Workmen's advocate., 1890-12-20

| from representation in a central body | affiliated with the American Federation: | l shall examine them in their reverse order.
 "In the first place allow me to submit the following letter, which speaks for | itself:
 'in 1885, the members of the German | Section of the $. l.. P. of Baltimore or 1 ganizpd the German Genital Labor Union of that city, The same Sorialist | Section, beng represt nted therein by rec delegates. moved that the German Central Labor Union be represented in the Baltimore Federation of Labor. The motion was unanimously carried and delegates were elected to and admitted 1 by the said Baltimore Federation, which is d branch uf the American Federation of Labor since this organization vas formed. l am glad to say that 1, as d member of the S. l.. r. Section of Bal 1 tlmOre, was representing the German 1 Central Labor Union in the Baltimore | Federation for some time as the minutes of both these central bodies will show.
 "Therefore n c have, on II t one hand Socialist SeCtion-Germam (. l.. U,- | Baltimore Federation of Labor Amrri. can Federation of Labor. And we have, on the other hand N Y. American Sec | tion. $. l., P.-Central Labor Fedora. 1 uum-American Federation of Labor. | Where is the difference? When Alr. Gompers refuses to admit the C, l., F ;, he must also protest against the adnis- sion of the Baltimore Federation of l Labor traternally,
 E. A. HOEHN.
 "lIrre, then, is a positive precedent directly agamst Mir. Gompers' opinion, aud 1 have been told that there were others exactly like this l shall not mention them, however, for l have not taken the trouble of inquiring. leave with those who think that precedent | is good law the care of investigating this and any other that they may be- come aware of. As for me, am willing to place my case upon the far higher l ground of principle. Therefore, l come to the tirrt and far more important qUes- ton, Is the Socialist Labor party d 'pO- ltical patty in the sense that wage workers the world over attach to this 1 eXpres5iOnt
 "Surcly 1t is not so understood in 1 Germany. where every trade union k a creation and practically branch of the l $. l.. P. It is not so understood in l France, N here every Syndtcdt OuUrler IS a creation and a branch of the $. l.. F.; | where the municipality of Paris Is under 1 the influence of the SOClalsts-thankS to which the building and kindred trades enjoy higher pay III fewer hours than they previously dld-and where the socialist agitation bids fair to carry the l eight hour k-day. It Is not so con. 1 sidered in Sutherland, $ or in Austria, where, thanks to Socialist agitation, the working time has already boen re- duced and regulated by law, not merely | for children, young persons and women, as in England, but for men as well. It l is not so understood in England, where 1 in twenty months the Socialists have 1 organized IF trade unions, with mem | bership of over 300 GOO wage workers; | where they have conducted and won the most gigantic strikes that ever took place; where they have overcome the antiquated conservatism of more or less | corrupt leaders (WhOse chief business Is to bow to this great Liberal or that greater Tory in the lObbies of Par naInentG where they have exploded the uotIon that d wage-slave Is free man. aud that his liberty to be a slave, worked 1 to death and staIvtd for hls pains, should not be lntertered with by the legislator; | where they have initiated what IS now | known as the new trade uniOnsm' and where they will surely-and long 1 before you. at the rate they go-eotab l fish the eight-hour normal workday as 1 mere preliminary step JU still further, l higher and nobler ends.
 Nor is 1t sO undei stood by the Gen. l tra Labor Federation of New York; nor l by the labor organizations represented Tn that body; nor Oy any man who i walks with his eyes open and sees the l chasm between an honest, straightior ward labor party and dishonest, bah boozIing plut0cratiC party.
 This is neither the place nor time for me to present an argument in favor of independent political action by the working class. Before your Convention l must strictly contine myself to the 1 question. although, in the form in which Alr, Gompers has unwisely put it, am 1 fairly entitled to some latitude of treat l ment.
 "There is this fundamental difference between the old plutocratic partie, and 1 the $. L. F., that the former are nOtori- ouslg the political machines of the em- 1 piuyine class. and a. essential d part of the wioie machinery through which they control, rob and oppress their wage workers as is their industrial and commercial machinery; whereas the ] IatI al. l. nI T 1 trolled by wagewOrkers like yourselves, who are in full sympathy with you upon all the economic principles thus far ad- vanced. or the demands thus far made by the American Federation of Labor and who Use this SD called political party exclusively for the advancement