The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-19
More Than 100000 Members Of the
American Federation Of
Labor.
Five Thousand Subordinate Unions
Are Allied in the Great
Organization.
Mr. Samuel tsompers, the Chief, and Other
Omcers-The Eight Hour Day
Agitation.

NEW. YORK, July l0.-NOt only are m1lllO0
or more workingmen personally interested
in the operations and methods Of business
as transacted by the American Federation
of Labor, but thousands Of the employers
Of labor are equally anxious to become ac-
quainted with the work and policy Of this
organization Of workingmen, the largest
In the world, aud which 90 greatly, though
Indirectly, control the labor situation
in this. country. The phenomenal
growth Of the American Federation
of Labor in membership and
wealth is due entirely to the conservatism
of its officers, the economy of it's forces and
1887 the membership of the Federation was
2.421 local unions or branches and 6OO,34O
members in good standing. There are now
unions united under the leadership of
Samuel Gompers, the president Of the
American Federation of Labor. Mr..
Gompers is short, thick-set man, with
a strong face and well-set head, crowned
with locks of curling black hair, and he
determination which have won him fore
most place in the ranks of labor. He was
born in London. England, and came to
America when boy. He joined the
Knights of Labor when working. at his
trade as ciRarmaker, but not being in
ton, he resigned to take part in the forna-
tion of the body Of which he is now the
president. t5t
The headquarters Of the American fedora
tion of labor are at No. n Clinton Place,
and from early morning until dark the
force Of clerks is kept hard at work by the
business which pours in upon them from
all sections Of the country, and which must
all pass through the president's hands. It
is in this Office that every detail concern
ing the organization of new unions, the
conducting of strikes. the admission of
is conducted, and it is from here that
charters, seals, certificates, cards and
labor literature are distributed, not only
through America, bnt Europe as we'll. Book
shelves and pigeon-holes cover the walls,
great piles Of papers stand on the floor to
scattered about the large Office. and every
where and at all times those present are
busy. each IN his own special line. Mr..
Goinpers' Office is by itself, and into this
'.den," as he calls it, few have the privilege
Of entering Here. assisted Sa By stsnG @
ness affecting the interests of q million peo-
pie who call him ''chief." As
The method by which the officers of the
federation are kept posted on every detail
of the workings of the unions and the oc-
currences in all parts of the country which
of perfect system of reports sent to head
quarters at regular intervals by nearly
5000 unions, the representative of some
one of which can be found in nearly every
town and city. The officers Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, which now con-
Gompers, president; William Martin, of
Pittsburg, first vice-president, j. z. Nc
Guire, of Philadelphia, second vice-presi-
dent; Christopher Evans, secretary, and
Henry Enrich, treasurer.
Christopher Evans, the secretary. and the
only member of the executive council who
is always to be found at No. 21 Clinton
Place, has had a large and varied experience
in the field of labor. He was born March
8, lS41, in Staffordshire, England, and
came to this country when % years old,
in 1869. He settled in Ohio and Joined
Miners National association, and rapidly
became leader in it's councils, represent
ing it in convention until 1874. In 1875 he
joined the Knights of Labor, and then be-
came president of the Ohio Miners asso-
citation, district No. l, and it was while
Quoted the famous Hooking Valley strike,
during which the miners held out for near
~ year. Mr.. Evans joined the American
federation in 1886, and was first elected as
sistant and then general secretary, succeed
ing P. j. Mcclure.
The aim of the American Federation ia
ultimately to absorb every labor organiza-
tlon in the country formed under the trade
union system. and SO between the Fedora
tion and the Knights of Labor there is a
continuous struggle for supremacy. which
bids fair to continue indefinitely. The
largest federated trade which is a member
Of the Federation is the Interna-
tional Cigarmakers' union, which has
branches in everv CITY where cigars are
manufactured, and membership of over
O,OOO. The United Brotherhood of Car
penters and Joiners of America is also q
powerful union. It was the latter union
whlch was chosen to inaugurate the fight
In tins country for eight hours, and in
nearly 200 cities it has been successful.
As set forth in the constitution, the OBJ
ject OF the federation is to secure lepisla-
tion in the interest of the working masses
to influence public opinion, by peaceful
and legal methods, in favor of organized
labor and to aid and encourage the labor
press OF America. 1t is the belief
of the officers of the federation that
the best way to help their fell
low-workers is to shorten the hours of labor
and to accomplish this they have spent
many thousands of dollars and issued mill.
ions of pamphlets, which have been distrib.
uted all over the world, and agitation is
new in progress for another attempt next
spring to extend the eight-hour workday to
other trades. As long as its conservative
and peaceful policy is adhered to the future
of the American Federation of Labor seems
assured.
Yes. and He'll Get There