The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-18
REJECTING uNwlsE POLICIES.

The convention of the international
Typographical union which has just
adjourned at Cincinnati is important as
giving expression to contain wen-de-
fined convictions shared in by it's men,
bers, evidently in common with the
great mass of membership in the trades
union movement.
The position taken by the conven-
ton against the soeianstic invasion of
regarded as of more than passing i'm
portance. Within the past few months
a movement has been started among
the working people for organization
along socialistie lines. The so-calIed
Western Labor union, organized at
Denver, has the promotion of sociahstic
doctrines among working men as it's
principal aim. Eugene v Debs is the
founder of the movement, and it's ac-
cepted leader. 1t disputes the ascend
ancy of the American Federation of
Labor as the recognized organization of
labor unions. 1t is associated in its
aims with another body which is sup
posed to represent the interest Of
Western miners, and looks forward to
carrying on the socialistic propaganda
among union worl1ingmen in the yari-
Gus mechanical crafts.
It is a noteworthy fact that within a
few days the great organization of
miners in the city of Butte, Mont,
numbering some 5000 members, re
pudiated the organization mentioned,
and refused to ally itself with the So
ciaIist undertaking, or to commit itself
to any line of conduct which rendered
separate political action by the miners
a settled part of their programme.
Another fact bearing on the attitude
assumed by the International Typo
graphical union is the one that within
a few weeks past the local executive
body of the organizations of working
men in the city of Milwaukee has tax
en- steps to induce the like organiza-
tons throughout the country to engage
in distinctively political action in pro-
motion Of their purposes. The Response
movement is decidedly unfavorable, and
it is wholly unlikely that the trades
union movement will fall into either OF
the shares set before it, that is engag-
ing in the propagation of socialism or
in the promotion through political
agencies of the recognized demands of
labor organization.
1t is entirely reasonable to assume
that organizations of workingnen will,
at least for a long time to come, re
fuse to depart from their avowed pur-
pose to promote the material interests
of the members Of the several crafts.
That purpose has the hearty approval
Of the mass Of the American people,
and will continue to have it, as long as
the members of trades unions resort to
lawful agencies for it's accomplishment.
AS soon as the movement gives itself
over even in part to- the socialistic
craze or engages itself as such in poll
ties there will be a speedy end made
OF it's usefulness for any purpose what
ever.
The printers are regarded as en-
bodying an exceptionally high stand
ard of intelligence among the men en-
gagged in labor organization; and their
example in refusing to ally themselves
with the socialist movement or to adopt
separate political action as advisable
in the prosecution of their purposes in
maintaining their several unions viii
no doubt profoundly influence the ac-
ton of other like bodies on these sub
jects.