St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-17

and Labor Unions of; the United
States and Canada was takena
Knights of Labor assemblies and
trade unions were equally represents.
ed, and twas understood that both
forms of iosga ganizatdon should be pre-
served, and that the two should work
hand in hand for the perfection of
unity among labor organizations
About 100000 workers were repre-
sented, and since that time conven-
tions have been held annually.
For a while, however, the fedora
ton did not increase rapidly in
strength. This is no doubt due
to the booming growth of the
knights Of Labor. Since the knights
began to decline the federation has
increased yearly with great rapidity
The points of difference between the
knights and the unions affiliated
with the federation, though not gen
orally understood, are many and rad
ical. All of these need not be en-
tered into here, but one of the most
striking lies in the fact that while
the general assembly of the knights
is a strictly secret meeting, the con-
vention of the federation is open to
spectators. Another point is that
while the chief purpose Of the knights
is ostensibly the revolution of econ
omic conditions, that of the fedora
tion's unions is the gradual chang
ing Of conditions along evolutionary
instead of revolutionary lines, while
the immediate object of the organ
ization is the securing of better
wages, shorter hours and other ma
terial advantages for the working
people. Between the knights and
the federation decided antagonism
exists, and more than one contest
between workingmen and their en-
| ployers has resulted in disaster to
the men through this antagonism.
| No doubt the bad feeling is much
! fostered by the somewhat pro-
nounced socialistic tendencies mani
tested of late by the Knights of La
Dor which are not indorsed by the
federation.
| Another important point of diff
| ference in addition to those named is
this: The knights of Labor is a
highly centralized organization. The
various trade and local assemblies
of the knights are generally sup
posed to obey orders Of the general
| executive board, issued through the
general master workman. It is not
so with the unions making up the
American federation. They are not
bound to obey any one, but each acts
for itself. In fact, the federation is
what it's name implies-a banding
together or federation of a number of
national, international and other
unions for the common good, each
union being entirely autonomous in
the conduct Of it's own affairs, but CO.
operating with the other unions for
the benefit Of all. The relation of
the several unions to one another is
almost exactly similar to the relation
of the different commonwealths max
ing up the union of states. The pres
ident of the American federation
| does not order strikes. He and the
| OCner Cnlel OlllCeIS WIZ Ioi Ill lhS CA
ecutive council may be and frequent
ly are asked to give advice when
strikes are proposed. But what they
have to say is simply advisory and
in nowise binding, while it Is often
disregarded. But whenever a strike
is approved by the executive council,
as soon as it is ordered by the union
directly interested, all the affiliated
unions join in supporting it by money
| considerations and otherwise.
The executive council may lay a
boycott when asked to do so by an
affiliated union, but before doing this
must investigate the cause of the re-
quest and may refuse at discretion
It ID expected that all unions will re.