The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-11-30
UNION OF FORCES
WORKERS OF THE WORLD PLAN.
MING SYSTEM OF FEDERATION.
len Tillett, of England, Expects to
Perfect Some Plan of Federation.
The Maritime Workers Of the Two
Countries In All Probability VIII
Agree on q Plan Of Unity of
Action.
From the Cleveland Citizen:


fraternal delegate to the A. F. of l..
convention In Scranton from the British
Trade Union congress, will meet with
the national officers of the longshore-
man, seamen and other transportation
workers for the purpose of laying the
groundwork for great international
federation, Is creating considerable dis
cussion among the organized employees
In the maritime world and is also
viewed with satisfaction by those who
stand for progressive trade unionism.
The idea is to combine all workers en-
gagged in handling products in transit,
and the new federation will not only
include longshoremen, seamen, tugmen,
firemen, engineers, cooks and other
mariners, but the plans that have been
discussed from time to time also aim to
bring into the amalgamation the ware
housemen, teamsters, railway freight
handlers, and even the various
branches of trainmen, such as engi-
neers, firemen, switchmen, brakemen,
conductors, track men, bridge builders
and the like. It is not unlikely that If
the old brotherhoods persist in follow
ing their policy of isolation the new
Brotherhood of Railway Employees,
which was recently formed in the West
and is rapidly pushing eastward, as
we'll as the Canadian Order of Railway
Men, which has wiped out the artificial
barriers of craft distinction and is
gaining great strength, will become i'm
portant factors in this mighty combi-
nation of laborers,
Ben Tillett has had wide experience in
federatng the transporters of Europe,
and his knowledge Of the basic princi-
Piles of trade unionism and aggressive
spirit in the matter of solidifying the
workers make him an exceptionally
valuable man at this time when the
desire is becoming so general to oblit
crate the narrow lines Of trade auton-
OEly," whatever that may mean.
That the time is ripe to form feder-
alton as r. opposed is undisputed. Go
down on tie docks and question any
marine worker you meet and he en-
Enthusiastically looks forward to the day
" When every man who d is engaged at
.sbitpine by water or rail 4 WILL she in, one, oIae,
ready for the move, but some Of the So.
called leaders, fearful that they may
drop into the background, obstinately
cling to the old autonomy" scheme.
This fact is proven by the circular let
ter recently issued by Mr.. A. l.. Wilcox,
BUSINESS agent of the Marine Engineers
Beneficial association of this city, call
ing the attention of marine workers to
TIE powerful combina tions of capital
that threaten the existence of their
unions, urging them to discuss the mat
ter thoroughly in their organizations,
and be prepared to respond to a call to
hold a convention in the near future to
inaugurate a method to meet new con-
dtions.
From every point of view the move
ment to consolidate the workers along
industrial lines is daily assuming
greater proportions. although we are
sadly behind capitalism in this respect.
Once the old superstitions of craft
classification are relegated, and we
learn that all belong to the great army
of labor, organization of labor will be-
come tremendous power and be no
longer laughing stock for trust mag
mates. Such an army will not pause
at compromises. It will move forward
to complete economic emancipation
that can only be found in cooperative
commonwealth.