EPHEMERAL LABOR MOVEMENTS 491 



1872. It was of little importance; but steps were taken leading toward 

 the organization of a " National Industrial Congress." Nevertheless, 

 as late as March 24, 1874, The Working man's Advocate still called itself 

 " the official organ of the National Labor Union." 



The first National Industrial Congress was held in Cleveland, July 

 15, 1873. The only labor organization which opposed the movement 

 was the ever-conservative Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The 

 leaders of the new movement proposed to steer clear of politics. No 

 constitution was adopted in 1873. Eobert Schilling, of Ohio, was chosen 

 as its president. Some of the resolutions adopted savored somewhat of 

 political activity; and later some opposition developed because of the 

 adoption of these resolutions. But the call for this congress stated 

 definitely that steps would be taken to prevent it from deteriorating into 

 a political party. 13 Evidently the leaders of the Industrial Congress 

 believed that politics had wrecked the National Labor Union; and that 

 a stronger national federation of trade unions was desirable. The 

 second congress was held at Bochester, April 14, 1874. Many of the 

 delegates were men who had been prominent in the National Labor 

 Union. A constitution was adopted and the name Industrial Brother- 

 hood was assumed. The declaration of principles was almost the same 

 as that later adopted by the Knights of Labor. 14 Many of the demands 

 were political rather than purely industrial. Its platform viewed with 

 alarm the aggression of aggregated wealth, which, it was urged, tends 

 toward the degradation of the masses. 



Although Mr. Powderly 15 is of the opinion that a third congress was 

 not held, there is evidence that a National Industrial Congress was 

 held at Indianapolis on April 13, 1875. 16 In its declaration of prin- 

 ciples, appeared a clause opposing the use of the military power against 

 striking workingmen. The Workingmans Advocate became in due 

 time the "official organ of the National Industrial Congress"; and as 

 late as October 13, 1877, it still used this title. Although the Brother- 

 hood or the National Industrial Congress was organized by trade-union 

 men, it was somewhat like the Knights of Labor in principle. Trade 

 unionists objected to the organization of locals under the auspices of 

 the Industrial Brotherhood; and they also were adverse to associating 

 with unskilled labor in an organization. This attitude on the part of 

 the skilled men and the continued industrial depression following the 

 panic of 1873 destroyed the organization. 17 The early death of the 

 Industrial Congress indicates that the National Labor Union was not 



^WorJcinginan's Advocate, May 3, 1873. 



14 Eeport of the Industrial Commission, Vol. 17: 3. 



is "Thirty Years of Labor," p. 126. 



is Files of The Working man's Advocate, 1875. 



17 Powderly, "Thirty Years of Labor," p. 126. 



