The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-12-01
'0 |! : PARENT BoDY
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF
LABOR IS A SUCCESS.
A Substantially. Real and Practical
body, Devoid of Theories, lsms
and Sophistries-NOthin Vision
AIRY is Trade UniOnism-Accom-
plishments Along Lines of Least
Cost anr Sacri1lce.

The approaching session Of the Am
erican Federation of Labor, If not al
together the most important" usual
~ claimed for it. will be one highly
interesting and entertaining, not only
to the delegates in attendance, but to
the large and growing mass OF work.
ing people to be found scattered broad
cast over the land, gaining daily in
contentment and happiness under the
beneficence afforded by the influences
bred and inculcated by strict adher-
ence to the principles Of trade union
ism pure and simple" says the AM
erican Federationist. =
OF course there is the usual threat
enings of fate awaiting the Federation
uttered by the various malcontent
pseudo-reformers that are forever
quacking some favorite nostrum cura-
BILE of the ills which afflicts suffering
humanity. -
the various remedies suggested, each
as the only possible panacea Of cura-
tive quality. They all seem to be bent
upon one single purpose-the destruc-
ton Of trade ,unionism; and as all rats
and scabs in the universe are favor
able to means for like results, an esti-
mate can easily be place upon the
honesty Of methods proposed for rene
dial reconstruction Of the measures
now being carried on for the ameliora-
ton of the condition Of the masses.
The phenomenal growth and success
of the American Federation during the
year just closing ought Of itself to be
sufficient to dispel the wild and harum
scarum hobgoblinism which gets itself
together at varius seasons of the year,
and especially antedating the annual
sessions Of the Federation, to brighten
1t from its course and direct it always
in the visionary and impracticable
methods intended only for its destruc-
tion. r.: ~
The knights Of Labor, not being
formed on a trade union basis, lacked
the stability Of endurance as an orr
ganization. Founded wholly on the
mixed assembly system Of locals, the
enticements and attractions of its
sWoykinssgsoon worked themselves out;
.intsrest syae soensl ost Sc oysments
= n r
windstorms, without 4 results while
trade unionists in every part Of the
country entered the order. they found
little to interest them, except the bene-
fit that might eventually be derived
from the possible enlightment OF the
uneducated masses of working men or
In the benef1cence of some kind of or
ganization which, in some mysterious
manner, might bring about Immediate
relief for the suffering they felt in their
daily struggles for bread.
It is needless to enumerate the num-
berless other theories, isms, and soph-
isteries being concocted, agitated and
pressed forward for the reform of trade
union methods and practices, If there
is any real danger which threatens the
stability and purpose of trade union
ism outside of certain degree of
apathy and indifference-it is the de-
traction of motive in the object to be
reached. The trade unionist, when
only measurably successful, is prone
to carelessness of duty, not only to
himself, but to his fellows for the lit
tie he has accomplished and In his
shadowy elation or imitation of mind
is in danger of allurement and entice-
ment by the destinations of many wild
and visionary theories, which if not
entirely foreign to the purpose he has
in view are Of such specious and sup
! CRITICAL fairness as to lead him entire
ly astray from his original honest and
earnest predetermination.
If the working man will curb his
eagerness and hastiness; if he vii
measure his progress by calmness OF
thought and reflection; If he will com
pare the past with the present, and OBJ
serve the gradations of conditions
ameliorative to the world of toll, he
will find satisfaction in the philosoph,
of his own mind, he will find that it Is
not by wild theory, terminating only