Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1891-02-07
BOSTON TAILORS.

They Refuse to he Led by Schemers,
who Have Ruined the Boston Central
Labor linton and Disgrace the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor-They Call "a
National Convention of the Trade, to
be Held In New York, Aprii 12.
The Boston clique of political schemers
hose peculiar talents have been en-
listed by Samuel Gompers are so con-
ducting affairs at the Hub "a to threaten
the unity, if not the very existence of
important national organizations atfili-
ated with the American Federation of
Labor. ly their corrupt Use of the Bos-
ton {. l. y. for personal advantage and
their obnoxious interference with trade
matters of which they know nothing
except that their handling of them may
be Of some profit, they have aroused
tarded but absolutely prevented the
development of labor organization. Their
recent attempt to cOerce the Boston
Clothing Operators Protective Union,
instead Of bringing about better feel
ing between this important battalion
of the trade and the National
Union which they were asked 10
join, has resulted in causing wider
breach than had yet existed, by intensi-
tying their dislike for the present secre-
tary of the said national union, who is
known to be in close relations with the
clique in question and therefore bears
the responsibility and odium of It's
methods and conduct, Not only have
the Clothing Operators withdrawn from
the Boston G. l.. u, but they have
issued an appeal for the formation of
new national union, upon grounds
stated in the following extract thereof:
"We believe that conference should
be held, at an early date, of the mem
bers Of all bona tide operative tailors'
unions in this country, for the purpose
| OF taking the necessary steps to form an
operative tallors international union.
We believe that this step is highly essen
! tal at the present time, AS we find our
selves imposed upon by designing and
unscrupulOu men, who, in our opinion,
are endeavoring to make the aillictions
of the operative talors OF Boston
source of revenue.
''As nearly as we can Judge, a con-
spiracy has been formed by certain par
ties interested in the operative tailors'
welfare, for revenue only, to make the
members Of the craft in this city sup
port an organization that is farce, and
a trade label that is fraud.
80 well have these men, who are all,
with one exception, members of other
trades succeeded in their nefarious de-
signs that the American Federation Of
Labor and the Boston Central Labor
Union have been msled into lndorsing
that organization to which we refer and
object The charter was obtained
through Misrepresentation; its alleged
label is an imposition, and last, but not
least, fully 90 per cent. Of Boston's
operative tailors refuse to have anything
to do with it. in spite Of its Endorsement
by 5hoemakers and newspaper reporters.
1--WE know that we have been grossly
imposed upon by men who have not the
slightest knowledge of our business; that
our craft has been seriously injured, and
worst of all, we believe that labor advo-
Gates of the description mentioned have
made their supposed influence with us
an article of merchandise, aud that our
interests have been neglected, while
these people, under the guse Of friend
ship, have tIeeCed clothing manufactu-
rers by getting the American Fedora
ton Of Labor and the Boston Central
Labor Union to indorse a label aud union
which we repudlate
''ln order that the ready made or
operative tailofs of this entire country
may be saved the injurious and deplor-
able experiences that their Boston
brethren have been afflicted with, we
now ask members Of all bona ,hde ready
made or operative tallors' unions to
send delegates to a conference to be held
in New York City on Sunday, April IL,
1891, the purpose of the conference to
he the formation Of an independent and
sound international union on lines that
will make it impossible for the members
of other trades to interfere with the
condition Of our affairs, that will enable
us to issue a label that will be unquali-
fedly indorsed by organized labor, and
that will enable the members of this
craft to command the support of each
other in times of trouble"
All communications should be ad-
dressed to Philip Harris, No. 16 Cherry
ST., Boston, Mass. (Signed)
THE BOsTON CLOTHING OPERATORS
PROTECTIVE UNION.