The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-14

y
now in the process of formation. while
others will soon be in a position to
have national or international char
ter formed from existing local unions
of the trade. In ali, new charters were
issued to: Nationa and international
unions. IA; state branches, 6; central la
Dor unions, 127: local trade unions and
federal labor unions. S77. Total, 1,024
AT the end of the fiscal year eleven
months), Sept. 90, 1902, we had afili-
ated with the American Federation of
Labor national and international
unions with approximately $4,000 local
unions under their direct jurisdiction),
80; state fedora ions, IS; city central
bodies, 424: local federal labor unions
and local trade unions, directly affili-
ated to the American Federation of
Labor by charter, 1,4S3.
In the eleven months ending Oct.
1, 1902, there have been organized and
chartered by our affiliated national
unions, and by the American Fedora
ton of Labor direct, not less than $500
new local unions. with an added MEM
bership of not less than 100000"
Fewer Strikes.
Apart from the miners strike, Mr..
Gompers said, there has been during
the past year no general trade contest
involving large numbers, nor has there
been so large a number of strikes as
in former years. Of the strikes re-
ported, the preponderance have been
for higher wages and shorter hours,
and they have been largely success
full.
President Gompers reviewed the
causes and progress of the anthracite
miners strike, and in the course OF
his remarks said:
"One of the remarkable yet consist
ent features of the contest was the
attitude assumed by the mine own
ers as to their divine proprietorship
of the mines. and their declaration that
divine providence had placed in their
possession the properties, and that
they would better care for the welfare
Of their employees than would the agi-
tators.
There is no doubt but that the COM
panies' presidents, having assumed the
role of complete mastery over their
workmen, were unable to realize other
than that they We're indeed the repos-
itories of their mortal as well as their
eternal salvation. Their consistency
has not been questioned. The premise
was wrong and unjustifable from the
beginning, and carried along for a
series of years when they imagined
that they had crushed entirely the
spirit and the character of their en-
plOyes-
No Thanks to Employers.
Viewing the entire industrial field.
the social and economic conditions, and
the whole morale of the wage earners
of our country. we have nothing to be
thankful for to the employing class.
Whatever Improvement has come to
the wage workers in any way is en-
tirely due to their own efforts, to
their own intelligence in organizing
and agitating for the enjoyment Of a
higher and better life"
After recOunting the various steps
in the negotiations initiated by Pres
ident Roosevelt which ended in the
appointment of the arbitration COM
mission, President Gompers said
"A great moral victory has been
won for the miners and the cause of
organized labor and for humanity. Ma
terial advantage is therefore inevi-
table.
THE declaration of the operators
that the only manner in which the
strike could be ended would be by their
return to work Internationally has
not been verified: and this fact is due
to the splendid discipline of the men,
the excellent manner in which the con-
a..
generous and prompt support of
organized labor. desire personally, as
well as officially. to express the deep
appreciation which / feel, and which
l know the miners feel, and we all
feel, to the wage earners of our coun-
try and to ali others who have aided
in this great contest. 1t was a great
opportunity for the manifestation of
the solidarity of labor under the ban
ner Of the American Federation Of Lit
Dor, and magnificently taken advanta ge
of and responded to by fellow union.
lists"
Arbitration.
"Our movement seeks to avoid
strikes. We make every effort in that
direction, and largely successful
therein.
THE men of organized labor want
arbitration. but only arbitration as a
last resort, after Cancellation has alb
solutely failed. and then arbitration
only, voluntarily entered into by both
the organized workers and the employ
ers. the award voluntarily. hOnorably
and faithfully adhered to by both
sides"
The object which advocates of com
pulsory Incorporation of trade unions
have in view, Mr.. Compers declared.
was 10 "mulct or outlaw our unions"
On the subject of Jurisdiction and
danger. the report says:
L may truly record the fact that
never for one moment since the forma-
ton of our federation have / enter
tanned doubt or misgiving as to the
growth, success and permanency of the
American Federation of Labor, and 7
would not now be apprehensive of its
future were it not forced upon nv
deliberate judgment, which has devel-
oped into firm conviction, that IN
less our affiliated national and inter-
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