The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-14

question OF trade against trade. They mu-
tuaily regarded each with hatred and treat
ed each other as mortal enemies. Is the
great cause of labor TO drift into Sucn
dreadful and miserable strife Are all the
sacrifices made, to be ruthlessly thrust into
the gutter as the germ TO fructify and de-
stroy the vigor, the very life OF our causeE
Is organized labor, the only check TO Ta-
pacious greed and tyranny. the only nope
of labor for protection now or liberty for
the future. to be engulfed in tidal wave
or expansion madness?
mo combination of labOr's enemies need
cause US the apprehension which this ira
trfcfdal strife does In the claims made Dy
unions for the extension of their trade Jurls-
dictiOn. There is scarcely an affiliated
organization which is not engaged in dis
pute with another organization tand IN
some cases with several organiZations) upon
the question of Jurisdiction. 1t is not an
uncommon occurrence for an organization,
and several have done so quite recently,
TO so change their laws and claims 10
Jurisdiction 10 cover trades never con-
templated by the organization officers or
members; never comprehended by their
title; trades OF which there is already in
existence a national union. And this with
out word of advice, counsel. or warning.
"Of course il is evident that in some in
stances there are two or more Organiza-
tiOns which should and could, with advan-
tage, be consolidated or amalgamated into
one, and efforts by such organizations
should certainly be made, assisted or ini-
tiated by the American Federation OF La
Il
moderation for organization to attempt
to ride rough shOd over and trample under
foot the rights and jurisdiction of a trade
the Jurisdiction of which is already COW
cred by an existing organization.
This contention for jurisdiction has
grown into such proportions and is fought
with such intensity as TO arouse the most
bitter feudS and trade wars. In many In
stances employers fairly inclined toward
organized labor have been made innOcently
to suffer from causes entirely beyond their
rw4l ~
taken advantage of the first inception of
the fancy or notion for expansion of trade
jurisdiction. famed IL into a flame, and,
taking advantage of the excitement and
hatred of and war against each other, re-
fused to recognize either organization, pre-
tending to claim il a war among labor or
ganiZations with which they do not wish TO
interfere. On the surface the employers
claim appears tenable, but in their hearts
they enjoy the situation by which their
pockets are enriched. Nevertheless the en-
ployers' contention in regard to the ques-
ton cannot be disputed. But of the organi-
cations the same cannot be said. The in
terests of the wage-earners or the craft,
TO promote and protect which the organiza-
lions were primarily formed, have no moral
or lawful right, from a trade union point
of view to be jeopardized by pursuing a
policy in an attempt at trade invasion made
without the knowledge or consent Of the
crafts invaded.
ut is not necessary here to particularize.
Several Instances will of necessity be
brought to your attention during this con-
ventiOn which will demand your serious
consideration and action. Without in any
way being DESTROYS of influencing your
judgment upon any one of the cases which
may claim your attention, ii is strongly
urged that action be taken by this conven-
ton that shah tend TO check the indiscrim-
mate attempts made to extend Jurisdiction
of any organization without the consent of
the organization of the trade already in ex-
istence.'
SECRETARY'S REPORT
bodied much detail Of routine matters, was
then read. The report covered the eleven
months ended with Sept 30, last. The
federation's aggregate income for this time
was s1i4,49S, and the expenditures $l19,OS6.
OF the receipts, s2O,423 consisted of con-
tributions to the defense fund. Mr.. Nor
rison also stated that for the eleven months
1O24 unions We're chartered-a larger num-
Der than for any entire year. These adj
ditions increased the total number of
is shown by the per capita tax to be 1025,-
300 gain of four-fOld in the past six
years. Mr. Morrison says that the increase
of the defense fund tax has resulted bene-
ficially and he advocates a still further in
crease of the per capita tax.
Reports from international local unions
show that there were 1865 strikes I'm which
4l2671 persons were involved Out of that
number 1896 were benefited and 1905
were not The total cost of the strikes
was 81 729. Goa. In the federation there were
217 strikes of which 131 were Won forty
eight compromised and twenty-seven lost
Ten were still pending when the report
was prepared. The number of persons in
volved in the strikes was 1850; number
benefited. 20,654; number worsted, 1885. The
cost of the strikes in the way OF money
expended by the unions was S90O53. Two
hundred and sixty-fOur trade and federal
unions reported gains in wages, one union
reporting gain of 81 per day and all the
others less. One hundred and fifty unions
report a reduction of hours.
The report submitted by National Treas
urer John b. Lennon showed the total re-
ceipts of the order for the entire year TO
have been sl52,312 and the total expenditures
S120,0S6