Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1914-09-16
SYSTEMATIC FINANCING
OF LABOR CONFLICTS
NJ 4. .. seAOss.

In exercising the power OF assessment for the
urpose of financing labor conflicts the American
Federation would not he promoting strife. but
endea voring by most thorough condition OF pre-
paredness to make the strike and lockout undesir
able to Its opponents-to show them that they
could no, afford TO be the enemies OF organized
labor.
desirable that the Federation should msddis with
every minor difficulty which might occur between
working men and the employer. The national or
tional union OF each craft can take care OF
such ordinary cases. and would do SO just as now
out OF their own treasury and according to their
own rules. But In extraordinary cases. where the
conflict assumed too large proportions for the craft
test would cause irreparabie injury TO the craft
organization as q whole. or where the general IN
terests Of ,he labor mo.emen, were jeopardi.sd,
these would fall within the scope OF action by the
Federation under the power contemplated by this
resolution.
The power to levy assessments for these pur
poses would. Of course. have to be delegated to
the Federation or such joint-board as might be
determined. by the national international trades
unions entering into the compact Probably IN
most cases could only be done by decision Of the
membership of those unions referendum vote.
II the executive board of the American Federation
takes up this matter as II WAS Intended. and adj
,i..s with the several labor organizations It should
be able to bring before the next convention a fair
expression of the sentiments OF those organza-
tons on the general question OF attempting bet
cooperation In defensive and aggressive work.
and as to bearing assessment and participating IN
benefits of such system Along with this the com
mitt.e will no doubt bring In a tentative formula
ton representing tn. consensus Of opinion as 20
the constitution Of the body through whose instru-
mentality the Wofk IL 10 De uone. ana $3.50 tuier
defining Its limitations and the conditions OF oper-
alton OF the system. II 10 contemplated that such
rules would provide: llD for the hearing by the
finance board of the application for assessment.
and II within the rules adopted by the unions. tsp
for levy OF the and notification 20 each
International TO proceed with the collection from
its own membership of the amount appcrtioned TO
them ,3) for method and time Of paying over TO
the finance board or 10 the international or ma
tlonaI In whose interest II was collected ~ for
proper system of receipts and accounting and such
pu blication as may be best II being particularly
that funds should be collected and moved
promptly hut not before needed. and that no large
amounts should be massed at one point or time
previous to reaching ultimate destination.
~ course all this work will require time. and
the real work OF organizing such . system would
have to be done by the unions and referendum vote
after the committee report and action OF next con-
vention, that two years from the present time
IL Early such plans can actually be put In
operation. But the work Is too important 10 allow
a month of unnecessary delay.