Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-14
FEDERATED LABOR
Present Conditions and Prospects for
the Future.
LIST OF TEE AFFILIATED BODIES
Sketch Of Organization Forwarded
to Commissioner Peck at Paris.
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL


Mr.. Samuel Gompers, president and Mr..
Frank Morrison. secretary of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, have gone to Dem
yer. Col, to attend a meeting of the execu-
tive council of the organiza ton, which will
begin in that city Monday next. Previous
to their departure from Washington a
Star reporter had a talk with Mr.. Morrison
on the present condition and prospects for
the future of the order of which the two
gentlemen named are the principal officials.
Since the close Of the last fiscal year,
which was October 81 last" Mr.. Morrison
remarked, there have been organized 5S1
local unions, 6S city central bodies, ma
tonal and international unions and three
state branches. The local unions included
every state and territory in the federal
union, the national unions comprised the
International Union of Watch Case En-
gravers, International Union Of Ladies'
Garment Workers, Building Laborers' In
ternational Union, International Union of
Wood, Wire and Metal Lathers, Interna-
tonal Brotherhood of OIL and Gas Well
Workers and Brotherhood Of Railway
Trackmen. who became affiliated with the
A +. of l.. The state branches were Ken
lucky, Georgia and Virginia"
Mr.. Morrison stated that in the eight
months of the fiscal year, which covers the
period between November 1. 1899, and the
nrst or the present month, there had been
a larger increase In the membership than
during any previous twelve months since
the A. F. Of L. was organized. In 1898 the
additions to the roll Of membership COM
prised 2OS organizations, but in 1899 there
was an increase of $50, and 1t was his
opinion that If the present ratio of increase
Is maintained for the remaining four
months of the fiscal year there will by that
time have been added to the roll almost
during
year.
Organizers Employed.
To accomplish great results 600 local and
general organizers were employed, the field
operated in being the entire United States
and Canada At the present time there
are included in the body seventy-fve ma
tional and International organizations, 176
city central bodies. seventeen state organi-
cations and 964 local unions. The member
ship of the American Federation is esti-
mated approximately at one and half
millions.
comparison of the sections of the coun-
try where there have been the most addi-
tons, shows that the growth in the south
has been the most marked, central bodies
being organized in the states of Alabama,
Arkansas. Florida. Georgia, Louisiana, Mis-
slsSippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas
and Virginia There was forwarded yester-
day to Commissioner Peck at the Paris ex-
position, and at the request of Mr.. Peck.
statement of the organization, aims and
prospects of the American Federation of
Labor, which was prepared by Mr.. Com
pers. and a portion of which says:
THE first session of the body now known
as the American Federation of Labor was
held in Turner Hall, Pittsburg, Pa, on No
vcmber 10, 1881. Ninety-six regularly ere
dentialed delegates representing ninety-fve
labor organizations with an estimated ag-
gregate membership of 262. 900 workers.
were present: and John Jarrett, former
president of the Amalgamated Association
of Iron and Steel Workers. was called to
the chair declaration of principles was
adopted to the effect that "a struggle Is GO
ing on in the nations of the civilized world
between the oppreSsors and oppressed of all
countries: a struggle between capital and
labor which grows in intensity from year
to year. and will work disastrous results
to the toiling millions If they are not COM
bined for mutual protection and benefit "
The objects of the Federation We're, there
fore, declared to be the encouragement and
formation of local, city, national and in
ternational trade unions, and to secure
legislation favorable to the interests Of the
Industrial classes. number of resolutions
favorng reform Of Industrial conditions
We're adopted during the session, two Of
which were shortly afterward enacted into
law. one of these requiring the establish
ment of a national bureau of labor statistics
and the other forbade the importation Of
contract labor.
Scope of the Order.
The second session, which was held in
Cleveland, Ohio, was marked by the cleo
ton of Samuel Gompers Of the Cigarmak-
ers' International Union, as permanent
president, and the Endorsement Of a COM
munication from P. J. Mcclure. the secre-
tary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters
which proclaimed the supremacy of indus
trial over political questions. and more pre-
cisey defined the true scope of the political
action of the federation. , The document
was, in part as follows I'VE favor this
federation because 1t is the most natural
assimilative form of bringing the trade and
labor unions together. 1t preserves the in
dustrial autonomy and distinctive charac-
ter of each trade and labor union and,
without doing violence to their faith or
traditions, blends them in one harmonious
whole-federation Of trade and labor
unions
Such a body looks to the organization of
the working classes as workers. and not as
politicians. 1t makes the qualities Of man
as a worker the only test of fitness. and
sets up no political or religious test of mem
bership. 1t strives for an unifcation of all
labor. not by straining at an enforced union
of diverse thought, and widely separate
methods: not by prescribing a uniform plan
of organization, regardless Of their expert
ence or interests; not by antagonizing or
destroying existing organizations, but by
preserving all that Is integral or good in
them and by widening their scope SO that
each. without destroying their Individual
character. may act together In all that con-
Germs them.
Strictly NOn-Partisan.
"Since that time several attempts have
been made to commit the federation to
partisan purposes, but all have failed. The
platform Of the American Federation of
Labor Is purely economic in character and
it demands compulsory education, direct
legislation through the initiative and ref
erendum, a legal workday Of not more than
eight hours, sanitary inspection of work
,lo nd hnp 1jot Of
ers for injury to health, body and life: the
abolition OF the contract system in all pub
lie work; the abolition of the sweating sys-
TEN, the municipal ownership Of street cars.
water works and gas and electric plants
for public distribution of light, heat and
power; the naturalization Of telegraph.
telephone railroads and mines; the aboli-
ton of the monopoly system Of land-hold-
ing and substituting therefor a title of oc-
cupancy and use only; repeal of all con-
spilacy and penal laws affecting seamen
and other workmen Incorporated under the
federal and state laws of the United States:
also the abolition Of the monopoly privilege
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