The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-05-09
new LABOR ORGANIZATION
ADVANCED IDEAS.
Beginning OF the American Industrial
Union at Chicago,

The initiative step. in the organization OF
the long-talked-of American Industrial
Union were taken in Chicago during the past
week and the organization effected. About
200 delegates took part in the proceedings
and the new ,order starts out with local
membership Of about 5OO in Chicago while
1t Is stated that a number Of independent
labor organizations and unions throughout
the country have sgnifled their Willingness
to affiliate with the movement.
The Industrial Union is TO he international
in character. and the general plan OF the
organization is much like the American
Hallway Union. The preamble and constitu-
tion propose, in brief, the establishment Of
employment bureaus, general cooperation
and the introduction OF a general eight hour
work day on sept. /, 1897. All differences
between employers and employees are to be
settled by arbitration, and the only thing OF
n political nature contained In the preamble
is declaration fayoring the universal suf-
irage for women.
The cooperative feature is the one upon
which greatest stress IS laid. II is proposed
to ask for tho establishment OF postal savings
banks for the use OF vage-earners, and from
the funds thus accumulated the organization
expects to establish industries which will alb
sorb the unemployed aud enable them to
become at least seli-supporting. The new
Union will keep In close touch with the ex-
isting cooperative colonies. thirty-fve or
more OF which have already been established,
and. instead Of setting aside large SINS OF
money for strike funds and the payment OF
high salaries to officers, 1t is intended to use
all the available funds Of the organization for
the establishment OF more colonies or tho in
crease OF those now in existence. such
thing as n strike Is to be- unknown to the new
organization.
one OF the articles OF the constitution pro-
vidcs that no one who Is addicted TO drink or
gambling can hold Office In the organization,
aud any officer contracting these habits will
be expelled from membership. "he doors
OF the new organization are open to every
body except the representatives Of monopo-
listc corporations. Farmers. mechanics.
tradesmen, laborers and professional people
are all invited TO enlist, and no discrimina-
tion Is made as TO religion, sex or color IL
Is expressly stated that 1t Is not the purpose
! OF the new organization to make war on the
old ones. but 10 aid them IN every possible
way. Ia fact, 1t will make point OF asking
| the older Unions TO come into the co-opera-
| tive feature OF the new without losing the
/ original Identity.
! 1t is set forth a. living principle that,
| with natural opportunities always open, TO
| the unemployed, and with n general eight
! hour work day, there would never be any
serious disputes on the question OF wages,
but that they would regulate themselves by
! the natural order OF supply and demand. In
/ order to have the opportunity always open TO
! absorb surplus OF workers In any given
| place, the American Industrial Union pro-
| poses to establish nearby colonies, where
any man who is willing to work can always
earn enough by his labor for sef-support.
Boot and Shoemakers Union.
The permanent organization Of the Nation
al Boot and shoe Workers Union. composed
| Of three or four National Unions representing
| different branches OF the boot and shoe in
/ dustry, which have heretofore been antago-
nistic and hostile toward one another. has
finally been effected. the final conference OF
'h" d"lrgetes in hnsinn- dnrisg the,pes..,
...... A., Cre~esuit' iIn tue ioDming OF vd5
1 organiI wv f9fRses1. dayEshe Conven-
| tion WI .etled with ma aiority aAd minority
| report on preamble and constitution. the
committee having promulgated two distinct
| declarations OF principles. The majority re-
! sort was finally adopted, after long and
| :, tied fight. II reads as follows.
| Organization being necessary as the first
step toward the amelioration Of labor and
realizing that weapons OF oNense and de-
fense, socially, economically and politically
are all necessary for the final emanc patton
| OF labor, we have with this end in view,
organized the Boot and Shoe Makers
Union.
The minority report was q straight out and
| bold declaration OF Socialism, 10 be brought
about by independent political action upon
the labor class lines. This report was in the
hands OF Mr.. John +. Tobin, who fought
hard for its adoption, and. although II was
defeated, he WAS subsequently elected Presi-
dent OF the organization, after having de-
cared himself 10 be an avowed Socialist.
In performing the functions Of the office, Mr..
To6in will be required 10 do u great deal OF
travelling Throughout, the country, and es-
peclally in the Eastern States, and he has an
nounced that his Intention is TO SOW the seed
OF Socialism wherever he goes. Tho new
organization has a membership aggregatine
several thousand.