The sun., 1902-11-19
SOCIALISTS SEEKING POWER,
TRY TO CAPTTRE FEDERATION
or LABOR VEETING.
beaten on a Test Vote IN New Orleans b,
% to SS-They Declare That The,
Want RecOEnitiOn-lrge Working.
men to Vote Together Against Trusts.

NEW ORLEANS. Nov. is-The Socialists
have turned out in force at the convention
of the Federation Of Labor. and are far more
numerous than at any previous one. They
are here to compel, if Possible. the fedora
tion TO take some stand on the question Of
socialism II was said that they would
make a fight for an increase in the Execu-
tive Committee and the recognition Of the
Socialists by placing one of their leading
members thereon.
Victor l.. Berger, delegate from the Mil
waukee Federated Trade Council and
National Committeeman of the Socialist
party from Wisconsin. who is recognized
as the leader of the Socialists in the fedora
tion, declared to-day that his party did
not expect the federation to indorse IL as a
party or any other party He added
We simply want the federation to come
out squarely for tho collective ownership
of mans own production and distribution,
and 10 urge trades union men TO make use
Of the ballot to accomplish it, We Social
lists have no quarrel with the trusts as such.
We look upon them as the natural and legti-
mate outcome of the competitive system.
But while We have no fault to find with
the trusts. as such. it is also obvious that as
long as the trusts exist the 'tr,istocrats'
will be- our lords and masters They have
the power to fix the prices of the necessaries
of life. They are able 10 dictate to the
people how much meat and how much coal,
how much iron and how much lumber
we are to use, how well or how poorly We
are TO be dressed; how much or how little
We are to eat; in other words how long or
how short We an to live.
Such power cannot last In a civilized
country. Such power viii not endure
in America Besides this, we must take
into consideration that the economic con-
ditions, since the machine has taken the
place OF handwork. max" II impossible for
the overwhelmingly large part of the
producers TO own any considerable part
- the social wealth which they have created
The union wi be powerless to cope with
the trusts. unless The workmen make use
of their strongest weapon, the ballot
"Of late only such strikes were victorious
As could interest the politicians Only
where The votes came into consideration
could great strikes be won Now, we So
cialists ask the trades unions to vote as
they strike: 10 vot" for tho ir own GLASS, not
for the capitalist class; TO vote for the abo-
liti'n of this system. That j. the position
Of SociaiSt delegates in this convention
which We viii urge upon the convention"
A test vote was made TO-DAY Of the
strength Of the Socialist In the federation
when the resolution came up in favor of
pension 70 b. paid by tn United States
TO all workingmen over 80 wears of age
The resolution. which was offered bv Dele
gate Berger, was req or'ed back to the con-
vention unfavorably by the Committee
on Resolutions and an angry debate fol
lowed, which was participated in by
large number of delegates.
The Socialists showed themselves un-
eNlcctealy strong and the resolution was
defeated by the slim ma jority of 9i to IS,
although all tho il f'uoLCe Of the officers
was thrown against it. MIR. Berger and
the SoCia lists declared Themselves thor
oughly satisfied with the result They ex-
pressed the opinion that they would have
little difficulty in getting this and other
Spcialist resolutions through at the next
meeting of the led, ration.
The resolutions against an anti-scaping
law. against the employment Of any ex-
Cept union musicians at the st. Louis Ex- !
Position, and in favor Of the increased pay
Of letter carriers, were adopted
fratcrnal greetings were extended to the |
delegates from Great Britain and CaI.ada
Mr. Edwards. the English delegate. said
that the labor question was the -amc in
Great Britain and the United States and
that the Norkingrnen III the two countries
should work together hand in hand. tn.
last thing he had dore before leaving Eng
land was To send HOO, raised by the labor
ing men Of England, to the Pennsylvania
coal miners,
The committee appointed to investigate
the charges of Shafer, Of the Steel Workers,
against President GompeIs has been un-
able to proceed, beCause II cannot get al.
umpire. Mr., Gompers has Threatened Ia
bring II on the floor of the convention unl,ss
the umpire If secured by tonight.