Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-12-07

gigantic Is 90 challenge the unceaSing
watchfulneSS, energy and prompt and
unfaltering decision of it's veteran and
skilled leaders. A battle won and a
battle lost has not yet ended the seem
ingly interminable conflict. Each order
has much of that within it which may
well command the respect and the adj
miratiOn of mankind. There are, too,
within the forces of each, lurking dam
gers which may prove more disastrous
10 either, or both, than the ferceSt as
SaultS of common foe.
Attempts were made al various times
10 have the American Federation and
the Knights of Labor work in harmony,
and something more than year ago il
was hoped that at last those attempts
would be- crowned with success. The
result, however, merely served TO en-
phaSizc the irrecOusilable differences
between the two orders. The eXecu-
tive officers of the Federation and the
Knights met The Knights of Labor
OtlicerS'Otfered. aS basis for harmony.
the mutual recognition of each others
cards of membership. This was de-
clined by the trade unions on the ground
that i'm trade disputes there would be a
dual authority, resulting in veXatiouS
aud endless complications. Then the
American Federation proposed that the
trade locals or local assemblies whose
membership was confined TO men OF a
single trade be discontinued by the
Knights and that. on the other hand,
all "miXed locals" or federal labor I'M
ions be discontinued by the Federation,
ane that all trade uniOniStS be urged To
iOin mixed assemblies Of the Knights Of
Labor. This proposition was also re-
iected and the conference was atan end.
ANY other termination of the conference
could scarcely have been looked for.
1--WE do not see. said President Com
perS, ''how the tinker or the tailor can
successfully regulate the trade affairs
or disputes of the butcher or the baker.
The American Federation of Labor has
made 10 the cardinal principle 10 de-
clare. maintain and secure the autono-
nv of every trade and labor union in
the exercise of It's right TO regulate the
matters connected with its own bust
ness. uninterfered with by any 'Su-
preme.' grand, or mysterious power
The most potent factors in main
tanning and perpetuating the Fed
Grafton are the very slight cords that
bind the organizations TO it,. Its
officers. IL disposed 50 be- dictatOrial.
would soon find few or none to dictate
10. We act upon the principle that the
whole are wiser than any one and that
democracy stands against autOcracy as
the best form of government, industrial
Ia ~ ,,-ell ~ Dolitica -
The American Federation of Labor, in
fact, seemed 70 Dc based ON the princi-
pie of the American Federation of
States. AmericaniSm and patriotism
are. 20 the most casual observer, among
the leading attributes of the order.
should YOU have occasion 10 visit the
modest New York headquarters of the
order. in Clinton Place, You will see con-
spicuOuSly displayed on the wall, aS you
enter the main room. a fine steel pOr-
trait of George Washington. In PreSi-
dent GOmperS' private room, hanging
inst above his desk, is steel eng craving
of Trumbul'S DECLARATION OF indie
pendence." These little surface indica-
tionS may be Of interest TO such will
fully uniformed persons as still persist
i'm believing that labor refOrmerS are of
necessity unpatriotic.
The American Federation of Labor
never once lost sight of the position il
had taken in favor of the eight-hour
day for wOrkingmen, and at the ninth
convention, held in Boston last year,
that position was reaiirmed. Then il
WAS decided that the time for action was
ripe. Last March the Executive COun-
eli. consisting Of William Martin, 2. j.
McGuire. Henry Enrich, Chris. Evans
and Samuel GOmperS, met and selected
the United Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners Of America to lead in max
ING the demand for the enforcement OF