Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-01
81 New York Unions
Are In Revolt.
They Resent Attempt 10 De-
liver Them TO Bryan.
The Boilers Outline a Plan For
Hon.Partisan Federation.

New York July 3O.-Representat1Ves
of 81 labor organizations, with MEM
bership Of $4,000 workers, met Thurs
day night and laid plans to bolt the
Central Federated Union and form a
rival body. Their action has been TAX
en-, they declare. in opposition to the
efforts of Samuel Gompers President
of the American Federation Of Labor.
to swing the labor vote for Bryan,
an on account of the anti-injunction
plank in Democratic platform. Some
of the most prominent labor leaders
in the city are behind the movemnt.
The meeting last night was secret.
The question of Just when to strike
the blow was left open. 1t may be
done on Sunday next at the regular
weekly meeting or the Central FEEDER
ated Union in the University Settle
ment building. The delegates who in
tend to bolt have issued a statement,
in part as follows:
"All the unions in this movement are
ton of Labor and believe in neither
it's tactics nor policies. Ever since the
Central Federated Union labored under
the charter of the American Fedora
ton of Labor it lost caste and has be-
come a monentity, domineered over
from Washington and is powerless to
fOrce unions to assist one another,
which should actuate a central body
primarily and give the right to exist
The new body will tend to the better
ment and uplifting of economic and
political conditions
THE latest freak move of the Amerl-
| can Federation of Labor in entering
partisan politics was rdiculed and such
! a scheme cannot find a fOothold in the
| new body Attention is called to the
graft investigation in the Central Fed
Grated Union. and the consensus of
| opinion is that this was simply a
| fight of one political gang against an
| other
| 1t is proposed with the new body to
have three delegates represent each
union. Meetings probably will be held
every Friday evening. All important
matters. moral and financial support
| during strikes and lockouts. and the
| election of officers will be decided by a
referendum vote. A board of arbitI@-
| ton composed of five delegates, will
adjudicate grievances between employ
| ers and employees and a strike will
| be the last resort
"All unions six months or over in
| existence and not attached to the A. Il.
| of L.. can be admitted. provided an
| investigation committee of three dele
| gates report favorably. politically the
new body is Independent and will not
be guided by any suggestions or opin-
| ion of the A. F. Of L., or Workingmen's
| Federation or any other body
A prominent leader in the new move
ment said:
| politics is behind the whole trOu-
| BILE. President Gompers says he is not
| debating to organized labor, but if
| you will read his statements you will
find that he is certainly doing that very
| thing. He intends to send out red let
ter calls and to tell labor that it is
his duty to support Bryan. or it will
never win another strike
Now, labor organizations are made
up of members who are Prohibitionists
and of every other kind of political be-
lief, and we don't want to be told
| what to do. We have no axe to grind
but we mean to vote as we like with
out dictation. We want Mr.. Gompers
| votes in his vest pocket