The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-16
THE FEDERATION NOT A MONopoLISr.
Il Declares That There Is Plenty of
Room for the Knights,
Provided That They Do Not Interfere
with the Federation.
Nothing Tolerated Which hinders
the Eight Hour Movement.

BosroN. December 14-In the Federation
of Labor convention this afternoon, the con-
sideration of the constitution was continued
and several amendments adopted. The
special committee appointed TO cosider the
attitude of the Federation toward the
Knishts of Labor submitted report which
was adopted by rising, unanimous vote.
The report says:
"The American Federation of Labor de-
sires to establish no monopoly in the sphere
of labor organization. 1t does, however,
pledge itself to maintain the prestige and au-
thority of its affiliated organizations and to
enter its most emphatic protests against the
policy of any labor society which permits
itself to be used as an ambuscade for the de
structien of the trade movement. Fer years
the officers of this organization have sought
tO establish amicable relations with that
order. even at a period when certain of its
leaders were seeking the very life OF trade
unions. Whatever friction may have arisen
In the past between the two organizations,
its cause must be looked for in other direc-
tions than in that of the Federation. Much
of the trouble has been 0ccasi0ned by the
organization of national and International
trade districts Of the Knights of Labor in
crafts where national trade unions already
existed. Not only has the creation of this
dual authority been productive of evil re-
suits, but too often the national trade dis
trict been made the dumping ground for men
who have been branded as unfair by trade
unions. With the original educational pur-
pose of the Knights of Labor as vested in
mixed assemblies, the trade uni0nists of
America were and are in sympathy"
The Federation states its position as fol-
lows: First, that the Knight of Labor shall
disp0untpuanoa and raV0ka the charter of
all trade assemblies or districts within their
order; second, that In turn the American
Federation Of Labor and its affiliated trade
unions will urge their members and encour-
age the working people to become mem members
Labor. The time has arrived when the
trade unions should claim their own. The
trend of the organizations show that wage
earners of America are weary of having
their interests adjusted by the measure of
the huckster or the yard stick of the mer-
chant. The success of the short hour cause
is of too vast import to be imperilled by the
policies of masterly inactivity or acrobatic
posturing. The march toward the eight
hour goal must not be halted at the behest
of middlemen. Professions Of harmony
and platitudes of peace are poor recompenses
for the attempted weakening OF the trade un-
1--WE therefore assert the natural right of
trade unions to occupy trade union territory.
Wnen LnlS TiSnL Is cOuceuou, uiscOIu Will
end and organized labor be more closely
united"
The election of officers resulted as fol-
lows:
President-Samuel Gompers of New York.
First Vice President-W. III. Martin of the
Amagamated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers.
Second Vice President-P. j. Mcclure Of the
Unired Brotherhood of Carpenters AMI Joiners.
Secretary-Ch Christopher Evans of the Miners
and Mine LabOrers.
Treasu er Henry Zurich OF the Furniture
Workers Union
After selecting Detroit as the place of next
years meeting, the Federation adjourned