Denver labor bulletin., 1917-08-04

| dllIdStlOllS pul diSO HAS lis
and difficulties, and so far these have
prevented the full realization of the
splendid dream of the men who laid
the foundation for the "Adelphon
Kruptos" (Which is the true name of
the Knights of Labor. When this
condition became apparent, as early as
1881, some of the leaders among the
stronger trades unions, unwilling that
their organizations should be swal
lowed up in the disaster towards which
the Knights of Labor already were
drifting, took counsel together, and
the American Federation of Labor was
brought to life.
First among the purposes of the
new organization was the strict pres
ervation of craft autonomy. To this
tent it has rigidly adhered. In its
constitution it is peculiar. A volun-
tary organization, it has no power
over any of its constituent bodies be-
yond refusal to permit them to parti-
cipate in its proceedings unless con-
forming to its simple laws and reason
able decisions. 1t issues no mandates,
emits no edicts, gives out no orders.
From its conventions go forth recon-
mendations and suggestions in the
form of resolutions, while its execu-
tive council the convention ad interim,
is similarly limited. In this simplicity
of its constitution resides its majesty
AS voluntary association, it can hold
no terror for any of its members, and
for this very reason its members strive
to comply strictly with the determina-
tions reached by the American Feder-
alton of Labor.
May 1 be permitted to digress
slightly in explaining how limited is
the function of the American Fedora
tion of Labor? At the San Francisco
| -,
to me as chairman of the committee
on executive councils report the mat
ter of making some provision for the
relief of members of the Danbury local
of the United Hatters of America. The
urgency of the case was quite well
understood, and the sympathy of every
delegate to that convention was with
the Danbury hatters, who are well
regarded as victims of an outrageous
application of a law that never was
| intended to be so applied. Most fire.
quent of the suggestions heard for
securing the funds needed was that an
assessment be levied on all organized
labor affiliated with the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor. Examination of the
constitution, laws and history of the
| Federation convinced me that nowhere
/ was it given power to levy and en-
force an assessment for any purpose, !
| We called in President Gompers for |
| consultation, and he agreed with me
on the point.
As an agency for the expression of |
labor's aspirations, for the voicing of |
labor's demands and protests, the
American Federation of Labor is
tremendous power. In the legislative
halls, from congress down to the city
council, it is the American Federation
Of a hor or of itc 70
ganizations-the state, county or city
central body-that speaks. In the
councils of the great societies for So
cial advancement, Organized labor is |
heard thru the American Federation of |
Labor AS the mouthpiece of more
than two millions of wage workers |
united in trade or craft unions, it
speaks with power and authority, and
is nowadays being. respectfully lis
tened to. This is the chiefest of the
service of the body. 1t is the central
means for making known the common
purpose and desires of the organized
toilers of America, and just as it is
able to better the conditions and i'm
prove the industrial and social sur
roundings of its members, so it en-
hances the situation of every worker
organized or not, for all must neces-
sarily share in whatever of benefit
comes to any.
secondary function of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor is the ad-
justment of differences between its
affiliated bodies, and the protection of
the jurisdictional rights of all and each
so far as may be done. Much of the
time of recent conventions has been
given over to this work, a natural re-
suit of the dividing of crafts into
groups of specialists, and of new proc
esses that require the development of
new crafts or trades. Service on the
adjustment committee or the commit
tee on executive councils report-on
which committee / spent my time in
the last five onventions-amounts to
liberal education in craft practice
and methods. | assisted in the ANAL
gamation of the woodworking crafts
of the country, the bringing together
in one organization of the pipe filters,
in outlining the demarcation between
the several international unions, and
in reporting to the convention basis for
settlement between the firemen and en-
gineers, a plan that might have
brought peace to the needle workers, a
suggestion of basis for a working
agreement between the hatters and
cap makers, and a suggestion for the
amalgamation of the cigarmakers and
the stogie makers which was effective.
In other words to be of service in these
matters, it is necessary to grasp the
details of the methods of each craft,
in order that the points of divergence
may be appreciated, as well as the
points on which approach is possible.
This takes both time and patience on
part of the committees, and calls for
the continual exercise of impartial
judgment by the chairman, who must |
never allow himself to be betrayed |
into the position of favoring one or