The San Francisco call., 1896-02-29
LABOR COUNCIL
VETOES POLITICS,
The Central Body Could
Not Agree With the
Convention.
PLATFORM NOT LIKED.
Heated Debate on the New
Labor Declaration OF
Principles.
TALK OF "SNAP JUDGMENT"
The Council Thinks II Was Sighted,
and Will Preserve Its
Integrity.
PLATFORM NOT LIKED.
TALK OF "SNAP JUDGMENT" !"

The San Francisco Labor Council met
last night at Trades Hall, 1159 Mission
street, and spent the entire evening in
discussing the declaration of principles
and platform adopted by the convention
of labor unions held in the same hall
February IA. The principles and platform
aroused disturbing spirit ard then a
heated debate. 1t was plain that the whole
question had but poor support, and in the
end itfell before compromise measure.
The Labor Council above all other things
manifested a determination to preserve its
autonomy and identity, and the main drift
OF discussion was toward that end.
E. P. Burman, the secretary, read the
declaration of principles and the platform
which had come from the labor conven
ton in the form OF a communication, with
q request that they be adopted. The same
was sent to every union in San Francisco,
the object being TO get an expression Of
opinion from all trade organizations on 1t.
Delegates were then expected TO report at
the next session of the convention regard
ing the platform and principles.
President McGlynn was not present to
take part IN the debate, and I. f. Burns,
vice-president occupied the chair.
The secretary delivered a speech on the
matter, saying, 'Why. didn't they come
here and ask the San Francisco Labor
Council to adopt this platform2 The
council is what the labor unions OF San
Francisco have made it. II the unions
outside the council desire to see it changed
why did not they affiliate with this coun-
Gil and have it changed? 1t seems to me
that sEap-judgment has been taken on
this council somewhere. The convention
simply sent out political and economical
demands. The labor unions are in favor
OF these demands and principles; but it is
different thing to know whether the San
francisco La Dor Council is to be abolished,
and it is time to understand where we
are at.
These are questions which should be
answered before the San Francisco Labor
Coul."il submits to be wiped out of ex-
istence. 1t has been recognized as the
| central labor body of .his City for years; !;
and what is to be gained by organizing an
other labor council in San Francisco? What
can two councils do in San Francisco? !?
And yet this appears TO be trick to either
form new central body or an attempt to
drive this council out of existence"
J. J. Ryan of the Boiler makers Union
| said he had been a member OF the labor
convention, but he had not heard any
talk OF an organization superceding the
San Francisco Labor Council. The conven-
| ton was held to organize q political and
| social platform, as the old way OF strikes
and boycotts had been proved to be a
| failure.
T. f. Burns of the Cigar makers Union
stated that he felt warranted in saying
that if the San Francisco Labor Council
would accept the platform and declara ton
| of principles os the convention those dele
| gates who met at the convention would
come Into the council and work harmon
iously with it for the interests of labor.
Thomas Finnerty said he had been in the
| council since 1887, and he would not now
see it made a political club. The men
who stood by it as a labor organization
stand by it yet. He asked why the dele
! gates to the convention of two weeks ago
would not unite with the Labor Council,
| the central body of San Francisco, when
| they knew it was the central organization.
| He did not like to see a labor meeting
where the talk was half politics, half
| labor.
Walter Macarthur of the Sailors Union
/ said there was much in the social princi-
pies set forth which he did not fully under
stand and for that reason he was opposed
| to it. He favored uniting with the Ameri-
can Fede ration Of Labor. The same ques-
| ton had been fully discussed by that
| body, and the result was a declaration of
| principles founded on the same plan as
that one adopted by the convention held
| February IA in this City. in this latter
| platform, however, he held, there was a
| great deal that was beyond the under
standing OF the working people, SO the
Labor Council could not recommend it.
at is beyond our grasp" he added. 81
wholly disapproye of putting this council
out of existence, to be superseded by this
new organization with. its political plat
! form. | am honest about this, for the
reason this declaration is too deep for me.
l favor some political action, but I cam t
| SFtr al hat tcl,o oJ,1x ho
~ would most heartily indorse move
ment for political labor party, but I
would not countenance a move TO turn
this council into political labor body, for
l believe it would not succeed. 1t would
| simply break UP this council
Burns moved that the Labor Council
recommend to the affiliated unions that
two organiZa tions, one political and one
economic, be formed. He said that if it
would bring harmony he would favor a
dual organization, holding that the dis
cussion of politics would not disrupt the
council.
To this Macarthur replied he was not
afraid of discussing politics, but he wanted
| to know If IL brought any benefits to the
| Cigar-makers' Union on pay day. Speak
| ing for the Sailors Union he was afraid of
| IT. There were men of different political
| parties in the union, and he wanted to
know how they could be made a unit on
| political questions. They could not be
made political unit, and for that reason
| he was opposed to it.
Thomas Finnerty asked what was the
meaning OF an economic and a political
dual organization, and where the Labor
Council came in. Byrnes explained that
the economic body meant the Labor
| Council
Macarthur announced that the council
request the affiliated unious to vote upon
the formation of political central body.
The amendment was carried and when the
abor convention meets again il will have
to consider an altogether new question
coming from the old Labor Council before
it can go ahead without rival.
Tailors Organizing.
The Tailors' Union will meet next Tues
day night at 1927 Mission street to further
orpaniza the mam hers of the trade in this