The San Francisco call., 1904-11-15
JURISDICTION TREATED.

Notwithstanding every effort to help in the
solution of the disputes relative to trade union
jurisdiction much progress cannot be reported.
In the of the International Association Of
Allied Metal Mechanics and the other ma
chnery and metal trade unions. you will be
grstfed. 1 am sure. to be officially advised
that by a conciliatory spirit manifested by
all directly interested addition TO the vol
untary self feffacement of the officers Of the
allied metal mechanics. that international as
sociation, November /. 1904, amalgamated with
and became part Of the International Associa-
ton of Machinists
1t also affords me pleasure to be enabled to
report to YOU that the effort to eliminate a
carpentry trade will in a short time. firmly
believe. be crowned with success; AT our
Carpenters and Joiners OF America and the
American District of the Amalgamated Societyi
of Carpenters and Joiners submitted their mat
ters of difference to arbitration. seiectlng A
Strasser umpire. His award made pro
vision for rational and advantageous form
OF amalgamation. providing IN the meantime
for a working agreement. which in the main
has been faithfully complied with am ad-
vised that the United brotherhood mas IN
structed its president to appoint committee
to meet like committee Of the Amalgamatsd
Society for the purpose Of arranging the de-
tails of the amalgamation and TO submit the
same to a referendum vote of the membership
OF the brotherhood for ratification; that the
Amalgamated Society is now voting upon the
proposition, the highest authority in that or
ganization having favorably recommended it
analgamation occur, which earnestly hope
will be done, one great source or contention
Will have disappeared from laDOr neld OF
usefulness The matter is more fully covered
in the executive councils report
In several cases. after conferences. many
matters of jurisdiction have been adjusted with
good results to all parties concerned. A num-
bcr of the jursdictional disputes which have
largely occupied the attention of former con-
ventions have. II possible, become still more
acute and have entailed upon your officers an
enormous amount of work, expenditure OF time
a. well as expense to the federation without
bringing a compensatory advantage to the
men or to the organizations engaged in such
controversies.
No observing experienced and faithful trade
urionist believes that hard and fast rule OF
Jurisdiction can be proclaimed and enforced
which will apply with exactitude to all trade
unions alike. There different conditions,
circumstances and environments in most in
stances and each must be approached con-
sidered and determined with particular refer
eiice to its immediate and kindred trade, oc-
cupation and development
The Scranton convention appointed special
committee, consisting of James Duncan. John
Mitchell John Mulholand T. NJ. Hughes and
myself To consider and report upon the ques,
ton of trade autonomy and jurisdictional dis
putes The report of that committee was
unanimously adopted. Perhaps II was then,
ae IL is now, the best expression OF the 1udg-
mfnt of our movement upon these subjects,
and II is commended anew to your very serious
consideration. 1t stands out in significant con-
trast to the logical disastrous consequences
which would result to the interests of labor
were II possible to introduce what some are
pleased to term industrialism.