Evening star., 1901-08-08
ALLY OF STRIKERS
Position and Power of the American
Federation of Labor.
HOW HELP CAN. BE GIVEN
Process of Precipitating a Sym
pathetic Strike in Other Trades.
THE SINEWS OF WAR

TH T. S N w S OF w A r
AS the very principle on which organized
labor is based-the right to organize-is, In
the opinion and contention of the strikers,
the issue in the present steel strike, enthu-
siastic assistance Is looked for from
every organization affiliated with the steel
workers in the American Federation OF La
Dor. What the strength of these organiza-
tions Is, and what they can do under the
terms Of their aff1:iation to aid the steel
workers. is at this time a most interesting
question.
The Star has complied from most relia-
BILE sources the name and membership Of
every organization in the American Feder-
alton OF Labor. This membership, In in
dividuals, amounts to 1,452, ,446. The or
ganizations embraced include eighty-four
national and International unions, twenty
state branches, $50 city centrals and 1.544
local trade and federal labor unions, max
ing total Of 1923 organizations.
The action that can be taken by these
affiliated bodies in assisting any one of
their members In trouble is not limited,
provided a meeting Of the representatives
Of the affiliated bodies is called for action
In specific case. The assistance that can
be rendered through the officers Of the
American Federation of Labor, however, is
clearly defined by the constitution and by
laws governing that organization. This as
sstance Is limited to financial aid. The
officers Of the American Federation of La
Dor have no authority to declare a sympa-
thetic strike, but can levy an assessment
Of one cent per member per week on all
affiliated unions for a period not exceeding
ten weeks in any one year, to assist in the
support of an affiliated organization en-
gagged in a protracted strike or lockout" D."
This law has been interpreted to mean that
ten-cent assessment can be levied on the
affiliated organization In the federation, il
such assessment should be necessary.
Not a Large Sum Available.
If the full 1O-cent assessment should be
levied for the benefit Of the steel strikers,
however, 1t would amount to less than
$15O,OOO and would not go far in the strug-
gle that seems imminent at this time.
In discussing the power of the executive
council of the American Federation of La
Dor in strike matters prominent member
Of that council said to a Star reporter to-
day: I'VE are not hampered in the least
by your constitution and bylaws. There
are hundred ways In which the executive
council Of the federation can take effective
action in aiding a strike. For instance a
meeting could be ordered Of delegates from
all affiliated bodies. and at such a meeting
any action might be taken that seemed
expedient. If 1t was deemed wise to order
a sympathetic strike of certain affiliated
trades this could be done; and while, per-
haps, there would be nothing to compel the
men SO ordered to strike. there would be
no doubt Of their obeying the order. Then
too, If the 10-cent assessment authorized
to be levied for any one organization
should prove insufficient this convention
could levy an additional assessment. FL
nancial aid In addition to the 10-cent as
sessment could also be given by indepen-
dent action being taken by any Of the ma
tional or international organizations, either
through special assessment of their mem
bers or by voting money out Of their
treasury.
'As a matter Of fact. a sympathetic
strike in the present steel workers conflict
mills should be put in successful operation
through non-union labor. it might then be
necessary for the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor to meet and
declare that the output Of the mills was
unfair and ought not to be handled by
union men. This would have the effect Of
causing strike among all classes Of
Workmen wherever the output of the steel
mills was handled, and while this strike
order would not be official in that 1t COM
manded a strike, 1t would be obeyed Just
as implicitly. In many cases the men
would not wait for such an order but the
minute they were asked to handle steel
that was made by non-union workmen they
would drop their tools and walk out with
out an order"
President Gompers of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor was expected to arrive
here from Atlantic City yesterday He did
not come, however and, although no word
mas been received from him at the head
quarters Of the federation, so far as can
be ascertained. 1t is believed he has gone
to Pittsburg. Secretary Frank Morrison of
the federation also left town very sudden
ly last night. and also ostensibly left no
WORD as to where he had gone. It is not
unlikely that meeting of the execntivs
council OF the federation may be called TO
meet In Pittsburg shortly W
me following is list of organizations
animated with the American Federation of
or organization behind the steel workers IN
their present strike: 'A