INTERNATIONAL WORKING MEN'SASSOCIATION

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Bookmark:http://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb97-collmisc0134

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Collection of press cuttings concerning the IWMA's 4th congress, said to bemade by Robert Applegarth.

Administrative / Biographical History

The International Working Men's Association (IWMA) was formed in September1864. Karl Marx (1818-1883) was a central figure in the IWMA, and wrote anyof its early resolutions, declarations and manifestos. One of the IWMA'sfounders was the trade unionist Sir William Cremer (1828-1908), who wassecretary of the British section of the IWMA until he resigned following adispute with another leader. The anarchist Prince Peter Kropotkin (1842-1921)was also a member. The General Rules of the International Working Men'sAssociation written in October 1864 that the IWMA would strive towards the:'...the emancipation of the working classes and the abolition of all classrule; That the economical subjection of the man of labor to the monopolizerof the means of labor that is, the source of life lies at the bottom ofservitude in all its forms' The IWMA had therefore been formed to:'...afford a central medium of communication and co-operation betweenworkingmen's societies existing in different countries and aiming at the sameend; viz., the protection, advancement, and complete emancipation of theworking classes'. A General Working Men's Congress of the IWMA met annually,consisting of delegates of the branches of the Association. The Congresswill: '...have to proclaim the common aspirations of the working class, takethe measures required for the successful working of the InternationalAssociation, and appoint the General Council of the society'. RobertApplegarth (1834-1924)

Applegarth was born in Kingston-upon-Hull, the son of a mariner. In 1854 hewent to the USA, and spent some time at Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois.Applegarth was a member of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joinersfrom the first, and also General Secretary of the Society 1862-1871. He was amember of the Sheffield No. 1 Branch of the ASC and Joiners. Applegarth wasalso a member of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the CD Acts, the firstworkman so appointed. He was a member of the Reform League, of the LondonGeneral Council of the International Working Men's Association, and adelegate to the fourth annual Congress of the IWMA at Basle in 1869. Duringthe Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), he was a war correspondent, writing forthe Sheffield Independent, the Scotsman and the New York World.