The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-09
Schemt Further COntempIates an Al
lance with the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor.
THE GREAT COST OF STRIKES
AMOUNT OF MONEY LOST BY THE
MEN AND EMPLOYEES.
Notes of Interest Garncred from the
Industrial and Labor worlds
Local Happenings.

There IS a movement on foot TO affiliate
al OF the building trades in the country
and ally the international organization
with the American Federation Of Labor
This agitation is bringing about a three
c0rnerCd contest. The American Federation
has show disposition to object to the for
nation Of such a body, and it is meeting
the antagonism of the National Building
Trades Council. There is not the best of
feeling between the American Federation
OF Labor and the National Building Trades
Council, because 1t will not affiliate with
the former and become subordinate body,
and for the reason that its members do not
entirely approve Of the conservative policy
of the federation. This proposed new or
ganizatiOn has not yet developed "A har-
moniOus feeling with either side and many
Of its supporters wish to go it alone if the
American Federation Of Labor will not os-
sist in the movement and allow it to exist
under its own laws, at the same time being
a part OF the federated movement.
The subject was brought before the con-
vention of the American Federation of La
Dor, held at Scranton. Pa, last December,
and a good majority was against it. The ex-
sct purpose and jurisdiction of an affiliated
rational body of the building trades with
the American Federation of Labor is set
out by William II. Bell, in the Painters,
Decorators and Paperhangers Journal, as
fellows:
The foundation of such an institution as
contemplated viii, in effect, be a compact
By and between the various National and
International Building Trades Unions. Its
functions viii be 10 define trade jurisdic-
ton within It's proper sphere; TO formally
establish subordinate bodies in every local
it, where building trades unions exist and
make their creation compulsory where
they are nOneXistent: to foster and encOur-
age a spirit of true brotherhood in the COM
pOnent parts of the subordinate bodies
10 teach tolerance and discipline;
TO discourage INSTRUMENTATION and Sc
CesslOn; TO make 1t impossible for
any man. or cOterie of men, or
any organization, to endanger the success
or destroy the usefulness OF such bodies
out of jealousy, or for the purpose of re-
venge. In short, compact of mutual care
and mutual benefit. and one that viii COM
pei affiliated unions in every locality to get
together and stay together; That VIII adopt
its rules and create its laws with proper
caution and conservatism; that viii give
its affiliated local bodies the largest indie
pendence and broadcast autonomy consist
ent with cohesion and solidarity, but Will
also compel a rigid observance Of the laws
and viii punish their infraction with swift
and fearless impartiality."
The antagOnism this movement has en-
cOuntered has been apparent in many in
stances and Mr.. Bell has this 10 say re-
garding the attitude Of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the National Build
ing Trades Council:
THE establishment of a federation of
building trades would, as matter of
course, do away with the National Build
ing Trades Cornell, therefore the PROPOSE
tiOn TO absorb that organization is abb
stract one. The National Building Trades
Council has had several years of life, and
has never seemingly appealed 10 the build
Ing trades mechanics the proper thing.
it is, i'm my opinion, based upon wrong
principles, being, ii effect, a cOnglOmera-
ton of local building trades councils, az
Stunning for itself the right to charter, and
clOthe with power, local building trades
unions that owe it no allegiance, ana who
are not bound. and in the nature Of things
cannot be bound, to obey the mandates of
an organization the existence OF which was
never sanctioned by any considerable pOr-
ton OF the national building trades Organi-
cations. 1t IS also cOntended, justly or I'M
justly by the rank and file of labor outside
the building trades, that the National
Building Trades Council is antagOnistic and
defiant in its attitude toward the American
Federation OF Labor. And while l am OF the
opinion that this sO-called antagOnism and
the federation itself, the feeling is so gen
1ral and deeply rooted, that the failure of
council. CARRIED in its present habili-
b ents, is a fOregOne conclusion.
XXX
Carroll u. Wright, United States labor
commissioner. publishes. in the last issue
of the Bulletin of the Department of La
Dor. number of tables and charts. show
Ing the conditions OF labor in the United
States and other countries. Among them
are two tables. one showing the number of
strikes in this country from 1881 to 1900. and
the number of establishments and employees
affected, and another the cost of these
strikes. The first table follows:
EN-
Estab- plOyes
Hsh- thrown
ments in out of