The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-09-05
|LABOR'S GREAT
 FEDERATION

Greatest ana most poWeiioA oA ' worlds organizations of toilers Is the American Federation of Labor, with which are affiliated the great major iitv of the labor unions which partici- ipate in the celebration of the Festival of Labor. Under the guidance of the Eederation. the trades union move- ment-which originated on this slde Iof the Atlantic in 1803-has attained a solidarity and influence unprece- ldented in the history of the world. lWithin the brief space of thirty-five wears the skilled workmen of the limited States and Canada have been ,banded together in a common cause. Thus united, they have been able to bring about great improvements. in the lot of the .toilers. Being human, the organized workers have been guilty of all mistakes and crimes-in which respect they resemble churches, governments and other human insti- tutfons.
 Labor Day and the American Fed erat1on of Labor were born at about the same time, The first celebration of Labor Day was held in New York in 1882 The American Federation of Labor was, in a sense, the out growth of the National Labor Union ,orRanized at Baltimore just half a century ago. This union. and the many political and secret labor bodies in the following decade, attained only temporary successes.
 In 1881 the Amalgamated Labor Union and the Knights of Industry is- sued a joint call for a convention in Terre Haute, Ind, with the object of organizing secret society which was iprojected as a rival of the growing Knights of Labor. The majority of the delegates were from trades unions and they were opposed to increasing the number of secret labor societies A second convention was held in Pitts burgh a few months later, and the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada was launched. This con- fvention represented 262, 900 working men. The demand was made for an eight hour work day and for narlonal and .etate incorporation of trades unions. The convention also went on record as favoring compulsory educa- ltion of all children and the prohibi- ltion of their employment under the age of fourteen years. Other meas ures advocated by the first conven- ton of the Federation were uniform apprentice laws, the establishment o1 a national bureau of labor statistics the adoption of employers liability acts, and the abrogation of all so-call. ed conspiracy laws.
 The Federation adopted the title o1 American Federation of Labor at 2 convention held in Columbus in 1886 Tt is now composed of 110 interna. tional and. national unions, represent ing about 22,000 local unions, five de partments, forty-four state branches 631 city central unions and 4s5 loca unions. The paid membership i. about two millions. The Federation has a force of 1,715 organizers, and the affiliated unions publish abou $40 publications of various kinds With the exception of the great trans portation unions-the Brotherhood. of Locomotive Engineers. Locomotive Firemen and Railroad Trainmen ant the Order of Railway Conductors nearly all of the principal labor or. Sanizations of the United States anG Canada are affiliated with the Fed. eration. Musicians, actors and other. engaged in the arts and professions