The record-union., 1891-06-23
CAUSE OF LABOR.
A Convention of All Organizations to
Be Held.
The Purpose Is to Bring the Labor
Unions and Clubs into Closer
Bonds of Unity.

The Council of Federated Trades of the
Pacific Coast has issued the following cir
cular to the various labor organizations:
To all Trades Councils and Assemblies
on the Pacific C0dSt-GREETING: The
Council of Federated Trades of the Pa
cific Coast, believing that the time is
ripe for closer utilization and concen-
tration of all the labor forces on the
coast calls upon the various trades coun-
clIs and assemblies OF the Pacific States
and colonies with request to participate
in convention shortly to be held in San
francisco, for the purpose Of effecting n
thorough federation OF the many trades
councils and assemblies of the Pacific
Coast
Recognizing the extreme importance
OF this matter, the council decided, after
mature deliberation, and at the request
of the Portland and Seattle central bod
les, to take the initiatory step toward
the realization of such combination
after it had been assured of the hearty CO.
operation and assistance of the leading la
Dor councils in the NorthW western States
The spirit OF our times points to cen
trallZation as the only means OF main
tanning our rights and securing and
strengthening the positions which were
only attained by endless sacrifices and in
Vulnerable hardships. If Gin union lies
strength" ''in federation alone lies sue
cess" and the more perfect the form of
Capitalization the better we are enabled
to resist all kinds Of oppression and to
disseminate the principles of the trades
union movement.
y CurSOry contemplation OF the c0Ddi-
tions and proceedings Of the various CEN
tral bodies Of organized labor on this
coast must convince every thoughtful and
Intelligent person that a combination OF
all these forces would represent an ire
sistable power for justice, which, if wisely
directed, would soon prove to be a lasting
benefit to the organized toilers as we'll as
to the entire communities.
There are upwards Of twenty different
trades councils and assemblies now exist
ing-in the three Pacific States and colo
mes, representing, ut q rough estimate,
some 10000 to $1,000 workmen. But
though organized for the same purposes
and engaged i'll common and grand
cause, the different central bodies, while
doing immense gOodin their own spheres
! and territories, are but loosely affiliated
with each other. AS it is to-day some
councils on the coast are not even aware
! of the others existence, and thus it hap
pens frequently that the workmen OF
California are ignorant of the battles
! fought and achievements won by labor in
! Oregon or Washington, or vice versa.
! SYSTEM COdSl
| federation, accruing to all it's competent
parts, are SO obvious that it is hardly
necessary to enumerate them. If only an
! interchange of the minutes of the various
trades councils and u steady, regulated
correspondence among them was estab-
| lished it would give each central Organi-
ZatiOn a correct knowledge of all the cur
rent coast labor affairs, 1t would facili-
! tate the managing and conducting OF
! labor interests ten fold; it would enable
every central body to know when and
where to strike blow and when and
| where to parry one.
Having thus briefly explained its mo-
! tives in issuing this address, the council
now submits the following proposition to
your consideration and vote:
|. That convention for such purposes
! be held in San Francisco, either in Au-
| gust or September, the definite date OF
convening TO be decided by this council
| in case q majority of all central bodies
| promise participation.
2. That the delegates of each council OF
assembly shall be accorded one vote foI
each hundred of their constituents, said
votes to be equally divided between
! the representatives OF each council.
,. That the credentials of the councils
shall state of unions and constituents rep.
resented therein.
4. That the expenses of attendance tC
the convention be borne by each separate
council.
5. That six delegates be the limit o
representatives for each council.
s. That proxies chosen by any distan
councils shall be admitted as delegates.
I. That proxies representing outside
councils must not be members of San
Francisco unions. as this council wishe:
to avoid all suspicion of the convention
being packed in the interest Of San Fran
cisco,
8. That the delegates be empowered t.
vote for the formation Of any system o
coast federation in accordance with tht
| principles promulgated by the American
Federation of Labor and forming par
! thereof.
All central labor organizations receiving
this address are hereby urgently re
quested TO vote on these eight PROPOSE
! tons and to send an answer, stating tht
number Of delegates or proxies that vii
attend, at their earliest convenience.
| AS soon as the above propositions arc
indorsed by the majority of those to whom
they are submitted the council will fix
the date of convening and arrange all fur.
ther preliminaries.
And now, sincerely hoping that this
| plan will meet with universal approval
and will become the means of forming
organized labor on the coast, from San
! Diego to Alaska, in one great and impen-
etrable phalanX, we remain, fraternally
yours,
Council Federated Trades of the Pacific
Coast.
ALFRED THURMAN, President,
| Henry Kretlow, Secretary.