Workmen's advocate., 1890-05-31
ORGANIZED LABOR.
WEEKLY MEETING OF THE
 CENTRAL LABOR UNION.

On Motion Oi James P. Archibald tn,
 c. l.. U. Appoints a Committee tO
 Consider IndepeGdent Political
 Action--Ominous Abstention of
 the Socialist and Progressive
 Delegates -- E. David Protests
 against the Publication, in the
 "Volkszeitung," of Damning Tes.
 timOny mot Intended to See the
 Light"
 The number of delegates who attended the last meeting of the New York Gen. tral Labor Union was exceptionally large. It was expected that steps toward resuming political action would be taken. George K. Lloyd, of the Tin & Sheet Iron Workers was called upon to preside, while delegate McKim of the Carpenters acted as Vice. chairman.
 Credentials for new delegates of the Carl Sahm Club and of the Mosaic and Encaustic Tilelayers' Union were handed to the proper committee upon whose recommendation the former were ad- mitted, while those of the latter were laid over, the delegates of the Hexagon Labor Club objecting to their admis- | sion.
 A protest from the Franklin Associa- tion against the consideration of the International Copyright Bill on the part of Congress was unanimously indorsed. The matter in regard to the Brother hoods Baseball grounds, where, it is alleged, no union beer is sold, nor union help is employed, was laid over for one week.
 James P. Archibald was then granted the privilege of submitting resolution in regard to taking political action. He stated that the time was exceedingly favorable for such step, inasmuch as the new ballot law would be in force next fall, and that the mistakes made in 1856 would not be repeated. The resolution is as follows:
 Whereas, Under the new election laws of this State the people are no longer compelled to choose between the candidates of the two political machines under penalty of throwing away their votes, since independent organizations can place candidates before all the voters without being subjected to an enorm- ous and practically prohibitory expense for printing and distributing tickets; and
 Whereas, The existing system of gov ernment by bosses through henchmen, for the benefit of professional politicians, is neither democratic nor republican, nor just; and
 Whereas, it is now possible for men to vote in absolute secrecy for the candi- dates of their choice without the fear of intimidation and relieved from the req. sonable certainty that has existed Tn the past that they would be outvoted by the bribed hirelings of the bosses; and
 Whereas, The great body of the peo- pie who earn their living by useful labor have no disposition to grovel before political masters; no money to bribe corrupt officials, even If they were will ing to do so; and no time to waste in the impossible task of reforming the machines; and
 Whereas, the mass of people thus situated are necessarily the chief vic tims of the class legislation that results from the substitution of corrupt ma chine rule for true popular government;
 ResolUed, That the c. l.. U. sees in the immediate present hopeful opportunity for popular movement to smash all the political machines and restore to the city of New York government of the people, for the people, by the people;
 ResOtUed, That a committee of seven members be appointed to consider the most practicable method for accomp. fishing this result and report to the c, L. U. two weeks hence.
 Mir. Archibald advised the delegates not to be too nasty in adopting his reso- lution, as he desired to learn the judg- ment of the "best men" in the c. L. U.
 Delegate James Hamilton. of the Aurora Association, seconded the resolu- tion, while another delegate thought that the proposition was premature; he favored the party that had done most" for the workingmen. Delegate McKim spoke for the resolution, provided that the independent political labor party to be organized would be an honest one; all political parties ought to be left severely alone, not excepting the Social ist Labor Party.
 Delegate Hewes of the Uriah Stevens Assembly, Thomas Doyle, of the Pro- 1 gressive Assembly of Cigarmakers, and