The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-08-07

action Of the - "E"'r'V~
Executive Council might well have
O chapter devoted TO 1t In q His.
tory OF American hufnor. Some OF
the proceedings Of the prosecution
Of the "rebellious" organizations
could only flnd adequate treat
ment by Messrs Gilbert and sulli-
van, charles Dickens and others
skilled In the art OF dealing with
comic situations. TO anyone "a.
miliRr with A. r. Of L. history ana
the tactics pursued by Its Exec
utivo Council over o period OF
years, the whole affair Is one long,
gusty belly laugh. In order TO get
the complete picture II Is neces.
sary to do q bit Of reviewing.
Makeup
The American Federation Of
Labor Ia made up Of national ana
international unions Joined IN Q
voluntary organization for mutual
support and for united (theoretic"
ally) action. A national union Is
one which has branches In the
United states. An international
union "a one which takes In Can.
ada In addition to the United
States. Both types have complete
autonomy over their own AFFAIRS
and members. When o union Is
formed q charter is issued to II BY
the Executive Council Of the Fed"
Grafton setting forth its Jtirigdic"
ton, which Is the kind Of work ita
members are permitted to do. Any
oncroachment, raid, infringement,
or invasion by another union 10
considered one OF the two u1par.
donahle sins In the decaloguo OF
Labor. The other 10 the setting
up OF O dual organization, which
In plain words means starting o
union TO do work and control
workers In o field which has al-
ready been allotted by charter.
The commission OF the first sin ale
most invariably leads TO the COM
mission Of the second. One hu"
morous feature Of the A. r. Of L.
set.up rs that while II is o vol
untary organization from which o
union may withdraw OF It's pleas
ure, II cannot be deprived OF It's
afAliation with the parent body
except by o two.thirds roll-cal!
vote ct an annual convention Of
oil the aftlliated organizations. II
the row between the Executive
Council and the Committee Tor
Industrial Organization ever gets
into the courts, which doubt, II
will DO upon this basic law OF the
declarations constitution.
Types Of Unions
linton organization % already
explained In these columns, 10 OF
two kinds, craft and industrial.
The former takes In oil workers In
O particular trade or craft; the
latter includes the workers OF ell
crafts or trades In o particular
industry. The International AS
ISOLATION Of Machinists belongs TO
the FIRST or craft union class; the
United Mine Workers Of America,
whose president, John l.. Lewis, 10
the dominant figure In the Com
inittee for Industrial Organization,
typifies the second or industrial
union. The rock upon which the
American labor movement Is now
being split Is whether In mass In
dustries given over to the MAX
Ing OF steel, rubber, automobiles
and the like, the organization OF
the workers and the control OF
the work shall be along craft or
industrial union lines. Other con-
siderations are involved, but this Is
the primary issue.
Funny!
A iudicrous feature connected
with the custer order Of the Elk
ecutive Council is that Its thirteen
members who voted for the boot
are craft unions whose own or
ganixatlons are slowly but surely
developing into industrial organ
iyations. For example, the Inter-
national Brotherhood Of Team
sters was originally just that. With
the introduction of motor trucks
as q means Of transportation, the
jurisdiction Of tho Transfers
Union was automatically widened
to include chauffeurs, stablemen,
and helpers. In like fashion the
International Brotherhood Of
Electrical Workers began with the
wiring men employed in the build