Denver labor bulletin., 1915-04-24
By SAMUEL GoMPERS.

By SAMUEL GOMPERS.
The American Federation of Labor
was formed in 1881 in Pittsburg. ! was
elected its first vice president With the
exception of three terms / have been
president of the A r. of l.. since that
time.
The Federation covers practically the
whole field of industy There are no
limitations as to membership. The only
requirement, so far the A +. of L.
is concerned, is that the organization de-
string affiliation shall be composed of
wage e-earners.
The A. +. of l.. as its name implies, is
federation. and not as il is often mis-
takenly called, an organization. 1t is
federation OF organizations. each of
which has its own government deter
mined by its own needs and require
ments, the result of experiences OF the
members of the organization. This right
TO self government was recognized in the
beginning and has been reaffirmed and
adhered TO as consistently as possible.
The Federation has no powers except
those which are authorized and conceded
by the organizations which compose ii.
These powers are enumerated in its
written constitution and the definite di-
rection Of conventions.
ITO national and international unions.
~ state fedcrations of labor. 023 city
central bodies or local fcderations OF
trade unions in a city or town. G42 di-
rcctiv affiliated local trade and federal
unions whose chartered existence will
continue until there are sufficient num-
hcrs belonging to each trade or calling to
form % national trade organization.
There are ndustrially five departments
for the more effective cooperation OF
allied trades
Modelled After u S. Government.
The A. +. Of l.. holds annual oonyon-
tion- which for many years have been
held in the month Of November The
Officers OF the Federation consist OF a
president. eight vice presidents. a sec
retary, and treasurer. These eleven
Officers constitute the executive council.
The convention is the supreme lawmak.
ing BODY OF the Federation. exercising
all authority within the limitations Of
power conceded to the Federation by the
constituent or affiliated sovereign organ
izations, II may be permitted 10 draw
comparison we modelled our 4. 7. of
/. after the government OF the United
States. both a. to federal iuri-iictio ion
within federal limitations and state SOW
creiVntv with local prerogaiiVes and
shfrfl-s-r
such powers are conceded TO the
United States by the various states
~ the 4. =. OF l. the right OF secession
y,-mains with the affiliated unions. No
one can question the right OF n local
organization within the Feicration to
~..eed.
Tho affiliated organizations are held
together by moral obligation, spirit
OF camaraderic. a spirit OF group patriot
ism. spirit OF mutual assistance.
There are no cocrcivc methods used
by the A. =. Of l.. TO prevent the with
drawal or secession Of any affiliated
organization. The Western Federation
-oi Miners. for instance, Withdrew from
the A. +. OF L. about 1896. There were
many efforts and many suggestions
made to induce individual unions be-
longing to the Western Federation of
Miners TO Join the A. +. of l.. as local
unions. Not only were these efforts
discouraged but the proposal was repu-
dated.
Coercion Never Employed.
Similarly. no coercion j. used in re-
gard to national organizations which are
not affiliated TO the a. =. of l.. We
feel that il is the duty of every wage
worker 10 belong to the union Of his
trade or calling; that IL is the duty of
the local union of n trade or calling TO
belong TO the national or international
union of that trade or calling and that
it Is equally the moral duty of every
national or international organization of
bona iidc workingmen to belong To the
\. 4. OF l.. But coercive methods are
never employed.
When an international union affiliated
to the A. +. of l.. refuses to carry out
convention resolutions applying TO mem.
bcrs of that trade, the A. +. of l.. has ne.
power TO enforce its judgment. re-
call bat one instance in which an organ.
ization. which had in advance agreed to
abide by the decision of the executive
council in regard to dispute between
IL and two other organizations. refused
to abide by the decision rendered agains,
H. The executive council then decided
that the organizations charter. or it,
chartered relations with the A. r. of L.
should cease upon certain date How.
ever. u year aftcrwad the organization
reaffiliatcd upon declaration by the
convention.
All the actual power outside Of the
moral power that the A. i. of l.. nos.
sesscs is the power of expulsion from,
membership in the Federation. Expuf.
sion can occupy only upon roll-call vote
at convention of the A. f. of L. In