The age-herald., 1901-11-15
Makes Report to the National Convention of Knights
 of Labor
FEDERATION WAS DISlOYAL
Failed to Come to the Assistance, He Says, of the Knights During
 Great Steel Strike Recently. -d1,

Indianapolis, Ind, November 14-At the national convention of the Knights of Labor this afternoon General Master Workman Simon Burns submitted his annual report which consisted largely of an attack on the American Federation of Labor. The general executive com mittee and Secretary--Treasurer Hays also reported. Hays recommended that the order secure the introduction in Con- gress of laws to control the trusts. He said:
 Organized labor must prepare for the gigantic struggle that is fast approach Ing Nhen the very existence of their or ganizations will be at stake"
 General Master Workman Burns in his annual message said
 ''The first great struggle between or ganized labor and a great trust was be- tween the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers and the United States Steel corporation. It matters not what errors and mistakes are charged to the officers and members of the Amalga- mated Association, the facts are that the steel companies were victorious because of the treachery and failure of organized labor to do its duty. The Amalgamated Association expected at least the friend ship of officers and members of the American Federation of Labor. They re- ceived nothing but deception and opposi- tion. It is a question if the Amalgamated Association would have entered the con- test under the circumstances if 1t were not for the promises made and relied he me 1haf-r of tha ino ', Federation of Labor to assist them for what they believed to be right.
 Work of Knights of Labor.
 During the last great strike of the coal miners and those affiliated with them, the public, the Knights of Labor and other independent labor organiza- tions contributed more to the financial federation, yet the federation received the credit and in return they attempt to dis rupt other organizations better than theirs. In the late steel strike members connected with the American Federation of Labor, after their local organizations refused to contribute to the steel work CTS, solicited men from Independent labor organizations for the purpose of helping the Amalgamated Association who are ed any money or if the steel strike had been won by the workers. the federation would have claimed the credit The of- ficers and members of this great federa- tion of labor had the opportunity of their lives to dem onstrate what they, with their numbers could do, but fear of their organization or the influence brought to bear on them, they failed to prove themselves worthy of the name of organized labor.
 Any law or legislation that opposes the helping of organized labor financially when in need had better be wiped out The leaders of the American Federation of Labor did not want President Shaffer or his organization to win because it might have given that organization and President Shaffer some prestige and prominence The largest political organiz- ation today Is the Federation of Labor, using the name of labor for the purpose of advancing few men politically to the great injury of the many. Any labor or ganization that advances or benefits the
 
 such political organization using the working men for blind should be known by their true name and reputation.
 Organized Labor In PIttsburg.
 "In the city of Pittsburg, the greatest industrial city of the world, organized labor has been working in harmony, ac- complaining some good in its labor league, where all organizations are well come as members. regardless of whom they may be affiliated with, until a few months ago, when the paid organizers and the national officers of the federation started movement to disrupt the Labor League of western Pennsylvania, which has existed for some years. They make special attack on the Knights of La. bor, and without any good reason. This movement of theirs. like some of their other actions, will react against them
 IIeTEN Tn DEnap-e