Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1???-1902, 1901-12-16
Important Action Taken at Closing
Session Saturday Afternoon.
mttTs At NEW ORLEANS NtSI

Scranton, Pa, Dec. i6.-rhe Amer
lean Federation Of Labor In the las
minutes OF Saturday. session put
itself on record on two questions
which have been sgiiating the dele
gatos since the convention convened
ten days ago. namely, trade autonomy
ADD socialism. The greater OF the two
In the minds Of most OF the delegates
IVES that Of autonomy. Ia brief, the
spseisl committee on autonomy recon.
aanded for large industrial concerns
vAsre there are on.y few craftsmen.
tsst the best interest. Of sil would be
, ssnssrved BY the few Joining the para
assns organization possible in such
establishment. and the PRONUNCIATION
Of sui. divided crafts into district aud
ss,icnsl trade councils, where all
Sbputes should b. settled. The
decomposition Of the COMMITTEES. 70
the surprise Of many. were unanimous
~ s,iop,ed withon, = single remark l'c.
ing made by anyone. This recon
,~sndssions are viewed dinerenily by
the delegatsa The miners, who
have favored industrial autonomy. and
wac have put that principle into effect
In the mines, looked upon II A. a
victory. while the prcssmen aud long.
shoresmen saw some concessions In
ths report There are no, few who
were displessed. and declared that the
whole report was no more than
"straddle, " and that the question will
,eome up again. The recommendation
Of the oommittee's report are as fol
lows;
Fist-As the magnificent growth
Of the American Federation Of Labor
is cosceded by all students Of economic
thought to BE- ,se result Of organiEa-
tion in trade lines. and believing IL
tsither necessary nor expedient 20
make any radical departure from this
fundamental principle, we declare
that a. q general proposition the in
ters.t. Of the workers will be best
conserved by adherinR ss closely TO
that doctrine ne the recent changes
in methods Of poduotiou and employ
ment make practicable. However,
owing to the isolation Of some few
industries from thickly populated
centers. where the overwhelming nun
Dor follow ono branch thereof. owing
TO the fact that In some industries
comparatively few workers are Gu
.gagcd overwhelming separate orgauiz.
ations claim jurisdiction, we believe
that jurisdiction in such naustries hy
tho paramount organizations woaii
yield 'he best possible results to the
WORKERS therein. Nothing contained
in this declaration IL Intended or shall
10 construed to mean reversal OF
any decisions rendered by former ox-
eoutive eounoils or previous conven.
tions ON questions Of jurisdiction
second-we hold that the Interests
Of the trade union movement will b.
promoted by closely allying the sub.
divided craft. giving consideration to
amalgAmation and to the organization
d. district aud national trade councils
TO which should be referred questions
IN dispute and which should be nd
judged within allied craft lines
Th.rd-Tho American Federation
of Labor being voluntary assooia.
tion. it cannot dircct AMI shou' not
adopt methods aumgonistio 20 OF IN
conflict with established trade union
laws, and in order to carry the above
recommendations INTO effect, and In
full recognition Of its logical position
the American Federation OF Labor
pledges its offices to aid and assist in
the adjustment Of such craft encroach.
ments as disputants may b. willing to
submit to is arbitration.
The old officers were reelected. The
following delegates were chosen
To England. Patrick Donald. district
president Of the Mine Workers, and
Henry Blaokmore, Of the ST. Louis
Brotherhood Of Carpenters; TO
OAnada, Dennis Driscoli, Boston State
Bsderstion.
New Orleans vas selected % the
ssrs meeting plsss. ---.---ll