The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-09-28

QulT1eS On mis- point. WdS IlC gu
hesion of the American representa-
tive final. or would the A. i. OF IL.
retire if the conclusions Of the Con-
ference were not according to its
liking?
In reply. Samuel Gompers said that
the American Federation Of Labor Is
the working class movement Of the
continent of America; that it desires
to come into closer relations with the
working class movement Of Europe
and all civilized countries. One thing,
however, was to be understood: every
country is to decide upon its own pol
icy, tactics and tendencies. In every
way possible the unions Of America
promote an international solidarity.
It was from the A. F. Of L. that first
came the suggestion Of May l as an
European labor day. The cards OF
established trade unions of European
countries are accepted by many OF the
American unions. An obstacle to
Americas representation in the Con-
ference hitherto was the antagOniSm
shown in America to trade unions by
those who would have the policy. tao
ties, and genera methods OF the
American working class movements
submitted to the judgment OF men
knowing nothing of the American
conditions. Several years ago the sug-
gestion was made from America that,
| just as fraternal delegates are sent to
the British Trade Union Congress,
there might be sent delegates to an
international meeting. q method that
! would avoid the e~xclusiveness of a
Secretariat, The speaker was at pres
| ent in Europe in response to an invi-
tation from the British Parliamentary
Committee to attend the coming Con-
! gres at Ipswich. and the occasion
was seized by the Denver convention
Of the "A. T.. OF l.. last November to
| a lJfhOTiYp him f0 attend the present
Conference. He had not been elected
as a delegate. The propositions ap-
pearing in the Agenda as coming
from America he had regarded when
writing them in his letters TO Mr..
| Legien as simply suggestions. He
could not say what action the A. +.
| Of L. would take at its next
ton in regard to joining tbe Secreta-
riat formally. In the proceedings
thus far he had neither voted nor
spoken on any question before the
Conference.
conditions undew which the speaker
! was in attendance was distasteful to
certain Of the secretaries present was
immediately shown in r~ejoinders made
by Mr.. Hueber of Austria and Mr..
! Oudegeest Of Amsterdam. MI. Hue
Der declared he knew beforehand
what was to be expected. What Com
rade-pardon, observation-disclosures"
had said was. in effect, that he would
not join the Industrial Secretariat. No
doubt this was in conformity with his
constructive pOlicies.' Why should
GOmpers come here with stories about
the struggles in America? Each dele
gate present might do the same. He
had come in the character of mentor
to give advice. The speaker hanked
him. but veterans were in the Con-
ference who knew as much about the
cNn sol q ~, n 80 ., No }iI ,rn- $40
~grettable that the advice Of Gompers
should be welcomed by the American
employing class. In concluding, he
oub the existence of the under
standing between American and for
eign unions by which the former &C
cepted members OF the latter by card.
He had heard nothing but complaints
Of the actions of American unions in
this respect.
Mr.. Oudegeest's remarks were to
the effect that he regarded it as Mr..
Gompers' duty TO act as a regular
delegates. America would not have
sem him otherwise. His resolutions
had been made part Of the Agenda.
From the international Secretariat
was excluded all questions relating TO
theory; no country need have any
fear that its own particular methods
should be interfered with. But upon
this assertion MI. Oudegeest threw
doubt in the next breath when he
spoke of the class struggle as we
understand it." and the duty OF Mr..
Gompers to use his influence in its
promotion.
To these speeches the writer re-
piled that he could not hold himself
responsible for the - construction
placed on his acts by Mr.. Hueber.
Whatever was possible to MI. Hneber
in Austria, ne could not Of himself
declare the American Federation a
party in the International Secretariat,
In America. the members. not the Of
f:cers, decide upon such QueStions.
The speaker cited as examples Of the
acceptance Of European memEn-<h-p
cards the actor of h rnoGIiars'
union, t%s geographical union. tn,
cigarnsh~rs. brewers. bakers. lui7-