Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1922-12-22
AMALGAMAnON
CANNOT Be FORCED
SAYS MORRISON

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The American Federation OF Labor
does not oppose amalgamation Of un-
ions. but on the other hand it has, as
far back as 1901, adopted resolution
recommending the consolidation or
amalgamation of unions of kindred
crafts. While the federation looks with
favor upon any step which will sim
lplify operation it has no power to
force amalgamation. That power lies.
with the memberships of the national
and international unions. Thus spoke
Frank Morrison, secretary Of the
American Federation OF Labor, in stat
ing the position of the federation in
an address at the Labor Temple audi
torium while in Portland last week.
After but few preliminary remarks.
in which the speaker congratulated
the local labor movement on its
achievement in building the Labor
temple. he went directly into the ques-
ton Of amalgamation and organiza-
tion by industry. the question in
which Oregon labor is now most vi
tally interested. Criticisms directed
against the federation for It's failure
to bring about reorganization on in
dustrial lines and criticisms of other
policies, be said, are nearly always
unmerited by reason of the fact that
the federation has no power to en-
force an edict Every national and
international union has absolute au-
tonomy.
The labor movement Of America is
a democratic movement, said Morri-
son, and any attempt at coercion is
sure to meet with stubborn resist
ance.
Resent AmaIoIamation.
The only method by which ANAL
gamation may be brought about Is
through education, is the opinion OF
the federation secretary. He told OF
an attempt to amalgamate a branch
Of the tile settlers with the brickIay-
ers many years ago. The officers Of
the tile settlers were recalled for
agreeing to the amalgamation, their
action was rescinded and the consol-
idation failed. Later the membership,
after studying the question, voted for
the amalgamation and 1t was eff
fected. On two or three occasions the
American Federation of Labor en-
deavored to bring about consolida-
tions within an industry. once going
so far as to revoke the charter of GER
tain textile unions for their refusal to
accept the decision Of the federation.
The suspended unions are still In ex-
istence, after a lapse Of many years,
and are functioning as organizations
independent of the federation.
An attempt to bring the Papermak-
ers and the Pulp and Sulphie Work
ers into one organization resulted in
the latter voting unanimously, In con-
vention, against the step.
In explaining the limitations of the
A. F. Of L., Morrison said that the
difference between the federation
and the proposed plan Of One Big I'm
ion, is that the o. B. U. is ruled by Of
flcers, is ruled from above, while the
A. F. Of L. is ruled from below, by
the rank and file.
Jurlsdictional Disputes.
Organization by industry would not
eliminate jurisdictional disputes, he
predicted, and proceeded to explain
how disputes could as easily arise be-
TWEEN industries as now appear be-
tween the crafts within an industry
The A. F. of L., a federation of
craft unions, has three objects tow
ard which its energy is being direct
ed, said Morrison. They are organ
ization, legislation and education. BY
Organization 1t is proposed to make
labor a formidable force, and through
Organization the other aims win be
largely realized. The legislation for
which the federation fights is for the
protection Of the worker to be secure
in his rights. By education the work
er becomes more secure in his posi-
tion and is better able to secure
more of the things to which he is en-
titled. Not the least feature of the
educational program. in the opinion
of the speaker. is that relating to the
union label.
In urging education for the solu-
ton of their own problems and to
equip them to successfully meet en-
ployers, he declared: mo power