New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-05
SOCIALISTS IN SESSION.
SOME FEATURES OF THEIR MEETING IN
THIS CITY LAST WEEK.

SWELTERlNG ROOMS AND TCMULTCOUS DISORDER
PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE.
Gayly dressed and decorated with flags and bunt-
Ing and the banners OF score Of the
Socialist labor organizations OF this city. but hot
and sufocating almost to sitting. the room In
which the delegates OF the Socialist Trade and Labor
Alliance OF the United States and Canada held their
conference and transacted their business last week
Long steamers OF red white and blue hunting
were stretched across the ceiling from the centre
10 the walls. ''Old Glory was In evidence wher-
ever there room enough TO put IT, and festoons
Of the Stars and Stripes were draped behind the
platform. Then along the SIDES OF the room, hung
upon the walls. the many colored banners OF
the labor organizations that hold their meetings in
the Labor Lyceum. That is the name that the
building at No 81 East Fourth-st where the
venon held. Is known BY.
During the sessions of the convention, which con-
tnued for four days last week. the utmost free
dom and informally the part OF the delegates
were allowed. At all hours the room was filled with
the smoke that from the cigars and cigarettes
and other things that were being enjoyed by the
delegates. And of the ''other things were
enjoyed quite much by those who smoking
them as by those who were obliged to take them
secondhand. Every now and then some lusty dele
gate who bore the unmstakable features Of the
Teuton a party OF delegates. would leave the
room and seek soace and comfort In the rooms be-
low, where deep draughts of cool lager beer could
be obtained for consideration. There some
excuse for this for the room where the convention
held almost blazing with pent-up heat not
even breath OF air coming through either the
doors windows 10 relieve those within.
The room, to stranger at least. presented a
curious appearance At the end fur,hest from the
street small platform. which were two
chairs occupied by the chairman and the vice-chair-
man OF the day At the front of this platform was
small desk pulpit. draped with the American
flag Upon this rested huge gavel that almost
covered the top of the table and at times large
gavel necessity In order to restore peace In
the assemblage when once 1t had become thoroughly
aroused question that was deemed I'M
portant. Below the platform and little TO one
side sat the secretary Of the Alliance. Ernest Bohm
who had his hands full nearly all the time
The delegates themselves were seated on both
sides of the long tables that were stretched
down the length Of the room. Each one was pro-
vided with writing utensils so that notes on the pro-
ceodings could be taken II necessary. Above this
table wreaths OF smoke o. many shades and odcrs
curled softly the ceiling. the only quiet things
IN the room and they would probably have
made noise If 1t had been possible The large
majority of the delegates were men, only three
women being among the number All OF them were
dressed in the clothes Of workingmen. in accordance
with their principles and nearly all Of them, II not
quite all were men o, foreign birth at least
OF foreign parentage. Some Of them OF
undoubted ability. and others the majority OF them
in fact had faces that the reverse OF inte
gent and some OF their remarks scarcely in
teiligible to strange ears.
PECULIAR RULES OF PROCEDURE.
The parliamentary rules OF procedure that were
followed were strange. TO say the least. At times
there were a half dozen OF the delegates clamoring
for the floor to raise points OF order that were
themselves points OF undoubted disorder. and the
Chair had a hard time 10 keep the assemblage quiet
There a diversion at the session on Wednesday
when a man named Lustg entered the hall and en-
deavored to make speech before the delegates
He was we'll dressed thing in Itself that was
enough to bring down upon him the wrath Of the
members present and he announced that he was a
member Of a walters union. There was immediate
discord among the members Here was an intruder
and last OF the delegates arose and said that
the man who had thus intruded himself upon them
was a Tammany heeler and ought not to be allowed
10 say anything before the meeting. He denounced
him in terms that were by no means gentle. and
handled his reputation without gloves Most OF the
delegates were against the intruder, ana ne eft the
hall A passion after delivering himself of some
breast After he had taken himself away the gath
ering gradually resumed its air of seIn-quiet
who are prominent in Socialist circles perhaps the
most prominent was Luc!en Sanal. VINO was elected
Socialist Labor Congress which is 10 be held IN
London. Eng. on July r. He is a man who looks
strong TO the unintellgent looks Of some OF
Fr is by birth and writer BY profession. He
came to this country at the outbreak the War of
Temps" one Of the leading journals of the French
metropolis Since that time ne has remained mere,
engaged as a delegate to OF the Socialist
or labor congresses that have been held In Euro
o. Mayor of Network on the ticket that was put
in the hea BY b 5hs Sss 10 Tns
FOR the leading periodicals and the leading journals
ne has spent large part OF his HE This work
has been greatly hampered by the trouble that ne
has had with his eyes, at one time the entire loss
OF his sight being Imminent
THE OBJECTS OF THE ALLIANCE
In talking with Tribune reporter on the Alliance
and It's principles Mr. Sanial sad: The Alliance
stands for the organization OF the working people
OF this country the principles OF international
Socialism. they are now organized In France
Germany. Belgium. and. TO some extent, In Eng
land i, IS establishing trade unions that Will take
nconom!c branch Of the Socialst-Labor party. We
believe that the strike 9a ne 'G g %b may sap p Is
still In the competitive stage, J. e.. "here u mas not
T. true in such Industries as the railroad. iron ana
stee and mining Generally, sp.aking y, g al ,ndu aus:
trusts the strike is not only OF no possible benefit,
but great detrmen to ne working cassea Inc
al Another man who attended the sessions OF the
Alliance and who is prominent in the counsels OF
he movement is Daniel De Leon. He is an elderly
VIM h. G"s Re EG1 Of a Weekly
Socialist paper. and elected a member OF the
Executive Committee OF the Alliance. Some years
100 he was professor OF modern languages in Co.
itrobia College but the time OF the Henry George
agitation he left that pos: on account OF ms poitlca
Hugo Vogt another Of the Socialist editors.
iho1rhtfui looking and energetic German. is also
prominent In the movement -
The Alliance organized Professionally on De
cember l. 1896 Its origin was not In any split but
uas founded In the Central Labor Federations.
,hat OF this city being District No, OF the Al
lance The preamble Of the constitution. which
,as tho Objects OF the organization. IL as follows
Whereas In the natural Development or capital
lev, IN. class struggle between the privileged Few
80 tho disnher!ted masses. which IL the inevitable
M ,rrenressihle outcome OF the wage system, has
an a no,rt where the old forms methods and
oir,. ~ labor organization absolutely impotent
~ rssist the aggressions Of concentrated capital.
.. ansd by all the agencies OF government. and 10
,pept m the condition