Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-09-20

CialisI Deltshtes-'NOS Step Back
ward"-The Brick Boycott and
the War with the c. l.. U.-In-
structions to the Committee:
Every Union Represented in the
c. l.. f. Must be Recognized"
1t was 1890 Sunday morning when
Recording Secretary Handler gavelled
the delegates to order.
Delegate G. H. McVey, the old We.
teran, was elected Chairman and Simon
Gompers, nephew of the great Samuel"
Vice Chairman.
Credentials were received from the
BARRIERS Union and the Shoe Workers,
and were approved.
The following letter was then read
New York, Sept. II, 80.
Mr.. Ernest Bohm, Sec'y G. l.. F.
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER:-I am in re.
ceipt of your favor of the 9th inst in
forming me that you were instructed to
make application to the American Fe-
deration of Labor for a charter. beg
to inform you that the formal applica.
ton should contain the names of seven
persons in whose names the charter can
be made out and to have the application
accompanied by the fee of $500 By
referring to the list of organizations
which you forward, | notice the name
OF "American Section, Socialist Labor
party" and | cannot bring myself to
understand how political party as such
Can be represented in a central trade
union organization. OF the merits or
demerits of the Socialist Labor party"
it is not within my province to discuss
but the representation of that party or
any other political party in a purely
trade union central organization is to
my mind not permissible. desire also
TO ask whether there are any organiza-
tions attached to the Central Labor Fe-
deratlon, which, according to the con-
sttution of the A. F. of L., are not
eligible therein.
Enclosed please find blank applica-
tion as per above and also copy Of the
constitution.
Kindly asking you to bring the mat
ters herein contained to the notice of the
G. l.. f, for its early consideration am
Fraternally yours
SAM'L GOMPERs, Pres.
The reading of this letter was listened
to with ominoUs silence and when
finished general murmur of disappro.
baton rang through the room.
In InI I .,I
granted the floor and spoke in substance
as follows:
"The American Section of the S. Up.
was admitted here by unanimous vote;
there was not single protest against it,
It's admission was in fact, at the time it
took place, taken as matter of course
and as the natural, logical, inevitable con-
sequence of that bitter conflict in the
Central Labor Union which finally led
to the reorganization of the Central La
Dor Federation. The separation of the
latter from the former was brought
about by the evident necessity of a new
departure in the labor movement; the
tendency of this new departure was
clearly expressed by the admission of
the American Section into this body.
The admission of Organized Socialists to
the councils of Organized Labor meant
that an end must be put to political
scabbery. 1t meant that in the future
no wage-worker would be deemed
good trade.uni0nist, who, after fighting
capitalism in his shop and in his union
the whole year, proved political scab
on the last day and contributed his vote
to the perpetuation of the capitalist sys-
tenn. The official representation of Or
ganiZed socialists in the parliament of
Organized Labor meant that the unOH-
cial representation therein of the boddle
parties would no longer be tolerated. 1t
meant, for instance, that Mr. Samuel
Gompers himself will never again have
an opportunity of coming here to ask
the G.. L. F. to sustain his nomination
for the State Ssnate by the County De-
mocracy. In brief, it meant that the
economic and the political labor move
ments must in the future be on the same
lines; that they must be merged into
one great, comprehensive movement,
having in view complete emancipation.
1t meant that all future organization of
labor in this country must be on a
higher plane than in the past and that
the time has come when this must be
done here with as much vigor as it is
being done in England under the lead
of John Burns and his fellow socialists.
OF course, you will have to report this
matter to your respective organizations.
They may instruct you to say that they
do not understand il as we do, and in
this case we shall have to retire from