Denver labor bulletin., 1916-01-22
NO SURE CURE FOR
JURISDICTION ILLS
Increasing Progress Causes
Them To Crop Out Often
Spirit Of Fraternity Among Workers
). Essential Element in Adjustment
Of All Internal Troubles

Jurisdiction disputes accompany growth
and organization, says President Com
psrs in the American Federationist, who
writes in part:
1T is essential to an understanding of
the form of the organization of the Ia
bor movement to have in mind that the
labor movement is a voluntary institu-
tion, and that it is what the workers
desire. They are guided in their desires
by what they think best serves their
needs and interests. y particular form
of organization cannot be forced upon
them against their volition
''Under the laws and principles OF the
American Federation OF Labor, interna-
tioDal unions have absolute jurisdiction
over all matters affecting the interests
of their own members only. Each or
ganization adopts that form of Organi-
zation best adapted to protecting its
members and to securing Icr them ill.,
ereasing benefits, even should the a. +.
of l.. assume the attitude cf debating
to any group of workers that they must
organize along so-called industrial lines.
No edict will eliminate jurisdictional
disputes, no matter by whom such an
edict is proclaimed As has occurred In
the past, the members OF any organiza-
tion would refuse to obey a direction
that did not conform to their conception
of their best interests.
Even should they obey, jurisdictional
disputes would continue, because they
are an accompaniment of change and
life i'll industry.
"As the lines separating industries
change. changes become necessary in the
organization of the workers. Jurisdic-
tionaI disputes would develop between
oI fpr thn IN
that they arise between trade organiza-
tions In addition, production within
the industry generally involves more
than one trade. Those of different
trades have different problems. They
have problems and interests that are
frequently not identical with the other
workers in the industry. 1t is inevitable
that disputes would arise within the in
dustrial union, and would be more acute
than those existing now.
"Perhaps one of the most incisive com
ments upon the practicability of indus.
trial unions was made by traternal
delegate who was keenly interested IN
understanding the fundamentals OF the
American labor movement. He remarked
that the only basis for industrial organ
ization that would be in any degree per-
manent would provide for three organi-
xations-a union of midwives, a union OF
grayedigcers. and all between belonging
to the third.
sIndustrial unionism is not cure for
disputes or differences between organiza-
tions of workers. That form of organi-
zation would only transfer disputed
questions to other boundaries and other
terms. Jurisdictional disputes develop
from necessary changes in organization
and differences of opinion as to the best
way of meeting the difficulty. They are
an inevitable accompaniment of growth
and organization. The problem is not to
eliminate jurisdictional disputes, for that
would eliminate life, but to meet them
in the best possible way.
"The element essential to the ADJUST
ment of these disputes is the spirit OF
fraternity among the workers, mindful
of common interests and desirous OF
reaching adjustments. The workers must
be willing to go along together and to
work out practical agreements. This
spirit was one of the Distinguishing char
acteristics of the San Francisco conven-
ton Altho there were proposals to use
compulsion, to revoke charters, to die
tate terms of adjustment, yet the true
spirit of voluntary organization pre-
vailed and the workers agreed to remain
within the American labor movement
and to work out their differences with
regard for common interests, and for the
maintenance of the power and effective
ness of the organization.
'This spirit is essential to fraternity
and solidarity within the labor move
ment. 1t is an assurance of continued
growth and increasing progress for the
cause of labor"