Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1890-09-27

Unanimous in Favor or the American
SectiOn-The Issue Will be Met
by Applying for a Charter-lt
will, If Necessary, be Carried into
the Annual Convention of the A,
F.Of L.-Further Increase of Mem.
bership-The committee ofTwen-
ty.hye Referred to the S. L. p.
A large number of delegates attended
last Sunday session and the interest
manifested in the proceedings was con-
siderable
Delegate Miles Dougherty of Iron
Moulders Union No. 25 was elected
Chairman, and G. H. McVey of the
Pianomakers Vice chairman.
Credentials were received from the
Ale & Porter Union No. 1, Architectural
Iron Workers, Carl Sahm Club, and two
new unions, Brass Workers No. 2 and
Robert Fulton Association Qron Foun-
ders) They were admitted with the
exception Of the Carl Sahm Club, which
was laid over one week.
THE SOCIALIST ISSUE.
It was four o'clock when the special
order, "Mr. Gompers' accommodation
of the Socialists, was taken up.
Delegate Rosenfelder, Eccentric Engi-
neers No, 3, argued that it was useless to
Il a "a at Crth
Socialists should remain in the G. l.. +.
and the C. L.. F. should waive the char
ter. Delegate Dougherty stated that he
had no instruction from his union and
could not speak on the matter.
Delegate Adolph Jablinowski, Cigar
makers Union No. 80, said that the re-
quest Jra charter should be pushed, so
that Mr.. Gompers' position and that of
his fellow members of the Executive
Committee of the A. F. of L., concern
ing the Socialists he well defined and re.
main a matter of record.
Delegate Blumenberg, Carpenters No.
513, claimed that the charter would be
of no use to the G. L. /. The American
Section should remain represented.
Delegate Hecker of the Custom Warn
i>hers and Pollshers was opposed to
charter because the c. l.. F. as local
central body could do better without it.
Delegate Fraber of the Cloakmakers
was in favor of forcing the question to
an issue by demanding charter. The
Socialists performed more labor for the
workingmen than did the officers of
the A. F. of L.. They fought for all the
toilers against the capitalists. We could
better dispense with the charter than
with the Socialists.
Delegate simon Gompers, of the Shoe
Workers, said that Mr.. Gompers was
not hostile to the Socialists but on the
contrary had always leaned in his views
TO the doctrine which they professed. As
President of the American Federation of
Labor, he was compelled to take into
account the objections of many to their
official representation in the bodies
aft lated with the Federation. A char
ter was not necessary, it could be of no
practical benefit, and he, therefore, was
in favor of settling the question by not
applying for a charter.
The delegate of the Clothing Cutters
Progressive Union said that the Social.
lists should not only be represe nted in
the c. l.. f. but also in the American
Federation of Labor. Applause. am
not member of the S. L. P, observed
the speaker, but recognize with other
toiers their necessity in the Labor
movement. We should not bend our
knee to any man. My union believes
that the Socialists are just as good as we
are and they should remain.
Delegate Sanial, of the American Sec
ton, said he had little to add to his
,f TLn
had endorsed the utterances of its dele
gates at the previous meeting of the
G. l.. F., as published in the WORKMEN'S
ADVOCATE for the inform alton of all,
and it was now confidently waiting for
the action of this body, He would be
sorry to see the discussion of such an
important matter drift on the inferior
plane of personalities; for it was ma
tional issue, involving the tendencies
future progress of the labor move
me and it should be considered on the
hig' st ground of principle. Let us cast
rapid glance at the economic conditions
of the movement. Since the railroad
power had reached high degree of
concentration every railroad strike had
been failure. The telegraph operators
some years ago were well organized.
They thought they had monopoly of
the skill required in their industry and
they struck to better their condition.
What was the result? A stupendous
failure. And why? Because the tele
graph industry had reached the highest
possible degree of concentration. Again,
this year had been one of extraordinary
activity in the iron trade throughout
the world; to the extent that far from