The age-herald., 1900-12-15
LABOR CONVENTION
 OPPOSES AUTONOMY Established Precedent for Form ing Future Labor Unions GENERALIZATION FAVORED The Question Between the l. T. U. and the Linotype Machinists Was Set tied By the Convention Refus-
 ing to Interfere.
GENERALIZATION FAVORED

Louisville, December 1.-The American Federation of Labor today placed itself on record as opposed to trade autonomy, and in favor of standardization in trade union- ism. establishing a precedent for the es- tablishment of future labor organizations of the country. Two propositions for au- tonomy were voted down on the ground, as stated by their opponents, that they would tend to disintegrate the large central labor unions and destroy their power and pres tige. The convention showed a disposition to compromise on the question, recommend ing that the different organizations come to some agreement for the interchange of cards and disclaimng the competency of the federation to legislate for any affiliated union.
 The first resolution for autonomy passed upon was designed to allow the auxiliary workmen employed in breweries to with draw from the United Brewery Workers and join the unions of their respective crafts. It was defeated.
 With reference to the dispute between the International Association of Machinists and the International Typographical Union, as to trade autonomy, the resolutions com- mittee recommended that the Federation of Labor refuse to interfere This preojpi- tated a polemic battle between President O'Connell of the machinists, who opposed the resolution, and President Lynch of the Topographic Union, who supported it.
 MT. O'Connell protested against any prop ositon to force the machinists to join the I. T. U. We maintain," he said, that a man who takes care of linotype machine ie of ha machinists' craft and should belong to the International Association of Machinists. It is about time the Federation of Labor made defnitive declaration in favor or or against trade autonomy"
 Mir. Lynch's Argument.
 MT. Lynch argued in favor of only one union of workers in printing offices in or der that the rights of the employers might be more advantageously maintained. Tn the industrial field," he said, i've want to meet the employers as one organization. We have assumed and successfully main tained Jurisdiction over all persons em- ployed in newspaper offices, and be are able to maintain it to the advantage of all who work in them-a thing which the 1n- ternational Association of Machinists has not been able to do for it's men employed in printing offices"
 At the evening session Vice President Duncan offered as substitute an amend ment pledging the good services of the Federation for further mediation between the organizations concerned and requiring the incoming executive council to facili tate settlement of the difficulty within the coming year; also critcising in some degree the Typographical Union for non submission of the dispute to arbitration.
 President Gompers made an earnest ar gument in favor of the substitute and was greeted with tumultous applause. He de- clared against the use of force by the Fed eration in the adjustment of difficulties be- tween and affiliated unions. "The Knights of Labor he said, was great organi- zation, but it was founded upon force and the application of force led to its disinte- grafton. The true-hearted workers of the country revolted at the edict of the Rich mond Convention of the Knights of Labor, and then the decadence of that organiza- tion set in. In this instance, whether the I. T. U is right or wrong matters less to us than the maintenance of our voluntary form of orfianization. I will not attempt to defend the I. T. U. in taking in the ma chine tenders, or in their refusal to arbi- trate, but I would rather see ten trade unions at each others throats than to see the fundamental principle of the trades union movement vitiated and destroyed. You can survive battle between two unions, but you can never survive the de- struction of principle.
 Substitute Adopted.
 The substitute was adopted by a viva voce vote, only one vote being heard in the negative
 A resolution for the autonomy among the miners, providing for individual unions of the crafts of the blacksmiths and other auxiliary mine workers was disposed of on the same basis as those relating to the brewing and the printing trades.
 The convention adjourned until tomor- row morning.
 President Gompers stated that a strenu- ous effort would be made to adjourn sine die tomorrow night, but the immense amount of undisposed of business still be- fore the convention may compel prolong-