The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-01-28
LARGE INDUSTRIAL
UNION TO Be FORMED
National Trades Federation on
Industrial Lines Planned
For Next Summer.
Representatives Of Unions Not
Affiliated With A. F. of l..
For Rival Body.

For Rival Body.
Chicago, ILL.,, Jan'y. ga secret
meeting was held in Chicago this week
by representatives of organizations un-
affiliated with the American Fedora
tion Of Labor, as we'll as number
of sympathizers, for the purpose of
considering the advisability of FORM
ing a new federation based upon the
widest possible Industrial lines.
After considering the subject III ev-
cry detail, it was voted to issue mani
festo 20 labor organizations of every
description and invite them to send
delegates to national convention to
be held in Chicago, June 27, ''for the
purpose Of forming an economic organ
ization of the working class along the
lines marked out in this manifesto"
Representation in the convention snail
be based upon the number Of work.
ers whom the delegate represents.
Among the signers are the names of
Charles 0. Sherman, general secrtary
of the United Metal Workers; William
D. Haywood, Charles II. Meyer and
John O'Neill of the Western Fedora
tion of Miners; William E. Trautman,
of the United Brewery Workers:
George Estes and W. Hall, of the
Brotherhood of Railway Employees;
Daniel McDoanld, Clarence Smith and
Thomas J. Hagerty, of the American
Labor Union; Wade Shurtleff, of the
Railway Clerks; w. J. Pinkerton,
of the Switchmen's Union of North
Col
Guild, of the Journeymen Bakers In
ternational Union; Mother Jones and
about a dozen others.
In the manifesto it is pointed out
that narrow craft lines divide the
workers, foster ignorance and jealousy
and strengthen the position of organ
ized employers in struggles between
capitalists and laboreres. The address
continues:
'Prevoius efforts for the betterment
of the working class have proven
abortive because limited in scope and
disconnected in action. Universal eco
nomic evils can only be eradicated by
a universal working class movement.
Such a movement of the working class
is impossible while separate craft and
wage agreements are made favoring
the employer against other crafts in
the same industry, and, while energies
are : wasted IN :. fruit lesa=xs risdctiQn
struggles, which serve only the person
al aggrandizement Of union officials.
"A movement to meet these condi-
tions must consist of one great indus
trial union, embracing all industries,
providing for craft autonomy locally.
industrial autonomy internationally
and working class unity generally. It
should be founded on the class strug-
gle, and it's general administration
should be conducted in harmony with
the recognition of the irrepressible
conflict between the capitalist class
and the working class.
"It should be esta blished as the eco
nomic organization of the working
class, without affiliation with any po-
litical party.
"All power should rest in the collect
i've membership.
Local, national and general admin
istration, including union labels, but
tons, badges; transfer cards, initiation
form throughout.
from foreign countries should be free
ly admitted into the organization.
"All members should hold member
ship in the local, national or interna-
tional union covering the industry in
! which they are employed, but transfers
of membership between unions, local,
| national or international, should be
universal.
! 1.-THE general administration should
issue publication representing the en-
! tire organization and it's principles,
which should reach all members in
! every industry, at regular intervals.
"A central defense fund, to which all
| members contribute equally, should be
| established and maintained"
| Just what effect this call will have
! upon certain of the organizations that
are identified with the A. F. of L., and
which favor industrialism and are con-
! stantly attacked by "craft autono-
mists," cannot be predicted as yet. Nor
can it be known for some time what
course the independent, or unattached,
national and local unions will pursue,
although it is a safe guess that some
win join the new federation-in fact,
| luS 10NNcucI lO"dIu tIle Ilc" OOUy
may become general.
Notwithstanding the plain dec1ara-
tion in the call that the proposed in
dustrial federation should be estab-
lished as the economic organization OF
working class, WITHOUT AFFILIA-
TINO WITH ANY POLITICAL PAR.
TY," certain capitalist dailies, for reas-
ons best known to themselves, are
printing under glaring headlines and
in laundering editorials the charges
that 1T is socialistic move to dis
rupt A. F. of L." and that "a poll.
tical trades union federation will be
launched.''
Certain it is that, first, not a single
signer to the above call is officially
identified with the Socialist party; sec.
ondly, that not one of the signers has
been seen or heard or known on thu
floor of the A. F. Of L. conventions a.
an a6vnc1fo nf oooioI;ov, t., ~oo1~,i