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The secret of labor's success, to labor's progress, to labor's best improvement, lies in the one word, organization; for there can not be organization without education; there can not be organization without agitation; there can not be organization of the wage-earners on trade-union lines which does But wholly not mean final emancipation. aside from the indisputable facts which demfor that strikes onstrate or preparation strikes are a most potent weapon to secure better conditions for the workers, a cursory view of modern methods by which industry is conducted will convince, that now more The than ever, are strikes most effective. concentration of large numbers by which one industry is so closely allied to another that the stopping of one branch may mean the paralysis of nearly all; the vast sums invested in the plants and in the highest countless developed machinery, these and other considerations make the modern strike SO than ever not only effective but more We observe before in the world's history. the effort in civilized nations to reach settlements of disputes by other means than a resort to arms. Is this not a realization of the fact that modern warfare is so destructive that nations prefer making concessions rather than to indulge in what might practically be a war of extermination? Despite these peaceful settlements by nations, however, they neither of them disarm nor do smaller or weaker nations enjoy these blessings at the hands of the larger, the stronger. The same reasoning applies to the organizations of labor and the employers of labor. Wealth, Capital, are the arms of The trade unions with the employing class. funds the ammunition of labor-provided by the workers during periods of peaceful Such employment, are the arms of labor.

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condition may mean practically armed peace, but that that is preferable to unarmed slavery no sincere lover of mankind and progress will dispute.

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(1898, p. 18) Textile workers had engaged in a strike in New England with this result: Uneven as the contest was by reason of lack of organization and preparation on the part of the textile workers, yet the con For test itself has had a salutary effect. years and years the conditions of the tile workers have deteriorated. The employers have come to look upon them docile and willing to submit to any conditions which might be imposed. Reduction after reduction of wages was the invariable rule with each recurring season. The strike at New Bedford made the victory of the employers an expensive one. It taught them the lesson that there is a limit beyond which the workers will not yield without a struggle. It has effectually stopped reductions; and if the textile workers will but organize in their union upon a common-sense basis for their protection and advance, there can be no question but a turn in the tide is at hand.

(1900, p. 112) We note with regret that employers of labor still believe in the principles of absolutism as applied to industry, thus holding to the idea that "their business'' is exclusively their own and, therefore, refusing to redress grievances and give such amelioration to the worker as will make his life tolerable. The large number of strikes during this year indicate a greater

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prevalence of these opinions than we had a right to expect. While this conception is prevalent, conciliation is impossible, and, for the worker, under those conditions, there remains but one thing to do, namely, strike, or, in other words, to stop producWe are tion until grievances are redressed. pleased to observe that the largest number of strikes during the past year have been successful, and we have no doubt that more would have been, but for the fact that postal laws, interstate commerce laws and injunetions as yet do much to prevent the use of means which, in themselves, aside from these laws and injunctions, are in morals and law proper. Records entirely justifiable and

of strikes won or lost by no means furnish a reliable or complete statement of what organization has done, or failed to do. Wage and other settlements secured without recourse to strikes are of greater value in measuring the worth of organization and should be included in any statistical statement, in order to make it approximately correct; and we, therefore, recommend that all organizations affiliated be requested to fill out blanks provided for this purpose by the A. F. of L.

(1902, pp. 10-143) Apart from the miners' strike there has been no general trade contest involving large numbers of any particular craft, nor have there been so large a number of strikes during the past year as in former years. Of those reported the great preponderance have been for higher wages and reductions in the hours of labor, and One these have been largely successful. organization reported that it has increased the wages of its members fully $1,000,000 per annum, while there are few whose membership working more than eight-hours per day have not secured a reduction in their working time, and the organizations largely having the eight-hour work-day have tended the beneficence of that rule. It is unquestionable that the lesser number of strikes which have occurred are due to the better organization of our fellow-workers, and the greater readiness with which employers have been willing to concede reasonable demands.

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(1903, pp. 16-172) During the year a considerable number of strikes occurred. It will be observed that the gains achieved in the interests of our fellow-workers were considerable-advances in wages, reductions in hours of labor, and improvements in other respects and that but comparatively few of the strikes inaugurated were defeated in the objects sought. Much of the expendi tures reported because of strikes were made during last year. It will be observed, too, by reference to the table that many organizations have gained large advantages while they have expended infinitesimally small amounts. These are particularly attributable to the organizations referred to having accumulated funds and systems of beneficial features which have given them such stability and resourcefulness that employers were more willing to concede reasonable and fair demands rather than at the outset risk losses which they know result from long drawn-out contests. In connection with this subject, we at this time desire to again impress upon the minds of all unionists the necessity of the payment of higher dues, the establishment of benefits, and the accumulation of reserve funds in the trade unions.

