The San Francisco call., 1896-02-22
TRADE UNIONS IN POLITICS
Michael McGlynn's Stand Criti.
cized by American So
cialiSts.
Lively Debate in Which Morrison
l. Swift Opposes Nc.
Glynn.

Michael McGlynn's address to the
American socialists on Trades Unionism
as Solution of the Labor Problem" pre-
cipitated heated discussion last evening
The earlier portion of the evening was
devoted to Miss G. Etchison's review Of
William NJ. Salter's work on Government
and Anarchy" the lady taking the view
that the work is favorable to socialist prin-
ciples.
MIR. McGlynn, who is president of the
Labor Council, enunciated the prime iples
OF trades unionism in brief address. In
reply to a question from Morrison l. Swift
the speaker said he believed a movement
on the part of trades unions to go into pol
itics would result IN legislative enactments
OF a restrictive and Tepressiye nature.
l.. B. Bertram of New South Wales took
issue with the speaker They had found,
he said, that trades unionism was ineffec-
tive In that colony of Australia. Accord
lngly the unions were amalgamated in a
la Dor party, to which both the free trade
and protection parties had made conces-
sions.
George Speed said he had observed that
when q trades unionist led or advocated
"non-politics, he ended with position
in the mint or the county Jail.
Here DIR. J. L. Scott interJected a question
as to whether all positions in the county
Jail were occupied by trades union leaders.
Amid the laughter that followed, Mr..
Speed remarked that he had been ap-
preached more than once by politicians
who asked that he use his influence to
keep the trades unions ont of politics.
William Mangon spoke of such leaders
as being untrue to their trusts, and Mrs
Anna Smith said If what Mr.. McGIynn
has said represents trades unionism, the
sooner we get rid OF it the better" But
she took different view of it. 1t might
be made great educational system
81 want to see mem bers of trades unions
think of something more than the mum Der
OF hours they work and the wage they re-
ceive. | want to see the leaders rise above
the position of blind leading the blind into
ditch, said Mrs Smith.
Mrs. NJ. E. Squires protested against
talk about educating people to a sense OF
justice. "How long will it take to educate
a Vanderbilt, Huntington or a Pullman
to that point?' she said. mo 1t is like
matching kings against men in q game of
chess. Knock them over. That is what
should be done. What is the ballot to-
day but loaded dice in the power of Shy
lock?''
Morrison j. Swift said: when the
matter is reviewed we can but conclude
that Mr.. McGlynn has turned the situa-
ton over to capitalists. The same motive
rules both capitalists and trade unionists.
and that motive is selfishness Trade
unionists are to capitalists as 0 to /. They
hold the KEY to the situation. No politi-
cal power in the field could weld the
power they did If they would but use it.
/ believe unions as whole will follow the
lead of portion of those who have already
gone into politics. Circumstances will
compel them to do so or to break up alto
gether."
DR.. Scott asked Mr.. McGlynn what the
resolutions adopted by the recent council
meant. The reply was that he understood
them to be the utterances of radical union.
lists.
Mr.. Marble, the editor of the Altrurian.
will address the American socialists next
week.