Ap

Applegarth, Robert (1833-1923)

Secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (1862). Marx wrote to Engels (December 4, 1869) that Applegarth was "very important" because he was regarded by both Houses of Parliament as "the officially recognised representative of the English trade unions." Together with Odger and Allan (Amalgamated Society of Engineers) he was one of the so-called "Junta," the leading representatives of the "new model" trade unionism. Marx related to Engels (December 4) that after the final debate on the Irish question Applegarth, had informed him that "an eminent member of the House of Commons" had been commissioned by "an eminent member of the House of Lords" to ask Applegarth if he had voted for the abolition of all private property at the Basle Congress [Sept 6-12, 1869] of the International. His answer would decide the attitude of his parliamentary patrons. Applegarth wanted to "give the fellows a decided answer" and commissioned Marx to draw up "the reason" for him. Despite ill-health and press of work Marx wrote him "eight pages which will take him a long time to chew" on "landed property and the necessity of its abolition." Applegarth did not agree.