The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-10-29
TWO AUTHORIZATIONS /.

MO better test can be had of labor
L ' movement than its attitude toward
the workers outside its ranks. If it
strives to organize them, even in UNI
ions that are structurally out Of date
and without, any social outlook other
than that of the middle class, 1t is at
least trying to strengthen itself for
its daily struggles, is taking it's du-
ties as the organizer of the economic
power Of the workers seriously.
The Atlantic City convention of
the American Federation of Labor did
not even measure up to this low
standard of trade unionism. Its rec
ord on the elementary matter of or
ganization of the unorganized is enuf
to make every honest trade unionist
weep.
DEFORE we take a look at the rec
- ords Of the convention on this
matter it will be of value to examine
the numerical strength Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and its prog
ress in the matter of organization, or
lack Of it, during the years 1923-25
for the reason that this period was
one Of great activity in industry
many times approaching and once or
twice exceeding the boom days of the
war era.
From the peak of its numerical
strength of 1920, when the report of
Secretary Morrison showed a men,
bership of 4,075,000, the A. F. Of l..
dropped to 100000 in 1922 as re-
suit of the industrial depression fol-
lowed by the open shop drive.
A REVIVAL of industry began in
"A the latter part of 1922 and by the
time the 1923 convention rolled around
no trace Of the depression remained
except in the A. F. Of l.. member
ship rolls.
The report Of Secretary Morrison to
the 1928 convention showed that, not
only had the A. F. of l.. failed, dur
ing year of widespread employment,
to recover it's previous losses but that
the losses had continued to the ex-
tent of 100000 members, the report
showing a total enrolment Of but
100000. mo allowances are made
in this article for the padding Of
membership figures by the affiliated
unions in order to retain their voting
strength in A. F. Of L. conventions
the official figures serve our purposes
splendidly.-W. f. d.
THE industrial revival continued
4 with the exception Of short slumps
in isolated industries. Economists
have been amazed by the vitality
shown by American industry and the
consumption power of the population
but the official membership chart is
sued by the A. F. of L. shows that in
1924, a further loss of 100000 mem
bers occurred, the enrolment being
100000.
1926 finds American industry still
following an upward course. A num-
Der of basic industries have exceed
ed the 1928 figures and in the build
ing and automobile industry there is
real boom. Railroad car loadings
have passed all previous figures and
altho an immense credit structure has
been erected which is making the
bankers uneasy and whose topping
will bring disaster, employment is still
plentiful. 1925 takes its place with
the boom years of 1923, and 1924.
Gee. MORRISON'S report to the At
- lantic City convention shows to-
tai membership of 2,S7S,297, an in
crease of 7s,297. over 1924. But the
membership total is still, in round
numbers. $4,000 below the 100000
total Of 1922.
These are startling facts and sharp
ly visualize the effect upon the labor
movement of the lack of militant
organization policy. Additionally sig
nificant is the fact that an examina-
ton of the membership figures by
unions shows that the increase has
taken place principally in the build
ing trade unions, unions which work
under the closed shop for the most
part, in whose industry there is and
has been abnormal activity and where
automatic with the increase in the
number of jobs.
ITO put it concisely:
The American Federation of Labor,
in three years of great industrial ac-
tivity, has, according to its own fig
ures, suffered a loss of some $4,000
members besides failing to regain
what might be called its normal
strength in 1922.
Nothing but sabotage of the ordin-
airy routine OF organization can ac-
count for such a miserable showing.
Labor officialdom is interested far
more in "labor" banking, Tabor" in
surance companies and in war on the
left wing than in organization.
THE proceedings Of the Atlantic
l. City convention contain wealth
Of concrete incarnation revealing the
mechanical processes by which organ
ization is hampered or made impos-