The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-09-06

pie. its origins are purely Amer ican, and it's policies have always been jnsistent on protecting Ameri- can labor and supporting American institutions. It's few ventures in- to internationalism have always been half-hearted and vague.
 It is federation. a rather loose knit association of i08 national and international unions, consisting of nearly 30,000 local unions. The nu-i cleus is some 15 or 20 long-estab- lished and powerful craft unions in highly skilled trades.
 Though united in the association, member unions keep high degree of independence in running their own affairs. For instance, in the threatened strike in the cotton tex tile trades, you observe that the de- cision to strike or not to strike rests with the textile unions.
 The A. F. of l.. offers its support, moral and probably financial, but can do nothing about actual con- duct of such strike except offer advice.
 LEAVES RACKET LOOPHOLE This lack of control by the feder- ation over its member unions has contributed to the difficulty of SUD- pressing racketeering and in set- ting disputes over which union shall do a certain kind of work. Ire federation is "of labor" Labor built it, fostered it, sup cism of the federation formerly made, that it had been unable or unwilling to organize the mass of r,v,C1yi1ln6 1ohnr fC loss VQ1Id today.
 The rush to, organize semi skilled and unskilled workers in mass production industries under l the A. F. of L. is shown by the great rise in federal unions under l it's banner.
 BACKS FEDERAL UNIONS" These pay dues directly to the | federation, which supervises their | affairs, gives direction and ad- vice, and guarantees support. These federal unions" are not a new device in the fedora tion. They date back to the con- test with the Knights of Labor, when the A. F. of l.. had to take such a step to avoid the stigma of being exclusive" and against the unskilled worker.
 The fereration has constitu- ton which fixes the objects oS it's work and the powers of it's officers and constituent unions. But the final authority lies in the annual convention, opening this year on Oct. 1 at San Fran cisco. Delegates attend from na- tional and international unions, city centrals, state federations. The number of votes of dele gates is so arranged that in the past it has always given domi- nance to the old international unions, which vote in proportion to membership, while central bod ies and federal unions generally have one vote apiece.
 COUNCIL HAS POWER
 Between conventions, authority | rests with the executive council of II members, which, practically speaking, acts for the federation, subject to the check of the con- vention. The president who draws $12,000 a year and travel | ing expenses, is the actual leader of this labor army.
 ] The federation has always fol- 1 lowed the lines laid down by Sam uel Gompers, who led it so long that he became sort of personal incarnation of American labor. It is due to his Influence that the federation hasv always steered clear of political entangiements. It is due to him that it has had a sound financial policy that enabled it to survive severe de- pressions in '93, '05. '21, and '29. l It is due to him that it has stayed close to it's practical view of objectiyes, always work ing for the next objective of
 higher wages, shorter hours, and
 better conditions, rather than
 far-off idealistic goal.
 | Gompers is accused of having had no higher ideal than was ex. I pressed by the slogan "More!' shown by the prophetic words he
 spoke many years ago, Defore re technocracy, before 13,OOO,O00 unemployed; before MIRA: "So long as there is one man who
 seeks employment you can not | obtain it, the hours of labor are too long!"
 The early years of the A. F. of l.. were so occupied in fighting
 for it's own existence that it is
 not surprising if its social view
 was not the broadest.
 NEGOTIATE FIRST, IS POLICY
 The first great A. F. of L. strike, that of the Amalgamated ! Association of Iron and Steel III workers in 1901, was lost, but by
 rallying public support the feder- ation helped the United Mine
 Workers to win a coal strike in
 1902 in which the elder J. P. Morgan himself had to compro- mise. :.
 But A. F. of L. policy has al- ways been to negotiate first ana to strike only if that fails.
 In its earliest days it was re- garded by employers much as the { Communists are regarded today Refusing to be brought into ! direct political alliances, the fed eration has exerted a continuous ] influence in politics, nevertheless. It's lobbying has been a factor m many reforms, its vote has de- feated many an antj-labor poli- tician, and its impress has been left on every phase of American
 I nAIRIsToCRATs OF LABOR"
 The trade union idead of an ex- \ exclusive, highly skilled craft. reached perhaps it's highest de- velopment. oddly enough, outside