The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-11-28
a. F. L., LIKE THE U. S. A., is REBORN
Loose Federation of
Unions Given Great
or Central Power
and Duties.
nY RASIL NJ. MANLY

character OF the American Fedora.
ton OF Labor was altered nj the
most important OF all It's conven'
TONS. with hardly surface ripple
10 indicate where the great changes
took place. and with few OF the dele
gates conscious of the significance
OF eventfui decisions adopted almost
without debate
The changes In the federation are
at least as revolutionary as those
which the war har brought In the
government OF the United states,
Tho government. even after the war.
will never RESUME It's old forms. In
stitutions and spirit, nor Will the A.
r. OF l.. ever resume Its old charae-
ter and methods
\. =. L.. Like Nation. Reborn
The American nation In being re
born during the war. and 80 In the
American Federation OF Labor,
Before tho war the a. y, OF l., was
loose confederation Of autonomous
unions. with no control over either
international or local organizations
save the power 90 revoke charters
Not only would tho constituent
unions have refused such control.
but the Gompcrs administration did
not seek Il. avoiding the tremendous
responsibilities which Il would have
entaIled
Each union got what u wanted by
strikes or negotiations with employ.
ers. and there was little common ae.
tion save In few phases Of federal
legislation. Few people outside the
labor movement knew how weak
were the bond. which held tho unions
together,
War Changes system
The war has changed and y
changing all this. FIRST OF all.
the 4. q. 81 L.. thru the influ'
enee Of President Gomper~. un.
d~rtook the enormous rrsponsi.
bility Of committing the Amer
lean labor movement To q d-fip.
lie attitude and line ~ action
during the war. Having accept.
ed this responsibility. u hos been
necessary To develop the means
Of control by which the unions
and their individual members
could be brought To work In
harmony. 30 FAR little more
has bern done in this direction
than To create tho necessary
spirit and lay the broad founds-
lions upon which the great ma
ehin~ry Of union control and CO.
all h.ras.ffwr h.
built.
Tho war Itself has already forced
international and local unions into a
position % dependence upon the fed
Grafton. and consequent degree ~
CO. ordination. which b. not yet APP
prccias-d BY the rank and fiir He
fore the war each UNION Fat what u,
could by strikes Or negotiations.
whether the A. r. % /. liked u or
not.
Gomp~r~' Power Bixx~r
Now strikes or union negotiations
affect no, merely an employer or .
group Of employers. bu, the interest.
Of the government and IN. entire
American people. The government
must BE- dealt with. and that requires
in nearly every case the good offices
OF the a. r. Of l. and President
Gompers.
In the old days tho union with a
strong treasury could ignore the
opinion Of ComPcrs and tho govern.
ment Now no strike. even BY the
strongest union. would have a chance
for success II Gomp.ra denounced H.
The demand Of the federation for
representation IN all governmental
activities IL also destined TO work
far reaching changes With the
power that is bcing sought and
gained IL coming responsibility
In the past tho American labor
movement has Stunned rather than
sought participation IN government.
content 20 pursue It's own political
and economic ends By IN. means
which bore the least possible onus
or responsibility.
New Convention Date
Indifference TO great economic
and political questions has been a
marked Characteristic % the con.
ventions Of the 4. =. Of l.. bu, IN the
future the A. r. OF l.. will have a
measure OF responsibility for what.
ever the executive branch OF the
government does
OF equal Importance in changing
the character OF tho A. r. of L. IL
the change OF the convention date
from November 20 June.
/ November was selected originally
with an eye TO keeping politics out
Of the convention. because elections
are then concluded. In June, with
congress still In session and election
states and platforms in the making.
every speech. every decision OF the
convention will have political
bearing.
IL may be possible TO keep parti.
san politics out entirely--let us hope
so-but IL will be impossible. even
/ IL desirable, 10 prevent discussion
81 big issues In manner which win
have N rrufcttpd r,oiltfruI grsf,,nx.s.