These would not only be available in strikes which might occur, but they will be more Many organipotent in preventing them. zations seem to believe that they will be immune from attacks, only to find themselves in the midst of an industrial conflict threatWe are anxious ening their very existence.

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that we shall have the largest amount of success during periods of industrial activity, and not be compelled to recede an inch during any industrial reaction; that our organizations shall be strong enough in members, influential enough in solidarity, and powerso that ful enough in financial resources we can successfully refuse to bear the buravarice of dens of the incompetency or some of the captains of industry and other employers. It seems wiser to risk the slower growth of our organizations, or even the loss of some members in times of industrial activity, than it is to invite discouragement and enfeeblement of the members as a result More strikes contests. of defeat in avoided and averted by thorough organiza tion and preparation for them than by any other known means. There is a most erroneous impression prevalent regarding losses occasioned by strikes. Of course, it is true that a strike involves the loss of work and wages for the time being, but there has not one strike occurred but it has been followed by greater activity in the trade. In other words, the time for the performance of the work and the payment of the wages has been deferred; that is, that the stoppage in the trade has been made to suit the convenience and the purpose of the workmen, rather than the convenience and purpose of the employer. A strike involving wages, hours, and other conditions of employment, even if temporarily defeated in the attainment of the immediate purpose, has always checked greater invasion on the part of the employers, or has paved the way for the ultimate achieve. ment of the object sought by the workmen. Taking the strike as an economic or social factor, it has never lost. For men contending against deterioration or for improvement, if, say, they lose the strike, what occurs? Those occupying a higher material condition do not displace those engaged in the contest. If they are displaced at all it is by those whose conditions are poorer or are unemployed, and, taking the worst view of the situation, it has been merely a change of personnel of those occupying the relative positions. But the truth is, and the entire history of industry has demonstrated it to be a fact, that the workers who have intelligence and manhood enough in their makeup to contend against the imposition of poorer, or to strike for better conditions, never go down in the economic scale. In other words, though the workmen may be defeated in th immediate contest, their character, perse verance, and ability always make for the next highest rung in the industrial ladder.

(1913, pp. 84-301) During the past year, the miners of West Virginia have been engaged in a prolonged, serious, and

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they own the houses the miners must rent, the stores from which they must purchase their necessities and supplies; they own the land surrounding the post-offices, sometimes the building itself, and control approaches to it. In addition to this economic trol over the lives of the workers, their wages and conditions of work, the expendi ture of their wages, the mine operators for a long time have had control over the politi cal forces and agencies of the state and have maintained their own individual gov ernment on their possessions by means the so-called mine-guard system. By collusion with state agencies, the mine operators had been seeking to direct foreign immigra tion to the West Virginia coal mining districts, evidently in order that they might maintain on oversupply of labor and thus to render the workers practically relpless. Such were the conditions against which th miners of West Virginia rebelled in 1912. After an intense struggle entailing suffering, hardships, and loss of life, peace has at las been secured with recognition of the right to organize, increased wages, and improved working conditions. During the course of the struggle, issues were raised which diverted attention from the immediate objec tives of the miners to larger matters of fundamental importance to all workers and We refer to the to all liberty-loving people. subordination of civil government to the military and civil courts to a military commission with the function of a court-martial This was done in defiance of the Constitu tion of the United States which guarantees to the citizens of every State the right trial by jury and the constitution of the State of West Virginia which absolutely prohibits the suspension of the writ of ha beas corpus and the declaration of martial law. Workers imprisoned according to the orders of a military commission demanded the right of habeas corpus and took appeal That court to the highest court of the state. decided against the contentions of the miners. Judge I. E. Robinson gave a dissenting opin ion in which he declared the military could lawfully be used in the execution of the laws but should not be used to oust the laws of the land." He held that the necessity for military law is at an end when the arrest of the offender in his violation of the law is overcome by his arrest and detention -force should not be applied in finding guilt and fixing punishment. All of the state officers and agents of West Virginia have been so long under the domination of powerful and wealthy interests that the avenues of redress and justice have been almost closed to the workers. However, this uprising of the miners and the light of pub licity thrown upon corruption in political offices have roused the honest, decent citizens to a realization of their duty. Investiga tion of corruption in the state legislature has resulted in the punishment of guilty members. An inquiry into the charges of violations of the immigration law has been instituted. If the demands of organized la bor and all right-thinking people are made sufficiently insistent and compelling, changes may be forced which will reclaim the people's rights and prerogatives from the con trol of predatory interests which have perverted and polluted democratic government. The subversion of civil, representative gov ernment to military, arbitrary domination

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means the destruction of our free institutions and practices things gained at the If arbitrary irreprice of heroic sacrifice. sponsible government is allowed to establish itself unchallenged in any state, what guarantee have we that the vested interests of other states may not with impunity adopt This is a most serious the same devices?

issue and one of grave import to the toilers who have ever been the sufferers wherever oppression has existed.

