The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1910-11-26

tive councll the fiHnt 10 cnH on the un.
ions for financial aid to such strikes rs
IL approved. This voluntary aid was
insufficient and in 1889 another amend.
ment permitted 1t to levy a compulsory
tax of two cents q week on each mem.
Der of an affiliated union, for not over
five weeks, in aid Of strikes or lockouts.
The policy of the Federation is fixed
in open conventions held in u different
city in November of each year. The
affiliated organizations are entitled to
but one delegate until their membership
reaches 1000. two delegates up TO 5000,
three delegates up to 10000. four dele.
gates up TO $4,000 aud 50 ON. Thus for
instance, the largest affiliated ~organizs
ton, the United Mine Workers of Amer.
lea, having a membership of over 300,
600. is bound by the same rules as the
smallest guild, and the same proportion.
ate representation at the convention.
The chief rival OF the American Fed.
eratioin of Labor has been the Knights
OF Labor; but II has practically sup.
planted that from the superior ration.
ality of it's basis. The Knights ad
mitted anyone Ia membership except
lawyers. bankers and saloon. keepers.
The Federation confines membership to
workingmcn, not admitting even the
farmers who are employers of labor on
-
their farms. The Knights were a cen.
tralizcd body based on lodges establish
ed by u central union. The federation
is based on its union = individuality
But chief of all. the knights assumed
that organization of all classes of work.
ers ia one union in zach locality would
bring about the best results, while H. ?
Federation realized the organization of
each trade in it, particular union and
the atiliation of all unions in q com.
strengthen each and bring advantage 10
all. The Knights COMPOUNDED all dis.
tlnctio and potentially overruled each
trade by the vote of outsiders. Time
has demonstrated that the founders of
the Federation were right in their rens.
oning, for while the Knights are now
but Il remnant, the Federation is q con.
Stantly growing force. aud has been
most successful in securing favorable
Legislation for labor, its greatest accom-
plishment being the national eight hour.
law, the exclusion of Chinese and con.
tract labOrers; the establishment of La.
Dor Day; and in many states the pass.
~" of acts against child labor. better
sanitary conditions, the regulation of
convict employment, the liability OF EN-.
ployers, the abolition Of loan sharks, the
abatement Of the garnishce abuse. free
education, III" use Of safety appliances
IN railroads and in the mines, etc, and
II IL now engaged in its greatest task OF
all, the moderation Of III. power of in.
junction, which has been and is being
fought harder than any other move by
IN" united employers. Upon this NOV,
is being directed the full power OF the
federation seconded by the labor press
when numbers more than 80 Separat,
publications.
some idea of the vastncSs of the Fed
GRAFTON is gathered from its membership
foot lngs, which show that last wear il
was composed of us national and in
t"rnational unions, with 27.OO0 local un
ions, with u combined membership ol
900 600. That is u great army anc
among II are found the full membership
~ III" followin calling:
Actors.
Asbestos Workers,
Bakers and Confectioners.
BARRIERS,
Bill Posters aud Billcrs,
Blac ksmiths.
Boiler makers and Iron Shipbuilder,.
Bookhindcrs,
Boot and Shoe Workers,
Brewery workmen,
Brick and tile workers.
Bridge and Structural Iron Workers,
Broom and Whisk Makers.
BrushmakcrS,
Carpenters and J%oincrs. two bodies,
Carriage and Wagon Workers.
Who'd CarvcrS.
Far Workers.
Cement WORKERS.
Chainmnkrr>.