER TALKS.
'Iwill not discuss the question OF poll
tics in connection with labor organiza-
| tions.n said James f. Moran, of the Build
| ing Trades. II will simply say that when
| the Central Assembly takes action upon
| the subject I, as loyal member of La
Dor organization, will always submit to
| its decision"
Thomas Flanagan, secretary OF the
Painters Union, said that his views upon
| the subject had been expressed IN The
| Jersey CITY NEWS before.
twill politics and labor mixS" said Mr..
Flanagan Decidedly nop' and the
emphasis with which the sentiment was
| enlinciated left no room for doubt as to
where he stood on the question.
| Louis Fackert, president of the News
of the Central Labor Assembly,
expressed himself as decidedly
opposed to giving politicians eatree to its
| councils. II see no reason to change that
| opinion." said Mr.. Fackert. Politics
| and politicians have disrupted labor or
ganizations before and they will do so
| again if given a shade of chance. Keep
! tEcy,, ,,41T otfand STRICTLY IN legitimate