New-York tribune., 1901-12-15
LABOR CONVENTION ACTION.
TRADE AUTONOMY AND SOCIALISM
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED-OFFI-
GERS REFLECTED.

Scranton Penn. Dec. 1.-THE American Fedora
ton of in the last minutes of this afternoons
session put itself on record on two quesuons tnal
have been agitating the delegates since the conVen-
tion met ten day3 ago-namely, trade autonomy
and socialism. The greater OF the TWO, IN the
minds of of the delegates, was that OF auton-
omy In brief, the special committee on autonomy
recommended that where there are only a Few
craftsmen in a large industrial concern. the pest
interests of all would be conserved by the 1e"
joining the paramount organization IN sucn esIaO-
Hshment and the amalgamation OF subdfvided crafts
into district and national trade connclls "IleIe Gil
disputes should be settled
The recommendations of the committee, TO the
surprise of many were unanimously adopted with
out a single remark being made by any one Inc
recommendations ale viewed differently by the
delegates. The miners, who have favored lhdus-
trial autonomy and who have put that principle
into effect in the mines, looked upon IL as d VIC
tory while the brewery workmen, pressmen anu
longshoremen some concessions IN the lepot'-
There were not a few who were dlspleaseo' anu ue-
clared the whole report to be no more thdh
straddle'' and the question will come up again
The recommendations of the committees report are
as follows:
F1rsAs the magnicent gro%S5h M OF d the st1dents
of economic thought TO be the result OF .,
nor expedent to make any radical departure from
this fundamental principle we declare tnae as 3 He m
eraI nroDoston the interests OF the workers VIII ue
best conserved by adherng as closely 10 thdI uoc
trne cIio1 as 1he and employment make practicable
RHoweVer owing to the isolation OF some few IN
dustres from thickly populated centres Wnere Ins
oVerw lining number follow one branch tnereol,
owing to the fact that IN some nausies srThnImng
lively few workers are engagea. ;.i oTe yn ha
separate organizations claim Jurlsdlctloh. We Je
paramount organization would yield the pest re-
suits the workers therein NSInHS n1 - onsfreS
reversal Of any decision on
Second-We hold tnat the interests Of the trade 5
union movement will be promoted by cioseiy any y
ing the subdivided craft giving consideFatioq 70
and 5atonai trade councils to which should be
ferred questions in dispute, ana Whlch shoulu NC
Third-The American Federation of Labor oeIhg
voluntary ASSOCIATION aIia GannIL Io or in conflict
with established trade union laws. and IN order 70 20
in fun recognition of its logical position the Amer
lean Federation OF LABOR pledges us ncb crsf en
croachments dsputants may be Wiling 10 SUD-
nit to its arbitrament
The failure of the socialist delegates to attack
The substitute resolution socialism the sur
prise of the day. The socialists. in declining to
take I'D the discussion explained that the conven-
ton had so much business TO dispose Of in the
limited time at its disposal they would not seize
the onnortunity at this time to how socialism
could cure the ills of humanity. The substitute
was adopted by large majority 1t is as follows:
The aims. desires and aspirations of trade union
the vellbeing of the human family and in the pqr-
suit Of anS in faet desre all the assistance WHICH
can be given our movement by those reform Iorces
this position we are in close relationship to the
greater body of socialists and with them agree tnat
not only should the burdens of toll be made ilgnter
but that each worker has an undeniaoe right 10
enjoy the full benefit of that which he or she pro-
duces We, like them, stand for greater liberty;
and are determined that the future SnaII
be more congenial to the whole human family, and
especially bright and ENJOYABLE TO men and
women breadearners of North America whom We
directly and indirectly represent 1t is true never
theless that in furtherance OF our cla1n namely,
that our principles comprise the fullest and highest
scope of human activity. and from time TO time
will be enhanced and advanced in accordance with
the demands to satisfy human needs and desires,
the people we represent. the working class, hold
different views on the best method OF furtherlns
the desired end even though there is little differ
ence among them the desiraoility OF the posi-
hope to attain
We unhesitatngly announce that the trades union
movement theory represented is the most practical
safe and legitimate channel through which the