The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1931-09-04

Of representation, functions and poll
cies. It is significant, however, that
no representatives Of Knights of La
Dor organizations were in future con-
ventions.
But the federation failed to do the
thing that was most needed extend
the principles of trade unionism. It's
membership and influence waned be-
fore an open fight which developed
against the Knights Of Labor.
In 1886 trade union executives
started movement to safeguard
trade unions. They called confer
ence Of representatives of all national
and international unions to meet in
Columbus. December 8, 1885. The
leaders in this movement were influ-
entail in the Federation of Trades and
Labor Unions accordingly its 9th an
nual convention was changed to CO.
lumbus, meeting one day prior to the
National Trade Union Congress.
The conference of national trades
unions considered the situation grow
ing out Of their inability to reach a
working agreement with the Knights
of Labor, and formed the organiza-
ton called the American Federation
of Labor. The other federation voted
to amalgamate with it and to advise
it's members to affiliate.
The following officers were elected
to carry on the work until the next
convention: President, Samuel Com
pers; first vice president, George
] Harris; secretary, p. j. Mcclure;
treasurer, Gabriel Edmonston.
| From this time began the steady
growth of trade unionism on this con-
tinent, for more influential unions
came into the organization, and per-
manent headquarters and paid off,
cials were provided.
On the pages Of the records OF early
years appears the names of men re.
vered by the labor movement for then
pioneer service-Samuel Gompers, P
III. Mcclure, John Mcbride, James
Duncan, Henry limerick, Edward Fin
klestone, John T. Eliot, William Wei
hi, Adolph Strausser, J. P. McDon
nell, Mark Crawford, Frank Foster
i w. H. Foster, Hugo Miller, Chris
Evans, Robert Howard, John Jarret
and many more who carried forward
what the pioneers began.
The labor movement is distinctivel!
human movement whose assets art
the characters and abilities of it:
leaders and the spirit of its rank ant
i file. 1t owes great debt to those
leaders whose wisdom and intelligence
were essential to Transforming
"rope of sand" into competent, eff
| cient force for human progress.
Great industrial changes have par
alleled our 49 years of activity-ths
use of electricity for lighting anC
power, the corporation form of own
ership which accompanied the trust
and large scale production the devel.
opment of the technique OF scientific
management, the establishment of the
high wage principle, together with
| shorter workday.
Through the American Federation
of Labor principles of organization
and federation have been worked out
which have been of mutual benefit to
all affiliated organizations. The prin'
ciples that the trade union card is the
credential of the labor movement anc
one organization for one jurisdiction
| have pointed the way to rules Of
control and type of government that
have given us the advantage of co
Operation without the handicaps Of
i centralized control. We have estab
lished guiding principles-voluntar
ism, interdependence OF interests IL
;o;pt ,,pdorf limos and shorter hour.