The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-10-06

indicates that because Of strikes
or unemployment there were at
least 100000 members for
whom per capita tax was not
paid to the American Federation
o4Aabor."
More Strikes In Other Years.
Thenatore, Morrison confidently
points out, adding this number to the
2S1Ss91e paid-up members will give
grand oOta1 of 3y313,91O members"
But the same conditions hold true
for all previous years. especially for
thDss years Of industrial depression
and Of many strikes. for which the
membership appears In the report on a
per ca0a6a basis, and without any pad
ding.
If Secretary Morrison argues cor
rectly, than he would have to add
100000 to the total figures for each
year. which would then inevitably de-
velon the drop Of more than 10000 for
this year Just the same.
The Figures Don't Lie.
AS a matter of fact, the unions that
have conducted the big strikes during
the past year have paid their usual
per capita tax.
The United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea, that conducted the anthracite coal
strike last winter involving $4,000
workers, and that has had numerous
strikes on its hands in the bituminous
fields, paid per capita on 100000 mem.
bers as in 1925. This figure is far
above the actual membership of the
miners union, now estimated at not
more than quarter million.
The International Ladies' Garment
Workers Union, that has had several
big strikes during the past year and is
even now in big struggle in New
York City, paid per capita for 10000
members, the same as last year.
Many Of the building trades unions
that have been engaged in struggles
for higher wages during the past year,
Ike the carpenters, the bricklayers,
electrical workers, laborers, machin-
lists, painters, plumbers and plasterers,
paid a 1925 per capita equal to or
greater than in 1926. In fact, the
building trades as a whole showed an
increased membership.
Suspend $1,000 Members.
Secretary Morrison might find bet-
ter reason for the drop in the fact
that this year sees the Brotherhood of
Railway Clerks, with the 81 200 men,
bers on which it paid per capita tax,
suspended from the A. F. of L. as a
result Of the Jurisdiction fight Of this
organization with the Transfers
Union. The decision of the 1925 con-
vention at Atlantic City went against
the clerks in favor Of the teamsters,
beaded by Daniel J. Tobin, who is
treasurer Of the A. F. Of L. The clerks
refused to accept the decision and
were thrown out.
The railway clerks belonged to the
group Of railroad unions that secured
a big membership during the war and
then lost most of it during the strike
Of 1922. Most Of the unions reporting
losses, according to per capita paid
to the A. F. of L., are railroad unions
such as the boilermakers, railway car
men, maintenance of waymen, station
airy flremen, switchmen and railroad
telegraphens, none of which has con-
Quoted any considerable strikes during
the past year.
These railroad organizations, belong
ing 10 the railway employees depart
ment Of the A. f. Of L., showed a
membership of 237, 500 in 1925, COM
pared to $4,000 for this year, a drop
OF more than $4,000 members. The
drop Of members for all the unions af-
filiated with the railway department
was 1900 from 1924 to 1925. The
tabulation of the membership of the
American federation for the last 30
years appears in an adjoining column.
The American Federation Of Labor
az the present time IS made up of
four departments, 107 national and in.
iernational unions, ~ state fedora
tons, S33 city central bodies, 100 local
department councils, 29,417 local
unions and $50 local trade and federal
labor unions.
American ideals" and Not Numbers.
The A. r. OF L. onicialdom IS not
excited about this dwindlng member
ship.
II worries more about the ideals
OF It's reactionary regime claiming
that the record Of the past year IRE
fleets with gratifying defiuiteness that
our movement IS maintaining success
fully those ideals and practices that
nave made It distinctively American
and successful in meeting the de- \
mands Of American industry"
II IA claimed that the A. +. Of L.
Is public institution" and therefore
the executive councils report Is