The Washington times., 1901-10-14
ORGANIZATION OF LABOR.
Most Powerful Single Factor Be
tween Employer and Employe.
Industrial Commission Report on
Trades Unions and other Bodies of
WorIsmen Reviews ConciseIy I'm
portnnt Conditions of Business.

Under the direction of the Industria
Commission Charles E, Edgerton and L,
Dana Durand have prepared a summary
OF report on trade and labor organiza
tions. The subject of the relations be
tween employer and employe is one of th'
most important which the Commission
has considered. Doubtless the most
powerful single factor in affecting
those relations, say the authors
in the PREDATORY note to the report, lis
organization of labor, and this is the first
subject covered in the report. Particular
iLcerest attaches to all methods which
tend to promote peaceful relations be
tween employer and employe, and the
practice of collective bargaining, concilia-
tion and arbitration accordingly consti-
tutes the subject matter of a second part
of this report"
Defining national and local unions the
report in part says:
Among American trades unionists three
types of trades union are formally recog-
nized-the local. the national and the in
ternational The typical local union in
cludes only members who live and work
in one town. and its business is done by
vote of all the members. meeting in one
place. Sometimes there are subordinate
organizations, more or less formal, COM
posed of members employed in single es-
adjustments. Such are the 'chapels of
the printers, which long antedate any
more formal organization of the craft.
Such are the shop meetings of many
other trades. 1t often happens that work
ers in place where no local union of
their trade exists attach themselves to
the nearest. though they may not be able
to take part in its ordinary deliberations.
Less often, where a few workers of
trade are gathered, they are organized as
a branch of a neighboTing local union,
which thus assumes complex character.
This method is often adopted by the
brewery workmen.
THE national and international unions
represent only a single type, though the
formal distinction between them is care
fully made in trades union literature. The
typical national union aspires to control
all the workers of its trade in the United
States. The international union has locals
not only in the United States. but also
in Canada, and in few cases, in Mexico.
1t sometimes happens that unions which
are recognized as national do not in fact
have members outside of a limited terri
tory, and perhaps make no effort for
more general extension, For instance, the
Cotton Mule Spinners, like several other
unions in the cotton industry, are con-
fined to New England, excepting few
local unions in New York. The Northern
Mineral Mine Workers have apparently no
desire to extend beyond the boundaries |
of Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. |
National and international unions are |
made up Of local unions, which possess
more or less complete autonomy, and /
which join in one way or another in the |
Poyerpr1er1t Of general bo1I-'
Speaking of the relations of national !
and local unions, the authors say:
In a historical view the local union is
the source snd spring of the whole labor
movement. 1t was D. the alliance of ex-
isting local unions for mutual encourage
ment and support that the great national
organizations came into existence. Local
unions of Stonecutters, Of carpenters, of |
hatters, and of printers had existed for
many years before organization on a
larger scale was seriously attempted.
Even nowadays. though labor unions
come more with taking thought than for
merly. and less as the spontaneous out
growth of the Internal conditions OF their |
trades, ii is seldom attempted to build a
national union in any other way than by
uniting existing locals.
Each local union, even when subordi-
nate TO national orgs niZation, is a self
governing unit. Its theoretical relation to |
the national body is similar to that of one
of our States to the United States. The
local body has power to do anything
which is not specifically forbidden in the
national constitution Rates of wages are,
OF necessity, matters of local considera- |
ton in almost all trades. Hours of labor
are also fixed locally, in most trades, ac-
cording to local conditions Even the
unions which have national laws to limit |
hours cannot always enforce them in ali |
places, and they are glad to have hours |
shortened by their locals beyond the ma |
honal requirement. The regulation of ap- |
premiership is left by many unions to the |
locals and even when national rules are ]
made the locals often make further re- | 5
strfctions. A few national unions fix IN
tfation fees and dues. but in most cases I
he locals fix them. either without any re-
striction or subject to a maximum or a | l
minimum limit. Locals levy assessments ! {
upon their members. and inhict fines and ]
Jther forms of discipline Hardly any re- I
str1ction is placed upon the power to col | {
ect local assessments, except that in a
lew cases it is forbidden to raise them TO '
support strikes unauthorized by the ma ]
tonal officers. In the matter OF discipline | !
here is usually an appeal to the national | {
and a few unions forbid the | &
imposition Of fine above a certain amount | c
Without the approval Of the national ex-
,cutive board. In ordinary cases, how I
,ver, In most organizations, the local I
inions do what is right in their own G
Organization and government of local /
mons Is treated IN the following manner: i
The local labor union Is as Gemocratic e
q Its government as If is possible for any c
ssembly Of men to be. Indeed it is hard I
o conceive of any government but pure
democracy under such conditions The !
members are within easy reach Of one .
mother. They meet always once a month:
ften twice month; sometimes weekly |
any question of special Importance '
rises special gathering IS easily ar I
anged for. The members stand on a :
ooting OF substantial equality in trade !
fairs. All gain their support by daily .
Tork at the common occupation. There is ;
o opportunity for specialization of gov !
rnmental and executive skill by the set q
ng apart OF individuals to governmental q
ctivities. The tendency OF the local :
Mons is to minimize such specialization, 9
ven below the limit that circumstances =
light make possible. Officers are usually =
lected once in six months, and there is | .
strong tendency to maintain rotation q
office. n
THE democratic tendency of the unions e
as been intensified by experience Labor n
,aders, both Of the smaller and Of the n
Irger sort, have accepted political posi- | /.
ons which have seemed to come to them D
y reason Of their prominence in labor K
rcles, and others have taken positions | a
18th employers. and so have seemed 20 | g
D directly over 10 the ranks Of the enc Fl
y. In an such cases suspicion is likely b
arise that the union has been sold ii
ut Without doubt this suspicion is in n
any cases, perhaps in most cases. un- II
ist: but; just or unjust, it has had a d
rye weight In determining the policy 81
nd methods OF the organizations There "
so strong fear OF one-man power that
le action Of the organizations is weak
1ed by II. Even minor committees are
ten chosen by vote OF the body rather $
ian by appointment Of the chairman The
1rn leader of men will always lead
neither his sphere of activity is the labor |
ganizauon, the combination OF capt. o.
r as forms Of organization and methods | =
action so, the local labor union Is the u
.treme type of democratic assembly" S
The organization and government ~ | :,
atiOnll unions n falr, |