The times., 1897-12-26
In THE WORLD OF LABOR.


| Of LabUr meets with tie general approval
| of the trades uniorlists OF tie country
| Even those delegates who favored other
candidates, for personal reasons, must
/ acknowledge that Mr. Gompers tlioroash
represents the sentiment of the trades
unionsts Of the world
1t is tC lie regretted, however, that the
hundreds of affiliated organizations were
not more fully represented at the annual
convention Just ended According to the
best reports OH the subject, tue aggregate
membership OF the American Federation "l
Labor numbers anywhere from 600 coo
TO ,0uC eco, representing all trades and
crafts. The reports from the convention
show that there were about / 90 delegates
present. This would Indicate that each
delegate represented from $4,000 To fO0,
900 wurkinen, supposing That each stood
for aIi equal number of members. Power
to represent SO great 4 number OF fellow
men is considered dangerous to til he inter
estS of Il Csc represented, and it is said
has been the chief complaint against the
order of the Knights OF Labor. In fact, in
the latter case, it wasrecogn gntZed g the cen.
tralizat'on of power, AMI led to iealousies
and finally internal dissensions. However
this may be, there is one thing certain,
that so far, though the Organization has
grown To tremendous proportions, there
is rs yet no sign Of internal dissension.
The talk OF separating the Federation
into Eastern and Western divisions, il is
understood, was not prompted 10y any dis
satisfaction among the members nor OBJ
lection tC tie executive officers, but by
a desire on the paItu of the leaders in the DIFF
ferent sections of the country TO cen
tralise tie influence and power OF the
rank and file of tie toiling masses. |
After thorough discussion of the prop |
osition and calm delberation, however, |
it was determined to adhere to the Old !
plan of organization, believing that in |
union there is strength
While the workmcn at large are inter
ested in the action of the conv venti ~ |
from Ia bor standpoint of view tie local |
members of organized labor affiliated
with the American Federatio are directly
interested il. the decision OF the organ
i2ation not TO remove its national head /
quarters from Washington. The fact
of the hca dquaTters being located here has
given a great impetus 10 trades unioniSm
I'm the District. General Secretary Frank
Morrison has been very active in sprea ling
the principles of tie ofganiZat tion in wash
ingtUn. President Gompers, too, las hscu
active i'll this work, with the result that
the number OF trades unionists has in
creased to nearly twice the former number
since the e>tll .shment ofnationaf hea adquar
ters in this city.
The introduction OF improved ma chinery
for making bread into one Of the local
bakeries is causing the members OF the
different orraniZa tionS OF journeymen
bakers aid members OF the allied trades,
AID bakers drivers no little
concorn IL is said the new mac hine is not
only cheap, but is proving a success in
the manufacture of bread stuffs. Hereto
fore only round" bread could he success
fully made bv machinery, and his gave the
bakers but little concern. Now, however,
since a machine has been invented, and is
proving a practical success, the Journey
men bakers see trouble ahead.
a prominent member of one of the local
organizations OF bakers said a day or two
ago that there is only one way to meet
such Innovations in the baking buSi-
ness, and that is an increase in
wages and q reduction ia the hours
)f labor. II is said that one of the new
machines, which can be purcha sed for
about $500. VIII do the work of from fif-
teen 10 twenty men. If this be true, and
there is no reason to gainsay it, 1T viii
,ause great reduction in the number OF
men employed at the local bakeries
where t1ey are introduced.
Nothing has been done yet in the way
IF max ne demands on the bosses, but it |
Is believed that united acton viii be
AIKEN shortly looking to the making of
provision against the reduction OF the
number of workmen. WITH this in view
i is believed that an effort VIII be made
ly the n ore conservative members OF all
he bakers organizations to settle the |
roubles existing among them in order
o be ehlC to present solid from to the
employers in making demands for shorter
hours OF work and an increase in wages.
The action Of the Federation of Labor
Of Chicago, requesting the trades unionistS
20 withdraw from the National Guard.
has not vet been discussed by the local
Tades unionists officially. Nor has it !
been intimated that the matter will lie
considered. 4 large percentage
)f the District militia is composed of mem !
Ders of organized labor, SO in the event
he trades unionistS in Washington should
ie eide to sanction the acton of the
Chicago Federation, the individual trades
lnionIst would have to decide for himself
which Of The two organizations he would
support.
The ground taken by the Chicago + ID arl
ion OF La bor in making this request OF
IS members is thatit would place tn, Wa ge
'5rncr-miiitia man in an emba rrassinc posi-
ion, ii tie event of a riot or strike. vt
uch time he might lie called upon TO ire
Ipon his fellow workrnen, who possibly
night be bis brother, father. or Jthcr
elative. Such picture is not ov r.
a condition of affairs coulI
'Xist, So the subject resolves itself into
he questions, can a National qua rdsman, De
conscientious member of ORGANIZED d la Dor?
nj shnuld a member of organized n Dor,
moving the duty he may possibly lie
allied upon TO perform, enlist in the state E.
llitia?
The letter of Secretary Gage to President
iompers las been generally discussed by
rganizeG labor, especially the trades
nlonists. since it was published. The
Dcal leaders, however, through courtesy
o President Gomrers, refused to discuss
he contents of the letter during his 40
ence.
There is 10 lack of reason. however,
is stated, for the adoption OF the reso-
itions To which the Seer etary tax es eX- .
option, and these will be forthcoming as
oon as Mr. Gompers returns to the city.
1r. Gompers, those who know him in
imately say, has made the financial
question: u special study ana is w ell ,rnl-
fled to answer Mr.. Gage or anyone else
n the currency question So. under the