The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-05-16
TWO MILLION MARK PASSED.
American Federation of Labor Makes
Steady Progress.

Steady Progress.
Nearly thirty. three years ago the
American Federation of Labor was or
ganized to protect the working people
Of America. There Was then no re
sponsibility resting anywhere for the
protection Of the defeusele-~ Possess
sion was power. wealth WIS power. po-
sition was power Their sway was IN
questioned ana unchaHenaed Though
those to whom power bad secured eco
nomic and political privileges might
grind the lives out of the workers or
drive them TO the polls to the bidding
of those in power, there was no agency
to resist their viii The interests and
the desires of the wealth possessors
were represented and voiced In the ex-
ecutve, legislative and Judicial branch
es Of the government municipal,
county, state and federal Yet there
was no one to speak a word of protest
or to challenge the possession of this
power To this end the workers united
In the federation. That this fedora
ton has served the real ana vital
needs OF human beings is evident from
It's steady growth During tine first
gear the membership was less than 5O,-
| 9o0 Not until 1892 did the affiliated
membership pass the 100000 line
This number WIS doubled in 1900 and
quadrupled two years later. and now,
In March. 1913, for the first time has
the 100000 mark been passed The
per capita tax received from its affid-
ated organizations was based upon
/ membership of 2,007 500
Those who have grown with the
movement from the beginning aud
have worked for the cause before it
was great and powerful can appreci-
ate the struggle that brought the in
( crease In membership. Those We're
years when each bit Of progress repre-
sented untold sacrifices and efforts that
/ persistently and courageousIy met dis
J couragemeut after discouragement be-
fore crowned by success 1t was so
hard to overcome prejudice and to win
confidence and respect for the fedora
/ ton; 1t was SO hard to get some one
I just to say good word for the cause;
/ it was SO hard to make the working
! people see where their welfare lay
/ But there We're men and women will
ing and glad to put aside their own
ease, comfort and advancement, will
/ ing to incur the misunderstanding of
/ many whose opinion they valued that
the lives Of men. women and children
might be made safer, better, happier.
The safe and firm foundation was laid
upon which organized workers have
builded nobly and effectively.
/ Persistent constant struggle day by
day has built up the present strong
labor movement-the virile federation.
/ Many are those who have contributed,
some little, some more, but every eood
thought, word and deed has counted
| for humanity's cause Not one worthy
effort was trivial or of no avail Who
ever has helped In any way has con-
tributed real and necessary part to
the success of the movement officers
and organizers, the rank and file, all
who have given or gone to carry the
/ message of good cheer, have helped to
bring to the oppressed and downtrod-
den the hope ans the betterment found
in the trade union movement upon the
broad platform and under the benefi-
cent influence and direction of the
American Federation Of Labor.--Amer-
scan Federationist.