Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-14

UOul6S, COupOSSu VI oSiSSdleS from 6aCn
local union in a certain city, and are formed
to secure combined union action within the
limits of that city and its Immediate vi.
cinity.
State branches are representative bodies
consisting of delegates from the local unions
and central labor unions existing in a GER
tain state or province. They meet annually
in convention, and aim to form public opin-
ion and to influence legislation favorable
to the workers in general and to organized
labor in particular.
Regarding the relative strength of these
several branches, it appears that the ma
tional unions furnish nearly three-fourths
of the whole membership The indepen-
dent local unions are limited in number, as
a consequence of being speedily merged
into national unions, while the federal
unions contribute little more than 21a per
cent to the grand total. The list Of its
affiliated unions. as published by the Fed
Grafton. shows that the number Of nationals
ranged under its banner now amount to
seventy-two. At the first convention which.
as above stated was held in Pittsburg in
1881, there were, as noted. ninety-six del
egates present. and the receipts for the
year amount to $1I495; at the convention of
last year. which met in Detroit, Mich.
there were in attendance 1S9 delegates: the
receipts for the previous fiscal wear reached
the sum of $50. 75113, and the expenditures
during the same period amounted to sa0 =
1922 w WV
Supreme Power
Inc supreme power of the Federation Is
vested in its convention, to the annual ses-
sfons OF which each national or general
union Is entitled to send delegates accord
ing to its strength and these delegates have
one vote for each hundred members thew
eepresents. independent local unions and
federal unions are entitled to one delegate
regardless OF the number of their members
city central and state bodies are entitIad
10 one delegate having but one single vote
mr. yrff
clares, that the members of this vast fedar-
alton have been inspired with confidence in
the ability and devotion of their officers
All OF these latter are working chiefs of the
such have proved their capacity before he.
ing promoted to their present positions II
should be remembered that 1t was the conn
eli or the Federation, acting In conjunction
with the chiefs of the railway brotherhoods
which refused in the face of immense nres,
sure to participate in the great strike on
tne railroads centering in Chicago in 1894
and thus averted bloody and disa strous
United States.
1t was this same council that in refusing
to affiliate the Central Federation of New
York, with Its f1fty-nine local unions and
some lS.UO members, because 1t included a
branch of the socialist labor party struck
the keynote Of resistance against the dan
gerous delusion that the emancipation OF
the working class can be achieved by plac-
ms a. eic VI SiidllOW pOlltlC1anS the
business enterprises now conducted by pri-
vate persons.
Conservative in Character.
BY the systematic pursuit Of policy az
above Illustrated the Federation has dem
onstrated to the world that the spirit Of the
trade union Is essentially conservative and
that In the measure Of its conservatism it
has become the most valuable agent of So
cial progress. This is truth only Crashed
by the most capable minds, and it is the
recognition Of this truth and its practical
Application in the industrial world that has
enabled the Federation to transform the
old-time trade union forces and tactics into
a disciplined army, only engaging in indus
More conservative than the most conserva-
tive and more radical than the most radi-
cal of all those who speak or act in the
name of social reformation, the Federation
recognizes that employers and employees
those who conceive and direct equally with
those who execute, are indispensable agents
In modern industrial enterprises. But while
1t asserts that this division of functions Is
inevitable, 1t also contends that the en-
ployer Is simply the custodian of certain
portion of the social funds, and as such is
morally bound to administer the capital in
his keeping with due consideration for the
welfare of those workers who cooperate
with him in the reproduction and increase
of that wealth.
The members of the executive council CT
the Federation are: Samuel Gompers pres
ident; p. J. Mcclure, James Duncan. James
O'Connell Max Norris and Thomas I. Kidd
vice presidents; John B. Lennon, treasurer
and Frank Morrison, secretary.