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(1914, pp. 103-366) The various different movements of the miners for improved conmore conspicuous this ditions have been past year than those of any other organization. This is due to the intensity with have been waged, which the struggles each instance practically to amounting in civil war; to the number of human beings to whom the struggle meant privation, suffering and losses. Land holding conditions involved in some mining districts have enestablish what abled the operators amounts to a feudal operating system for the mines. They own vast tracts of lands, hundreds and even thousands of square miles in extent on which the mines are located. and therefore The mining companies own that traverse the land. control all roads They own the houses in which the miners live; the villages made up of these miners; the school houses to which their children must go for mental training; the churches which minister to their spiritual needs; the stores from which they buy their and food other necessities; clothing, the post-offices where they get their mail. money orders, and conduct their crude bank ing transactions. Every detail of mining life is under the supervision of the mine operators through their power of ownership. In time of strike the mine operators have the power of eviction and have forced hundreds of strikers and their families to seek shelter in tent colonies, with the consequent dangers of exposure. There can be no real freedom under such conditions of industrial tyranny. In addition to the problems arising from feudal ownership of land, the mine They operators have assumed police power. employ armed mine guards to maintain their In regulations and to guard mine property. times of industrial peace the mine guards serve as police and prevent undesirable'' persons from trespassing upon the land of The elastic term the mining companies. mean all In times

trespass has been interpreted to manner of organizing activities.

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of industrial disputes the mine guards are These increased and more heavily armed. conditions beget violence, and industrial disputes in many of these districts are now The use of armed practically civil troops by mine operators and the power resulting from ownership of large tracts of contiguous territory and the subversion of civil government to military rule are some of the most serious of modern industrial We problems. urge recommend and that the various state federations of labor en deavor to secure legislation prohibiting this brutal practice which is subversive of all industrial justice and freedom.

Strikes, Cooperation in-(1913, p. 345) Executive Council was instructed to appoint a committee to devise ways and means for better cooperation in strikes and lockouts between affiliated unions. (1914, p. 61)

Effort was made to work out a plan whereby power might be placed in the hands of the A. F. of L. to levy, collect and distribute a tax upon each member for the purpose of meeting the expense of any strike or lockout A letter was sent of a national character. to each national and international union reThe answers showed questing their advice. only a few of the affiliated organizations felt the disposed to concede the authority to A. F. of L. to levy assessments upon their members. Convention instructed Executive Council to make no further efforts along that line at this time.

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Strikes, Endorsement of-(1904, p. 242) Mode of procedure by which applications to strike are made and how local unions be come entitled to benefits from the defens fund: Local unions anticipating any dif ficulty, or proposing to make any demand, make application to the A. F. of L., setting forth the demands that are to be made, or the cause of the matter in contention. mediately upon reseipt of this information at office, a competent organizer or other representative is communicated with by mail or telegraph, as is most necessary or convenient. In the meantime, manifold copies of the application of the local union submitted to the members of the Executive Council by mail, with the request for a telegraphic vote as to whether or not the union shall be sustained and become entitled to the benefits of the defense fund should a strike occur or a lockout be inaugurated. When a majority vote of the members of the Executive Council has approved the application, the union is immediately advised that if a strike or lockout is unavoidable, it will become entitled to the benefits of the defense fund. The effort of the organizer or representative of the A. F. of L. is continued in the meantime for an advantageous and peaceful adjustment of the matters in dispute.

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of (1882, Strikes, Investigation p. 9) Senate Committee on Education and Labor had been directed to investigate strikes, their cause and report what measures were necessary to prevent them. No trade unionists had been invited to give evidence. 1883 (p. 10) Convention instructed a committee to present views of the organization and requested all delegates who had griev ances to present them. Invitation (p. 15) for labor officials to testify was received Education from the Senate Committee on and Labor. (1884, p. 16) Adopted request that 300,000 copies of the report on strikes of the Senate Committee on Education and Labor be printed.

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Strikes, Local Union (1917, p. 458) Refused to amend constitution providing for the organization of unions based on a strict recognition of the autonomy of each trade locally as well as nationally or internationally.

Strikes, Mail Signs to Defeat (1896, p. 76) Endorsed bill prohibiting the marking of cars U. S. Mail" when they do not carry any, as it is a cloak for the intimidation and coercion of employes. (1899, pp. 14148) Complaint was entered to the Postoffice Department against the street railroad companies abusing the right of using signs, designating their cars as authorized to carry the U. S. mails. The department answered