New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-12
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION.
NO PEACE WITH THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
SAMUEL GoMPERs CHOSEN PRRsIDrNr-THE CON-
sTfTUTIoN oPPos' TO MR.. PowDERLY's ORDER

lDr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
COLUMBUS, Dec. 1.-the Trades Union Convention
wound up Its work this afternoon by giving direct slap
at the General Executive the knights of Labor
in the election to the presidency Of the New American
Federation OF Trades Of Samuel Gompers Of the Cigar
Makers International Union Mr.. Gompers has been one
Of the most persistent fighters against the order In the
ranks OF the trades unions. The convention mas
done much work. An amalgamation has
been formed which will result 1t is hoped In the estab
hshment OF an organization fully powerful, bet
ter disciplined and more conservative than the
Knights OF Labor Action has been taken favorable TO IN
dependent political action but the trouble with the
Knights OF Labor has not been settled and the feeling
against the order is, II anything bitter than ever
The matter was settled by the adoption Of report In
which he committee appointed to confer with the knights
Of Labor recommend that the Executive Council OF the
newly organized federation shall issue address TO the
public on the subject at an early date.
The work Of to-day principally confined to the dis
cussion OF the constitution Of the new American Fedora
ton and the election OF officers. The principal points in
the new constitution are as follows:
The ASSOCIATION shall be the American Federation
Of ao and shall consist Of snc trades unions as ss con-
on shall be the encouragement and formation OF local
through organization trade. and labor
Sos INTO NJ ess e S the or eT
secure sse @ LEGISLATION IN the Of uerUson Is
trades unions based upon strict recosntion Of the autonomy
Of each trade national legislation in the Interests
pcae u ami legal %1Sods in svor Of The
1siicna ntsTns,oaai union less msGer'
sesss 4 rd 81 more two so Of more @
avs dessatss and and from 2. ,a. each
national or inter- aonal union affiliated with this fedeat"n
local national or International rsnzation shall be aowed
S1s s S on efecs ounc n ii With 10 watch
legislative directly affecting the interests Of work
tive action the convention direct The Executive
tiona international trades unions local
trades unions ana connect em wit TIE ederaton me we
affairs. it shall be duty OF the Executive Council
assist each other IL any justa6Ie boycott and with vol n
ry financial help The event q strike or o"spas as ss Sny
approved By the Executive Council the particulars o tne
issued by the presen! q the federation to the nn3ns
10 nTgn IL o ss nnans s se an meber to make
liberal Hsnea nan onacPs IN and o. the . be T o n
per caDt tx vi cent per mouth tor ecn s F
alton shall warrant such action the Executive counci.
shall authorize the sending out Of trades unions FRS
muneraion for tn loss Of time by the Executive C9nnc
81 10 s be a.o d de2ayea any
Ss S1s OF any Sa ap Win h vino viii sub
scribe 10 THIS constitution shall have the power 70 ios % S %
regular meetings for the purpose o. Strengthening ana at
vancng the trades union movement ana sna nave @ poW
and shall Ge granted local Jy the president Of the
the near@s local Nationa Trades union
Win IencIatOn bo INV" N"N~
March l, 1887.
There certain portions Of this document which
will hurt the Knights OF Labor The section which re-
ates strikes and boycots will give to individual trades
the support of strong national body which they nnd
now only among the Knights and will take away one OF
the strongest inducements the formation OF trade dis
tricts and the provision for the formation OF Federal
trades unions, will obviate the difficulty OF forming
unions small where there not enough OF one
union and will take the place OF the mixed
local assemblies OF the Knights OF Labor.
After the constitution had been adopted Samuel Com
pers of York elected president George Harris OF
Pennsxsvana, and James W. Smith, OF sprinfeld III,
vice prssidents r. j: Mcclure OF philadelphia secre-
tarv aud Gabriel Edmunds. of Washington, treasurer
MIR tiompcrs born In London thirty
been n cigarmaker all his life. He has held many
important offices In his union has been president OF
the workingmen's state Assembly of New York. and was
the OF the old Federation OF Trades Mr. Harris
is the president Of the Federation OF Miners and Mine
Laborers OF Pennsylvania. Mr: smith represents the
National Progressive Tailors Union, and
was the chairman OF the Federation of Trades
Mr. Mcclure is the general secretary Of the Brotherhood
OF Carpenters and Joners, and the secretary OF the
Trades Union Committee and Of the conference He was
born In NewYoik City about forty years ago and for
many has been OF the most prominent men in
the He is regarded of the ables
IN the movement Mr.. Edmondston Is the financial
secretary OF local union Of carpenters in Washington
and was born in Baltimore
The Federation ad jOurned To meet IN Baltimore on the
second Tuesday in December 1887 The delegates nave
nearly all started for home They are well pleased with
the the session and confident that the Amer
can Federation OF aD0 will quickly grow to be the most
powerful lnbor organization OF the country