Then we'll sing one song of the One Big Union Grand,
The hope of the toiler and slave,
It's coming fast; it is sweeping sea and land,
To the terror of the grafter and the knave.
-Joe Hill
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Friday July 7, 1905
Chicago, Illinois - Convention Adopts Article I Section 2 After Two Days of Debate
Today's edition of the Inter Ocean would lead one to believe that the Convention of Industrial Unionists, meeting in Brand's Hall in the city of Chicago, is in complete disarray. In fact, the Convention, yesterday, settled it's differences over Article I Section 2 of the proposed Constitution, and then proceeded quickly forward. The adoption of a Constitution will most likely be completed by the end of today's session.
The sad news that Mrs. Emma F. Langdon had been robbed was greeted with dismay by the Convention, and a committee was appointed to investigate the theft.
Mrs. Emma F. Langdon is the author of the The Cripple Creek Strike, a history of the recent strike which has been officially endorsed by the Colorado Federation of Labor. She is an honorary member of the Western Federation of Miners and was appointed to the position of Assistant Secretary of the Convention at the suggestion of Mother Jones.
Below the fold, our readers can find the Hellraisers report on Day Nine of the Convention, but first we offer this account from the Inter Ocean. The Inter Ocean, a member of the kept press of Chicago has, as is usual, twisted the story to suit its own bias.
FRIEND OF WAGE SLAVES ROBBED
BY PLAIN THIEF
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Secretary of Socialists Shocked at Degeneracy of Man,
Which May Compel Her to Walk to Denver.
There was consternation in the ranks of the "industrial" unionists in convention in Brand's hall yesterday afternoon. It was caused by the discovery that common, ordinary sneak thieves had invaded the sacred precincts of the men who are endeavoring to save the world.
Imbued with purely altruistic motives, the delegates have no thought of themselves. They are anxious to rescue the "wage slaves" of the country, whether the latter want to be rescued or not.
But the thieves who entered the hall during the convention thought only of immediate wants and appropriated the pocketbook of Mrs. Emma Langdon, the assistant secretary of the convention. It contained $50 in money and a railroad ticket to Denver, the home of Mrs. Langdon.
Mrs. Langdon left the pocketbook on a table in the rear of the platform while she carried some books and documents to an ante-room. When she returned it was gone. She announced her loss with tears in her eyes, as visions of walking to Denver arose before her, and the delegates decided to take up a subscription to help her. Some of the delegates changed their ideas of reforming society and decided that it was essential to reform individuals first.
The entire time of the convention yesterday was taken up in discussing a constitution for the proposed organization. David C. Coates, who has fought for an organization purely on industrial rather than on economic lines, was defeated by a vote of 39,540 votes to 11,523. The report of the constitution committee was adopted.
After the vote was announced Coates proposed to discharge the committee on constitution and appoint a new one, but his motion was defeated by decisive vote. He left the hall in disgust shortly after and left the theorists in full control.
The adoption of the report of the constitution committee was a victory for "Father" Hagerty and Daniel De Leon and proved that they control the convention. The trade unionists and the regular socialists are disgusted and they predict that the convention will end in smoke.
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