United labor bulletin., 1912-10-10

The Cigarmakers International Union
| OF America declares that the American
Trade Union Movement is one of con-
stant growth, development, and expan-
sion.
The American Federation of Labor
since its inception has been the most
practical and beneficial general organiza-
ton of the wage workers of the conti-
nent- 1t has taken cognizance of the
constant change and transition in indus
| try, and by every means within its power
sought to influence and persuade, not
only the organization of the unorganized
workers, but the unity. solidarity, and
fraternity of the organized workers. and
stimulated further. by every means
within its power, the necessity for closer
cooperation. federation, and amalgama-
tion of existing trades unions, to the end
that each may be helpful to all.
The American Federation of Labor
realizes that chain is no stronger than
its weakest link. that the grand army Of
organized labor cannot advance much
further than it's most backward column.
1t realizes the fact that the labor organi
cations are made up of human beings
who are not cast in plastic molds or can
be placed in rigid forms. Ii therefore
must concede the largest amount of au-
thority to be vested in the affiliated un-
ions and their members, consistent with
the general progress and the welfare OF
the entire wage working masses.
The American Federation of Labor
has organized central bodies in hundreds
of cities, and State declarations in nearly
an the States in America. 1t has insti-
tuted large numbers of International un-
ions and numberless local unions. 1t has
developed the system of Industrial De
partments in which the organized work
ers of the different crafts. trades and
callings are federated and which cooper
ate for the common protection and ad-
vancement of the interest of ALL
The American Federation of Labor
realizes that there is still much to do.
but it repudiates the insinuation which
is implied by the term Industrial Union
ism as it is employed in antagonism to
Trade Unionism.' The advocates of so
called Industrial Unionism' imply in
| their slogan that the trade unions are
rigid and do not advance, develop, or ex-
pand. whereas the whole history of the
trade union movement in the past thirty
years has demonstrated beyond success
ful contradiction that there is not a day
which passes in the trade union move
ment in America but which witnesses
the highest and loftiest spirit of sacrifice
in order to cooperate with our fellow
workers for their interest and common
uplft.
The stigma which advocates of So
called Industrial Unionism' would attach
to Trade Unionism' is of a par with the
stigma which the enemies of organized
labor apply to the union shop when they
designate it as the closed shop
In line with the historic. intelligent.
and comprehensive attitude which the
American Federation of Labor has pur-
sued since its inception, and which the
Cigarmakers' International Union has for
itself and its delegates to the convention
of the American Federation of Labor
have advocated and pursued.
The delegates to the forthcoming con
ventions of the A F. of L. be and they
are hereby instructed to continue to do
all in their power to have the work of
more thoroughly organizing the unorgan-
lied workers pursued to its fullest ex-
tent; to urge upon the organized work
ers more thorough corporations: to ad-
vocate amalgamation of organizations of
kindred trades and callings to a more
thorough federation of all organized la
Dor. to the end that economic. political.
moral. and social justice shall come to
the toilers, the wealth producers OF
America"