Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-08-22
TO SOLVE PROBLEM.
PROPOSAL TO SETTLE ALL La
Dor DIFFICULTIES.
Injunction VIII Not Be Needed
Militia, Riot aud Great Finan-
cial Loss No More TO Vex,

ing quite a novel feature of the steel
strike, is so suggestive as to be some
what startling. At meetings OF the
tube-workers and rolling mill men
held all over that city July q, il was
decided to withdraw the savings of All
the workers from the local banks in
order to head of the proposition of the
Morgan syndicate 10 buy up the stock
of the United States Steel company in
the event of prolonged strike. The
men, according to the dispatch be-
licved that if such a movement could
be made a national one il would eff
fectually prevent the Morgan syndicate
from securing the cash necessary to
carry on the $500. 600 900 pool Most of
the money deposited in McKeesport
banks, amounting to hundreds of thou
sands OF dollars, is deposited by work
men, and its withdrawal would seri-
ously hamper every bank in the city
The inference was that if all other
union labor centers followed the lead
of Mckeesport, the steel trust might
find tight money market made so
by the actual owners of the cash
II may be profitable, perhaps provi-
dent. n; this time TO call the attention
OF all interested parties 10 the fact this
Mckeesport manifestation of feeling is
on n small scale nothing less than a
substantial endorsement of policy
favored by the Federation of Labor at
the annual convention In Madison
Square Garden in 1895. That meeting
was them ost determined and. on the
whole. the most aggressive'y business
like gathering of workingmen ever
held in the world The committees
were made up of strong. progressive
men from all parts OF the continent,
and the committee work was carefully.
thoroughly and cautiously done-Gom-
pers was on his mettle. The fight be
tween the socialist and non-socialist
element was fair and to finish. The
Federation came out Of il all as the
typical American labor organization
From that New York convention dated
the dehnitive rise aud predominance OF
the Federation as the master power in
American trades unionism.
IL was characteristic OF that gath
ering that no axes could be ground
there by outside influences or inter
ests. The committee on outside com
munlcations had much work to do. and
they sifted things pretty thoroughly.
Among the items from outside sources
that passed inspection were the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions
Whereas, Organized labor, as at
present constituted has within its con
troll hundreds of millions of dollars. in
the shape of workmen's savings
throughout the United States. such saw
ings being available for the strength
ening of organized labor everywhere,
instead OF being. as now. exclusively
diverted TO the uses of so-callcd mon.
eyed corporations; and,
Whereas, Money, in the shape al
capital stock, is the great cohesive
power for all working organizations in
this age and country, and.
Whereas. The time has come to ad-
vance the cause of trades unionism
against the growing organization and
perfeetng of the natural development
and power OF centralized capital em-
ploying large bodies of workmen; and
Whereas, There is no less serious
menace OF the abolition of the wage
system altogether, on the part OF those
who seek a revolution in methods Of
employment rather than the better
ing Of the conditions OF the same. and,
Whereas The organization Of wealth
under the laws OF property rights Is n
growth OF modern civilization that
cannot and ought to be checked. and.
Whereas, Organized labor must obey
the same law % progress, If IL Is to
compete on terms Of equality with en-
ploying capital. and,
Whereas Labor unions can best Sc
cure equality in courts OF law and equi-
~ by adopting the capital stock feature
and,
Whereas, Such equality viii place
organized labor in a position to deal
with employers on strictly business
basis; therefore,
BE il Resolved. That the American
Federation of Labor, In national con
yention assembled in the city Of New
York, does hereby endorse aud recon-
mend the formation Of Joint stock la
Dor unions.
That such joint stock tabor unions
be founded by the addition OF the capt
tai stock feature To the present exist
ing organizations affiliated with the
American Federation OF Labor:
That for the purpose of such organi-
cation, FIVE dollars shall constitute one
share Of stocR.
That voting on all business cues
lions before such joint stock labor un-
ion shall be on the basis Of one vote
for each such share,
That members at present In good
standing in any such union shall not
be excluded from It's other benefits BY
reason Of their not being shareholders.
That committee be appointed 10
secure such legislation from the CON
gress Of the United States as win make
valid the charter Of all such labor cor
porations, giving them corporate exist
ence with limited liability. standing IN
court 10 sue and 10 be sued, all con-
tracts entered into by said unions with
employers to be under the Jurisdiction
Of special federal court Of final re-
sort
That the charter for all such labor
unions be confined 10 tho functions OF
an employment agency at first. end as
the first essential reason for their ex-
istence
That provisional legislative eypedi-
ents be afterwards added to insure the
safe investment Of the unions stock
In funds Of the government In bank.