The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-10

and resources in support of the min
ers, but a war inside the unions
against those that favor and fight
for a policy of organizing the unor-
ganized, amalgamation, aggressive
use Of the strike weapon in defense
Of the workers interests; 40 hours
day week, political action on the part
Of labor in opposition to the old
parties, etc.
The Why's and WherefOres of the
Present Situation in the American
Labor Movement.
The history of American labor
shows that labor declarations and bu-
reaucracies came and went in the
U. S. in accordance with the change
that took place in the development
of the country. We had the National
Labor Union, the Knights Of Labor,
big organizations in their time. Who
knows what may become of the A. F.
Of L. under it's present leadership ?
The A. F. of l.. has lost nearly half
Of its membership since the close of
the war. With the war against the
miners union, the war in the needle
trades and a probable struggle in the
building unions, the Watson-Parker
Law in the railroad unions, who can
tell what will remain inside Of a few
years of these unions, if the policy
of the present leadership remains in
force?
We have a situation where the
trade union bureaucracy is growing
more and more reactionary and con-
stantly moving to the right, nearer
to the views, practices and needs of
the employing class; while the work
ers seeing their rights abridged, sup
pressed and interfered with and their
trade unions crumbing in morale,
fighting strength and numbers, move
further to the left following those
that have a program and slogans
reflecting their interests.
The Role of Our Trade Union
Bureaucracy Under American
Imperialism.
The American trade unions in pre-
civil war days, when industry was in
a highly competitive stage and when
trusts and capitalist combines of
present day type were spoken of only
in Judes Verne's fantastic novels,
were of course of a different type,
different in policy, practice, organi-
cation, experience. etc. The Spanish
American war and Monroe Doctrine
Imperialism marked another stage, a
stage where justification of industry
and Capitalization Of capital had
made already considerable Roadway.
Free land which hitherto was serving
as an outlet for dissatisfied skilled
workers and immigrants, was getting
scarcer, the unions began TO stick
consolidate locally and nationally and
on trade lines. They were several
steps ahead of the employers in this
respect. The capitalist political par
ties were still in state of flux. Into
this period came the formation and
development of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor. If we trace back to
these days, study the statements and
declarations which embodied the poll
cies of the A. F. of L. we find that
in those days we can call the A. F.
l.. progressive in the sense that it
corresponded closely to the situation
then existing in the country and
hence could get something for the
workers on the economic and even
on the political field.
Since those days, however. every
thing except perhaps the A. F. l..
bureaucracy who remained relatively
speaking at standstill, has consid-
erably changed. Not only have the
employers organized, locally and ma
tionally thru associations and Cham
bers of Commerce, but enormous in
dustries have trustified and inter-
locking trusts are developing where
a few capitalists control several re-
lated industries. We have also seen
the beginning of international trusts.
The money power of the big capital
lists, centralized thru the banking
system and the Federal Reserve
Board unites all the capitalist inter-
ests in a manner never, known in
American history and reflects itself
daily in the policy and reaction pre-
velant in the local and national gov
ernments.
The control by Wall Street of the
two capitalist parties, courts, press,
etc, has become more positive and
direct. In other words the American
labor movement has not only not
moved ahead of the employers in
organization methods, policies, etc,
but is behind, so far behind indeed,
that its method of organization strug-
gle is completely out Of date with
the development Of American indus
try. The situation is such that where
as the capitalist is organized on the
basis of throwing in his whole power
and resources, the bonafide policies
of the A. +. l.. bureaucracy are
to mobilize the strength of a mere
corporal's guard and expel anyone
who insists on doing more than that.