The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-07

order has more than once been confronted
with conditions which threatened its very
existence. and each, with its record OF con-
tests lost ard won, survives to-day, living
national force. During the year now clos
ing each order entered, at different times,
upon an aggressive struggle which attracted
the attention of the whole civilized world.
The Federation gained signal victory with
scarcely ar exchange of gunshots: The
knights, aftera long and weary and desper-
ate fight, retired from the field. starved out
and vanquished by superior forces. Never
theless there arc still possibilities in the
future which may we'll arouse the ambition
and call for the most Herculean and en-
thusiestic efforts of the Knights of Labor
There are still in the pathway of the victor
ious American federation obstacles so gi-
gantic as to challenge the unceasing
watchfulness, energy and prompt and I'M
faltering decision of its veteran and skilled
leaders. battle won and battle lost has
not yet ended the seemingly interminable.
conflict. Each order has much of THAI
within it which may we'll command the re-
spect and admiration OF mankind. There
are, too. within the forces of each. lurking
dangers which may prove more disastrous
to either or both, than the tercest assaults
of a common foe.
Inasmuch as December is the date set
for the annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor, at Detroit, it is that
order which Just now comes the more prom
inently before the public eye, AMI to that
order the present article is devoted. 1t has
been stated that the American Federation is
based on the trade union principle. Its
chief present object is to secure for work
ingmen everywhere the eight hour day. It's
first great battle with the object in view,
was made last spring. with the carpenters
aud joiners of the country as the attacking
force. and speedy and pronounced victory
was the result. That battle, however, was
the great financial convulsion of 1873.
trade unionism in the United States
seemed for e. long time doomed:
Even with the resumption Of work and
wages, it WAS found impossible to estab,
lish a general trade union organizations
embracing the whole body OF wage work,
ers. Labor leaders with othsr views were
recognizing the workingmen. They hello
that trade unions had proven failure anc
that some new method of binding the labo
element into All effective aggressive forc
must be adopted. Hence the knights Q
Labor. Samuel Gompers says that tn
period which marked the slumber and ap
parent delay of trade unionism was lon
and dark night of anarchy in the DOMAIN 9
industrial organization" :,
If TINT be SO the dawn appeared on NO
nearly quarter of a million workers.. M.
in convention in Pittsburg. Pa, and estal
lished the Federation of Organized Trac
and Labor Unions of the United States an
Canada" At the second convention, held
Cleveland, O., on Nov. p, 1882, the Feder'
ton issued a document urging, not polit
cal. but industrial unity Us the prime ob1e
to be aimed at. "Not.' VIA added in Il
document, "by prescribing stereotype
uniform plan of organization for all. r
gardless of their experience or neCcasitie
nor BY antagonizing or aiming to destr'
existing organizations. but by preservil
all that is integral in them. ana widenil
their scope SO that each, without submer
ing its individuality, may act with the OF
ers in all that concerns them.'
It was at that convention that the Fedt
alton declared, among other things, .,
want an enactment by the workmen thel
selves that on given day eight hours sh,