The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-15
A WISE
COMMITTEE
DaIers,nr.-NG FACTIONS OF AMERI-
CAN FEDERATION OFF LABOR
ARE PLACATED
AUTONOMY REPORT A WONDER
Sop Thrown to Socialists, but the
Declaration Adopted Is Most
Distinctly Favorable to
Trade UniOnism
EzpEeaaD DEBATE CUT OUT

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 1.-THE Amer
lean Federation of Labor in the last min
utes of this afternoons session put 1t
self on record on two questions which
have been agitating the delegates since
the convention convened ten days ago
namely, trade autonomy and socialism.
The greater of the two in the minds OF
the most of the delegates was that OF
autonomy.
In brief, the special committee on au-
tonomy recommended that where there
are only a few craftsmen in large IN
dustrfal concern the best interests of all
would be conserved by the few joining
the paramount organization in such es-
tablishment and the PRONUNCIATION OF
sub-divided crafts into districts and ma
tional trade councils where all disputes
should be settled. The recommends
tions of the committee, to the surprise
of many, were unanimously ADOPTED
without g. single remark being made Dy
anyone.
The recommendations are viewed diff
ferently by the delegates The miners,
who have favored industrial autonomy,
and who have put that principle into
effect in the mines, looked upon 1t as
victory, while the brewery workmen,
pressmen and 'longshoremen saw some
concessions in the report Many were
displeased and declared that the Whole
report was no more than "straddie,
and that the question will come UP
again.
Committee's Conclusions.
The recommendations of the commit
tees report are as follows:
First-As the magnificent growth or
the American Federation of LABOR is
conceded by all students of economic
H. t1,a M ZION
in trade lines, and believing it neither
necessary nor expedient to make any
radical departure from this fundamental
principle we declare that as general
proposition the interests of the Work
ers will be best conserved by adherlnG
as closely to that doctrine as the recent
great changes In methods of production
and employment make practicable. How
ever owing to the isolation of some lew
industries from thickly populated CEN
ters, where the overwhelming number
follow one branch thereof, owing to the
fact that in some industries compara-
lively few workers are engaged and over
Whelming separate organizations claim
Jurisdiction we believe that jurisdiction
in such industries by the paramount or
ganization would yield the best results
to the workers therein. Nothing cor
tanned in this declaration is intended Or
shall be construed to mean reveYal
of any decision rendered by former exec
utiVe councils or previous conventions
on questions of jurisdiction.
Second-We hold that the interests OF
the trade union movement will be pro-
NOTED by closely allying the subdivided
craft, giving consideration to amalgama-
ton and to the organization of district
and national trade councils to which
should be referred questions in dispute,
and which should be adjusted within al
lied craft lines.
Third-The American Federation Of
Labor, being a voluntary association,
cannot direct and should not adopt meth
DDS antagonistic to or in conflict with
established trade union laws, and in or
der to carry the above recommendation
into effect, and in full recognition of Its
logical position, the American Fedora
ton of Labor pledges it's officers to aid