The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-08-17
TRADES UNION AUTONOMY.

There is much dissatisfaction over
the question Of jurisdiction among tho
smaller national and international un-
ions affiliated with the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor. ;" !
The Mine Workers and the Brewery
Workmen claim Jurisdiction over fire.
men and engineers; while the former
organization also claims jurisdiction
over the carpenters, blacksmiths. and
blacksmith's helpers employed in mines.
The contentious arising out Of the ques-
ton Of Jurisdiction cannot but cause
more or less feeling. There can be no
disputing the point that both sides ad-
vance arguments that have much logic
to them. The Brewers contend that it
would deprive them of absolute juris-
diction and is essential for success Of
ranks of their members must remain
intact as they now are. and that to
allow Of any further division among
the employees Of the American brewer
les will mean the weakening Of their
organization so that it will become so
insignificant as to be absolutely power
less for good. Again, they make the
contention that with the workmen di-
V1ded into many organizations, unity Of
action will be rendered improbable.
The miners argue along the same line.
On the other hand, the engineers, fire.
men, blacksmiths. ETC.. just as ener-
getically hold that inasmuch as a fire.
man or engineer might be employed
In mine today, brewery tomorrow
and In some other kind of an industrial
institution the day following 1t would
necessttate them transferring from one
organization to the other every time
they changed their employment.
1t is because Of both sides having
logical arguments to support their posi-
tions that renders it matter of exceed
ing difficulty for the delegates to the
American Federation of Labor conven-
tions to ad3udicate the matter salts
factorily to all interested. Some COM
mon sense plan will unquestionably
have to be found so that this growing
discord will cease and harmony and
true unity established In its place.
The fact that large organizations can
outvote small organizations in the Am
erican Federation of Labor conventions
is no proof of-the Justice Of the position
taken by the former. The votes of the
woodworkers' delegates have always
gone with the larger organizations, be-
cause in voting upon this difficult ques-
ton the facts could not be ignored that
heretofore the brewery workers and the
mine workers had been responsible for
:, the organization OF engineers, firemen
and blacksmiths in the mines and
breweries.
As has already been stated in the
International Woodworker, the chang
ing conditions of employment force la
Dor to change5lts mefhods of organiza-
ton. After all, as President Gompers
pointed out in his report to the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor at Louisville,
the fact that men were organized was
a matter Of congratulation even al
though they might belong to organiza-
tions where some sterling friends OF la
Dor believed they had no right to be-
long.
The Amalgamated, Woodworkers In
ternational Union, which has been class
ed by some, and we thing enormously,
as an "industriap organization, came
into existence because Of the impossi-
bility to get the cabinet makers, var
nishers and machine woodworkers and
carvers' unions to act unitedly Several
of these organizations were forced to
amalgamate and since the consolidation
of their forces the result has proven the
wisdom OF the course that was pursued.
A little tolerance by both sides to
these discussions over the question Of
jurisdiction would better serve the pur-
pose of organized labor than the policy
now pursued by some International un-
ions. Water will always reach its own
level, and this question will solve itself
along the proper lines II given time.
The personal objections of labor offic-
ials and the active spirits in the unions
involved should not be allowed to create
rancor and dissatisfaction. Patience
and tolerance must eventually bring
about the system of organization that
will best enable the toilers Of the
country to keep pace with the growing
power Of capital.-Woodworke