The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-15
in THE FIELD OF LABOR
sEcTIONALIsM A PROBLEM THAT IN
TEREsTs LEADERS.
Two Western Associations Not AmIf-
nted with American Federation
Labor Union News.


problem that the labor leaders of the coun-
try are much interested in and efforts are
being made TO eliminate 1t. The. officers OF
the American Federation of Labor are ex-
tending their influence 10 secure the af-
hhaton Of local and national unions that
maintain independence of the federated
body. There are now few national unions
Of Importance not affiliated with the Amer
lean Federation and these have taken such
an arbitrary stand that time and cireum-
stances will only bring them into the fold
OF the big organization. But exclusive Of
these is greater sectional movement and
one which is more dangerous to a national
cooperative union than independent or
ganizations-the Western Federation of
Miners and the Western Labor Union.
These two organizations have jurisdic-
ton over unions in the Rocky mountain
States and as far east as the Mississippi
river. The inspiration of these orgamza-
tons is a Western labor movement, TO
organize the unions of the West into an
independent affiliated body. The movement
has been growing. and with IL the issue
OF the movement. The wage scales in the
West are generally higher than in the
East, settlements are more easily made
and the local unions are stronger. This
superior strength is perhaps the principal
reason for the desire to maintain West
ern federated body. The American Fed
Grafton OF Labor recognizes in the move
ment a danger to its welfare. and siren
uous efforts are being made TO establish
a closer relationship, if not affiiiation. The
Federation of Miners and the Western
Union recently held their annual conven-
ton in Denver, and Secretary Morrison
and Third Vice President Kidd, of the
American Federation, attended the meet
ings TO discuss and argue afhliation. They
especially tried to get the miners into the
American Federation. but as yet there are
no indications of combining.
CAUSE FOR ALARM
The Coast Seaman's Journal, one of the
most influential labor publications in the
West, takes an alarming view of the per
sistency with which the Western unions
hold out against the American Federation,
and speaking Of the Denver conventions,
says:
With the good will of the labor move
ment goes ar equally widespread regret
that these organizations should persist In
idea that Is fundamentally wrong and
which car succeed only at the expense or
the movement al large. 1t should be I'M
Western labor movement, labor move
ment clrcumscribed by geographical lines
however broad in themselves. is the idea
Of sectiOnalism. That idea differs from the
idea of Sectionalsm in national affairs only
in being less consistent and more danger
Gus a section of the country might get
along well enough If left free to exercise
the powers of sovereignty, but a section
OF the labor movement cannot get along
well, for the reason that il cannot protect
itself against other sections In other
words. while we may draw arbitrary lines
a the Rocky mountains, the Mississippi
river, or elsewhere, we cannot escape the
influence of the labor conditions prevailing
in other parts of the country or, for that
matter. of the world. The idea of specia!
interests and special protection in labor
affairs was originated by labors oppo-
nents for the purpose of keeping ii ldi-
vided against itself, and even these have
discarded it as no longer tenable in the
light of labors growing recognition of a
common cause. The resuscitation and APP
plcation of that idea by men in all other
regards intelligent and progressive is one
of the most pitiful ironies of the times
1T is now FIVE years since the Western
Labor Union was formed. ample time,
surely. in which TO realize the mistake of
it's existence Ii may be said, and il may
be admitted. that that body has had some
success in its chosen sphere. But it is
harm TO the labor movement at large, if
only in the feeling that has been engen-
dered between those who stand for section
alsm and natiOnalism, respectively This
feeling is bound to grow with the growth
of both ideas. The Western Labor Union
is an institution the ultimate failure of
which becomes the more certain in pro-
portion 10 the successes of the present.
The members of that body may declare,
and honestly, that II V have no intention
to iniure those Orga nizatiOns which hold
to national utilization. But in the mex
orable course of nature intentions count
for nothing. II is not the motives of our
actions but their natural results that we
must answer for The Western Labor
Union means well. no doubt; but IL need
expect little satisfaction on that account
when it comes to review the sum of its
work.