The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-07-24

the American Federation OF Labor had
a membership OF 2,S65,97 (according
to other data, that many were repre-
scented at the congress Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor in 1926.
But, then, the American trade
unions have existed, not since 1917,
and have been under the influence
of the Gomperses, the Greens, the
Morrisons and their like, not for seven
years, but a little longer-about As
years. The American Federation Of
Labor was organized in 1881 and be-
fore that the trade union movement
existed-the knights of Labor" 1t
should be noted that at the high water
mark of the American Federation of
Labor in 1920 it had membership of
4,O78,740 and never more than that.
This out of a total of S2,710,4 95 hired
workers and employees, great ma
jority of whom are subjected to shock
ing exploitation. That is really strik-
ing and makes an extremely strong
impression.
Another thing which evokes the
authors witty comment is our Bulle-
tins item about the financial condition
of the trade unions of the U. s. s. r.
We quote again:
"The latest statistical data shows
that the financial condition Of the
trade unions of U. S.. 8. r. has be-
come much stronger, says Melnitchan-
sky. He then proceeds to deal in
mass of figures, winding up with the
statement that the total savings are
28, 1000, 900 roubles. The normal value
of the rouble Is so cents, but il one.
wished to be facetious he might say
that the Russian unions now have
about $4.S5 in real money"
TN the item referred to We give the
L figures and point out that the f1nan-
cial condition of the trade unions has
become stronger since the introduc-
ton of stable currency and that dur
ing two years all the funds of all
trade unions reached 28,000,000 rou-
bles. In American currency this con-
stitutes a solid sum of $4,000 900.
For some reason the witty author OF
the article wanted to turn It into $4.S5.
One might think he was not in his
right mind at the moment or that his
conceit Is such that he considers all
his readers downright fools. How
much stronger the financial condition
of the trade unions has really become,
may be judged from the financial sup
port rendered by our trade unions to
the striking British miners. We would
like to know how much more the sup.
port of the American Federation Of
Labor and the American trade unions,
which are financially stronger than we
are. was actually felt by the British
miners.
Further the author attempts to in
terpret in American terms the news
item that the Lena-Goldfelds conces-
sion bound itself ITO construct suf-
ficient number of houses or lease
them" The author exclaims: Com
pany housesi Something which the
American miners bitterly fought
against for years and which are still
in vogue in some of non-union fields in
this country and used as a means to
keep the miners in bondage"
The authors indignation is reused
even more by the following:
when building new mills" says
Melnitchansky, "the company is
bound to build workers settlements,
with clubs. hospitals, and lighthouses"
And he comments:
Can any one imagine an American
trade union putting such q clause as
that in a wage agreement? That Is
feudalism pure and simple, with the
health and lives, reactions, and goings
and comings of the employees wholly
In the hands OF the overlords of the
concession company, with the full
force and authority OF the government
back of the owners.
This evidently is q striking ex-
ample Of the practical working out OF
the hoaztad new aconomic nolfcys of