Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1891-01-31
CHICAGO AND THE INTERNAL
TlONAL LABOR CONGRESS.


citation was formed in Chicago for the
purpose of holding in that city an Inter.
national Labor Congress, simultaneously
with the Worlds Fair to be held there
in 1893, The following appeal was then
sent out:
TO rh0m ii may concern:
GREETING Your favorable considera-
ton Of this circular letter is fraternally
requested.
The undersigned organizations of
Chicago, being DESTROYS Of promoting
Worlds Labor Congress, to he held in
this city during the Worlds Columbian
Exposition Of 1893, have formed this
association to present the matter to
other organizations and individuals at
home and abroad, for their consideration
and cooperation, IN order to make such
local preparation as may be needed to
hold successfully the contemplated Con-
gress,
The nature and scope Of the Congress
are TO be matters for future action by all
who co operate in holding 1t.
Olr hopes amt desires in these respects
are indicated by the following declara,
| ton of principles upon which the local
association is founded, and the endorse.
ment Of which is essential to member
ship therein
|. The recognition of the fact that
the productive forces, if unrestricted in
their action and properly organized,
are capable of abundanty supplying the
reasonable wants of all the people, and
that, therefore, discussion should be con-
Centrated on the removal of the re
strictlons, the scientific organization OF
production, and the equitable distribu-
ton among the producers of the products
of their labor.
III. That consideration Ct the general
interests of the workers should be
paramount to the consideration of the
special interest of any trade or occupa
| ton.
III. That consideration of plans for
the removal of causes that prevent
equitable distribution of wealth should
be made paramount to the consideration
OF means for the amellOratlon of effects.
" That the abolition of the wage
sys stem should be declared imperative,
and the establishment of a system of CO.
operative ownership and use of the
means of production necessity.
We respectfully direct your attention
to the excerpts from our local con.
stitution herewith appended, and request
you to embody in your reply to this
circular letter answers to the following
auctions:
|. Do you approve Of the proposition
to hold a Worlds Labor Congress in
Chicago in 1893?
,. Will you join our Association
membership? In this connection it is
proper to explain that associate member
ship confers the right to participate in
the discussion and shaping of plans for
the proposed Congress, and to receive
regularly all printed information issued
by the Association relative to its work
3. Will you Join with us in preparing
and issuing call for such proposed
Congress?
4. Will you assist us in the work
preliminary to such Congress?
5. Will you favor us with your ideas
regarding the conditions under which
such a call should be issued, and the
date at which such Congress should
convene? We suggest the 4th of July,
1898, rs a proper date.
6. Will you favor us with your ideas
upon the subject matter and indicate or
suggest some practical method whereby
precedent to the holding Of such Con.
gress) your ideas and those Of others
may be presented to be thoroughly dis
cussed by reformers all over the world.
oil II,
CoRRINNE S. BROWN,
Woodlawn Park, Illinois,
Post Office Box 226. u. A.
Among the founders Of the association
figure the Socialist and Nationalist orga
nizations Of Chicago, the Central Labor
Union of that city, the NorwHrts and
Lakeside Turnvereins, the Working
mems Educational Society, and q mum
Der Of Chicago trades Unions, such as
the cigar makers, the machinists, the
typos, the metal workers, the cloak
makers, etc. Labor organizations in
various parts of the country have lately
joined the founders.
OF course we should welcome and en-
courage this honest effort to promote
the holding of such Congress, and for
this very reason we take the liberty Of
offering few suggestions.
The International Labor Increment is
nor constituted. Its highest authority
is the International Congress to be held
at Brussels this year in accordance with
the decision of the previous Congress-