The San Francisco call., 1904-11-13


marked by the Endorsement OF
a communication from P. J. Nc
Guire OF the Brotherhood Of
Carpenters, which declared the su-
premacy Of industrial over political
questions and at the same time defined
more precisely the scope Of the feder-
alton. 1t said:
I'VE favor this federation be-
cause It is the most natural assim-
ilative form of bringing the trade
and labor unions together. 1t pre-
serves the Industrial autonomy and
distinctive character Of each trade
and labor union. and, without do
ing violence to their faith or tradi-
tions, blends them all IN one har-
monious whole--a federation OF
trade and labor unions Such
body looks to the organization OF
the working classes as workers, and
not as politicians. 1t makes the
qualities of a man as a worker the
only test Of fitness and sets up no
political or religious test OF mem
bership. 1t strives for the unifca-
tion of all labor. not by straining
at an enforced union OF diverse
thought and widely separate meth
DDS; not by prescribing a uniform
plan Of organization. regardless OF
their experience or interests; not by
antagonizing or destroying existing
organizations, but by preserving all
that is integral or good In them and
by widening their scope so that
each. without destroying their indi-
vidual character, may act together
In all that concerns them"
At the third session held at New
York City reports were made showing
the Ill success attending efforts made
by the federation to establish a mOdus
vivendi with the knights Of Labor.
At Chicago, the fourth session. a res
olution to inaugurate a general agita-
ton for an eight-hour workday was
adopted.
The fifth session was held in Wash
ington, where the methods of the
knights of Labor in organizing reject
ed, suspended and expelled members
and their imitation Of trade marks and
labels Of the trade unions were the
principal subjects of discussion.
At the sixth session. held at Colum-
bus, Ohio. the title OF the American
Federation OF Labor was adopted. and
dates the beginning of an aggressive,
firm, onward march that has not ceas-
ed since. At this session the iron mold
ers. printers. granite cutters, furniture
workers, miners. tailors. bakers. bar
bers, metal workers, carpenters and
cigar-rnakers joined the federation, and
together with several local and city
central unions swelled the ranks to a
membership Of 316.46
During the last few years the growth
of the organization has gone forward
by long bounds owing to the energetic
methods adopted for prosecuting its
propaganda, the general recognition of
it's merits and the momentum acquired
by its long and steady progress.
The American Federation of Labor
is composed of constituent and repre-
sentative bodies. OF the first are fed
eral labor unions, independent local
unions and international unions. The
second are central labor unions and
State branches. Federal labor unions
are societies formed by wage earners
working at different trades and are
only established where there are not
enough workers at the several trades
to form separate unions.
Local unions having no international
unions of their crafts are composed Of
members working at the same trade.
These are recognized and allowed to
affiliate only while there are as yet
too few unions of the trade to permit
the formation OF a national union.
The supreme power Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor is vested in
its convention. This is composed Of
delegates, one or more according to
its strength, from each national Of
general union, the delegates having
one vote for each 100 members they
represent. Independent local unions
and federal unions are entitled to one
delegate regardless of the number Of
their members. City central and State
bodies are also entitled to one dele
gate. having but one vote.
The American Federation OF La
Dor had affiliated to 1t May 1. 1904.
11S international unions. These inter-
national unions have complete jurisdic-
tion over their own trades and have 23.-
500 subordinate or local unions with an
aggregate membership exceeding p
900, 900. Besides the international unions
there were affiliated to the American
Federation of Labor 1901 local trade
unions and federal labor unions, 6O4
State federations.
The revenue Of the American Feder-
alton OF Labor is derived mainly from
a tax levied on each union. at the rate
of one-half OF one per cent per month
from each member OF international
unions. OF 10 cents per month from each
member OF local and federal unions
having no internationaIs. and Of a ixed
tax of 81 so per quarter from each city
and State body. OF this. cents Of the
10 cents levied on members of federal
unions Is applied to a defense fund.
The executive council has also the
power TO levy assessments on all af-
fliated unions to sustain unions en-
gagged in industrial conflicts" the
levies not TO exceed cent per member
per week and for not more than ten
weeks in each year.
The reports for the first "a months