Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-10-22

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J. NJ. ARTHUR. viii succeed"
When the knights assembly opens
next November the routine business
must first be attended to. Then the
dispute over the secretary-treasurer-
ship will require settlement. Finally,
the disposal of the orders real estate,
q vexed question for years, will DO de-
bated. The property in Philadelphia, a
fine old brown-stone mansion still, de-
spite its long use as general head
quarters, is worth more than tho $40, 900
recently bid for 1t.
These matters considered, the West
erners propose to bring forward their
consolidation scheme, in spite OF what
ever opposition the powers that be may
manifest. Briefly embodied, the objects
of consolidation are:
1. To exterminate militarism In the
settlement OF labor disputes by abolish
irg the Pinkertons and rendering state
militia less despotic.
9. To influence legislation more ef-
fectively.
3. To save the expense OF malntain-
ing rival organizations, which, after oil,
have the same ends In view.
4. To do away with labor's internal
discussions.
The other aims are more or less sub
sidiary.
1t is proposed to have committee ap-
pointed for the purpose OF comforting
with similar body from other labor
orders, and il the question Of autono-
my comes up IL will be urged that the
knights are to maintain their present
independence and organization.
The only thing In the way Of all this
is the personal disagreement among
rival labor leaders. Now why should
the rank and file suffer for It's leaders?
A somewhat different scene will be
witnessed when the thirteenth annual
convention OF the American Federation
OF Labor opens In Chicago on December
10. In the first place there is an cleo
ton OF officers to be held and that
Samuel Gompers Will succeed himself is
confidently asserted by evcry eastern
delegate. Some nine hundred to fifteen
hundred representatives or alternRtes
will attend.
include boycotts, the unlawfulness OF
which in some States has loug been q
grievance with the brewers and bakers.
Then there will be bone to pick with
| the militia, while immigration evils are
to receive the usual tribute OF denunci.
alton. A strategic move on the part oil
| the Colorado men Is then designd In
Denver's selection as the next gather
Ing place. after which will come the re.
port OF Committee on Organization.
However, as John Swlnton remarked
at last years gathering: "You car
never say in advance what q lot OF del
gates will do"
1t seems likely that report will be
submitted favoring q restricted form OF
utilization so far as certain objects are
concerned. Each order is TO maintain
its autonomy. precisely as the Brother,
hood OF Locomotive Engineers contin-
ues its separate and independent exist
ence while affiliated with the Fedora
ton Of Labor. Financially, there will
DO no welding together.
That this will not be very satIsfac.
tory to the westerners no one doubts.
1t should be pointed out that labor
unions in such States as Kansas, Cali
fornia, Oregon and the DakotRs are
largely political. Throughout the east
they are seldom more than beneficial or
ders. And the same unrest which has
led the politics OF the west TO assert It's
whimsical independence, seems to be
prompting labor leaders and followers
to undertake the gigantic movement
which Terence Y. PoWderly Endorses In
theory and declares TO be manifest des-
tiny in practice.
Such a consolidation would assuredly
have an imposing result. IL would
mean O membership OF nine hundred
and fifty thousand and a revenue OF
two millions yearly. The argument
that II is too gigantic for ready action
is met By the proposition TO maintain
the order Ia iivisions-one 70 be known
as Knights OF Labor, another as the
Federation, and so on. IL seems odd
that our country. go advanced in mat
tiers Of this sort. has yet 10 perfect such
a scheme. j. Keir Hardie. the '1abor.
tie parliament man," 10 declining the
Invitation 10 visit the United States
last spring. mentioned this fact 10 BIZ
oft-Quoted letter. There Is such an
amalgamation In Switzerland, as Mr..
Powderly has pointed out, and there
exists the informal federation Of Brit
ish wage-eSrners, whic b accomplished
so much at the las election.
Such American labor leaders as are
-. o-onood ~ the Man frriunfag