The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-11-19

From October, 1903, to September 80,
1874, we issued from the American
Federation Of Labor the following
charters:
International Unions ............ II
State Federatlons ................ S
central Labor Unions. ............ 80
Local Trade Unions and Federal
LADoF UNIONS .................. 516
Eight or selsinternational unions
were organized, N.Y. lis from formerly
affiliated chartered local unions during
the past year. * number Of interna-
tional unions have become amalgamat-
ed with other International unions kim
dred to their trade. At the end of this
fiscal year. September 80, 1904, there
Grafton of Labor:
International Unions ............ 100
State Federations ............ 80
Central Labor Unions. ........... $50
Local Trade Unions and Federal
Labor Unions 1911
1otal .........l ,992
The average membership of our at
fliated unions upon which per capita
tax has been paid to the American
Federation of Labor for the year end
A|Ao oSPt0AAOO4 oo, 1oVf, IS 4,O 1u,VVV.
The average membership of our af-
filiated unions upon which per capita
tax was paid to the American Fedora
ton of Labor for the year ending Sep
TENDER 80, 1903, was 1,465 800.
The original chart prepared for our
St. Louis exhibit indicated The growth
and development Of the Federation up
to October i, 1908. I have extended
this chart so as to bring it up to the
close of the present fiscal year, Octob~
er 1, 1904, and for convenience and
ready reference, reproduce it on the
next page of this report
We shall no doubt be confronted
with the keenest opposition in the near
future. There are those who do not
understand the purposes of the organ
lied labor movement and the good
work which it is doing, and which it
can and will do, and 1t therefore be-
hooves us to%devote our attention and
to concentrate QUIZ efforts more largely
unorgan1zed how necessary It is for the
protection of themselves and those de-
pendent upon them to secure and main
tain the vantage ground already gain
ed, and not only to save all from the
inevitable downward path that leads
from lack of comprehensive and un-
tied effort, but to secure and realize
the hopes and aspirations Of the toiling
masses. Therefore, with unbounded
faith in the ultimate triumph of our
great cause, the logical and natural
development Of our great movement,
we may all take on new obligations
and assume new vows to leave no ef-
fort untried which shall bring within
the beneficial fold of the trade union
movement the wage workers, the
wealth producers of America.
So long as there is q wrong unright-
ed, or right denied to the people, so
long is there work for the trade union
movement to do.
Industry, Reaction, Resistance, Reviv-
al, Power.
In my report to the last convention
occasion was taken to call attention
to what was then apparent to but few,
that we were. then confronted with an
impending industrial reaction. It was
stated that though the reaction was
then not pronounced yet 1t was i'm
pending, and that if a wise course was
pursued by us the reaction could and
would be prevented from developing
into an industrial crisis or panic. The
Boston convention, readily realizing
the situation, promptly adopted the
suggestion made to meet and overcome
1t; and the toilers, organized and unor-
ganized, responded in a manner that
should cause us not only, great gratifi-
cation, but should receive the lasting
gratitude of all the people of our en-
tire country. The recommendations
we made to our fellow workers con-
sisted of six important features:
First Organize, united and federate.
Second. Have faith and confidence
in themselves and each other.
Third. Stand shoulder to shoulder
in stress and strife; to help bear each
others burdens and perfect the bonds
of brotherhood.
Fourth. Endeavor to maintain in
dustrial peace by trade agreements
with employers.
Fifth. Voluntarily and faithfully
abide by and fulfill the terms of agree
ments and the awards of arbitrators
Hereunder.
Sixth. Prevent Industrial conflicts
wherever possible, and particularly to
resist all attempts to reduce wages.
OF course, no one who understands
the complex conditions Of industry,
economics, and the makeup of modern
society. and who aided in the fOrmu-
lation OF this policy OF our movement,
expected to escape criticism, denuncia-
ton, and condemnation from labor's
opponents. It was expected and anti
~Ap1eSO' ~ "OuAu udV0 6AVCA Oo
cause to- inquire as to the accuracy OF
our course had the position we took
met the approval of those who do not
understand, and those whose sordid,
short-sighted, mad, rush for immediate
gain and greed blind them to a bene-
f1cent movement, not for labor alone,
but tor the common veal = :.
In former. periods when an industrial
reaction was manifest, employers gen
orally viewed the situation from their
own immediate standpoint only, with
out regard to their own broad interest
or the general good, Their first re-
course was to that Y: which to them
seemed the easiest course TO continue
the operation Of their plants--to find
markets. They reduced wages. ! Re-
'duction Of wages followed in quick or
der; the consumntng S 4 power Is of !: the
masses wa Gu tailed and still e more
limited %ent ailin 8 VIII lesale discharges
Ut were en- L.
|ployad zin pRodu latngs the
g cQnsumr'