The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06

while we are quarreling and squabblng
among ourselves over matters that should
have been suppressed in their infancy
EXECUTIVE COUNCILS REPORT.
1.-The executive council of the American
Federation of Labor, in submitting to the
Boston convention a report of their work
for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1903. had
the following to say relative to jurisdic-
tional disputes:
The executive council regrets to state
that much of it's time has been unavoid-
ably taken UP with the settlement, or at
tempted settlement of Jurisdiction dis
putes. Despite the fact that your
body, in convention assembled, has repeat
eddy declared for peace between the
unions, and has advocated the submission
of all matters in dispute to the arbitrament
of third parties, the jurisdiction disputes
seem to grow in number and in intensity.
We regret to state that while many of the
unions so engaged in controversies over
jurisdiction willing to accept any
reasonable arrangement arrived at, num-
Der of unions refuse to abide by the decis-
ion of impartial arbitrator and insist
narrowly upon their own Interpretation of
the boundaries of their trade.
/" The executive council feels called upon
to issue to the unions composing this body
solemn note of warning as to the dan
gers which lie In the continuance OF juris-
diction disputes. Many of the unions APP
pear to be more engrossed in the problem
of securing new adherents from unions al
ready existing, or to extend the work of
their members at the expense of other or
ganiZations, than they are in resisting the
aggression of employers, or securing high
er wages, shorter hours and better condi-
tions of work. The American Federation
of Labor has only limited power in the
settlement of these disputes. 1t claims no
authority to intervene and any action
which 1t takes is voluntary The execu-
tive council however. has. during the past
unions engaged in controversies of this ma
ture, and has in every case endeavored to
bring about an amicabie aTrange m. .il
1t must be realized, however by ALL that
the questions of jurisdictions cannot be au-
thoritatively settled by the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor alone, but that the She
cess of the unions in solving these prob
lens must depend upon their own reason
ableness and upon their Willingness to
make mutual concessions and sacrif1ceS for
the good of the whole labor movement
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
'oThe views of the executive council on
jurisdictional questions, outlined above,
were referred to the committee on execu-
tive councils report which body, when
reporting back to the convention, made the
following recommendation which were,
however, not concurred in by the delegates
I'm attendance at the convention:
Except in the case of those disputes
satisfactorily adjusted by this convention,
by mutual agreement or by other means,
organizations now in disagreement upon
questions of jurisdiction shall permit the
disputed points to rest in allegiance for the
period of one year.
During this period organizations shall
be permitted to retain and exercise jurisdic-
ton so far as the same Is now actually es-
tablished, certificates of membership to be
regarded as prima facie evidence Of juris-
diction. Nfs
" During the period, men or women hold
ing certificates of membership in two or
more organizations shall, should the ques-
ton of jurisdiction over such men and wom-
en- be raised by either or any organization,
be required and permitted to Individually
choose the organize tion to which they pre-
fer to acknowledge allegiance. Having so
chosen, such men or women shall be con-
ceded to the jurisdiction of the organiza-
ton or organizations to which they have
respectively rendered their allegiance.
"'During this period the respective or
CARNATIONS shall continue the work of or
ganization among nonunionists and shall
have and exercise jurisdiction ever those
thus organized, without let or hindrance
from any source.
1.-The failure of the Federation to concur
in. the above recommendations leaves the
question of jurisdiction practically as it has
stood for years"