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HAS THE DEMONSTRATION SOLVED THE PROBLEM?

RESIDENT Gompers submitted to

the Executive Council a ccmmunication addressed to him by Chester M. Wright, managing editor of the New York Call, which contained a copy of the proclamation issued by the committee of the Socialist Party urging the workers of the country to join unemployment demonstrations on February 12. Mr. Wright asked if the American Federation of Labor could not issue scme scrt of a proclamation to the country.

President Gompers was directed to prepare a reply to Mr. Wright declining to co-operate along the lines suggested and informing him that the A. F. of L. is working along well defined lines to bring relief to the unemployed.

Fresident Gompers submitted the following reply, which was approved by the E. C. and ordered sent:

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444 Pearl Street, New York City. DEAR SIR: Your favors of the 6th and 14th instant came duly to hand. The receipt of the first was duly acknowledged, but owing to my attendance upon important business elsewhere the subjectmatter of which you wrote could not be given earlier attention.

Irasmuch as the matter of which you wrote was suggested for the consideration of the E. C. of the A. F. of L., I referred it to my associates who have been in session at headquarters of the A. F. of L. during this entire week.

The E. C. of the A. F. of L. requests me to say that they, like all other thoughtful, humanityloving men, feel keenly the unemployment of one man or woman, and much more the unemployment of large numbers who suffer through no fault of their own. We realize the fact that to every unemployed man who is willing to work all the progress of the world is a hollow mockery.

With the organized labor movement of America it is not a question of realizing the condition of unemployment or of failure to do our full share in the premises to meet the situation, but it is of greater importance to our movement and the toilers, both the employed and the unemployed, how best to endeavor to meet the situation.

The proposition which you make is to meet the situation by holding meetings and demonstrations. Now we are not at all averse to meetings, demonstrations, and agitation, on the contrary much of our effort is devoted to that line of activity in the hope of creating a better understanding among our fellow workers of their rights and of their duties, of the obligation they owe to themselves, and to each

other to help bear each other's burdens by uniting organizing, federating and fraternizing, so that each shall do his level best to relieve and to help bear each other's burdens.

It is quite true that what the American organized labor movement has done has not eliminated unemployment, but that it has done much to minimize it every student and observer must admit. If you doubt it. read the article which you published recently from the pen of Robert Hunter.

Some years ago I gathered data from the officers of the labor movement in which was shown the many advances made in reducing hours of laber, which were primarily due to the movement inaugurated by the A. F. of L. when it declared for the eight-hour workday in 1886. The unfortunate ending of that movement is perhaps as well known to you as to me. But that data is not now representa tive of our continued progress. I have in the recent past made an inquiry as to the progress of the movement for the shortening of hours of labor and I hope soon to be in a position to make that informa tion public. Let me say that there have been many organizations which have reduced their hours of labor from 16 per day to 10, 9, and in a few instances 8; others from 12 to 8; still others from 8 to and some have established a five-day week and the abolition of all work one day in the week. In one trade and in a large number of establishments the men have established four-shift systems in order to find employment for men who would otherwise be unemployed. It is a common practice among the workers in the trade union movement to shar equally in the work to be performed with all ther fellow workmen rather than to see half go unem ployed.

The influence of all this has been not only to reduce the hours of labor for the organized, but it has found its reflex in actual operation even among the unorganized. Your attention is further called to the fact that this benefit applies not only to the skilled but to the unskilled. Read the roster of organizations affiliated to the A. F. of L., and you will find a number of organizations which by their very title and make-up and character of work consist of unskilled and common laborers, but they have manifested some skill and the intelligence to make associated effort, organizing, temporarily making sacrifices, to secure permanent betterment.

Through the organized labor movement nëtionally and in many localities in addition to what I have already indicated, the movement is in fuli swing for the undertaking of necessary and beneficent public work, if not to eliminate entirely at least to minimize to the smallest degree suffering which may exist. So that you will observe we are not

lacking in sympathy, understanding, co-operation, and effective work to accomplish practical results. If demonstrations, as you propose, could meet the present situation and solve it there would be no hesitancy on the part of the E. C. of the A. F. of L. to co-operate, but to follow the leadership of any one or any body of men when the matter presented to us is only agitation for agitation purposes alone, without any practical results accruing, we must respectfully decline to permit our movement to be used for any such purpose.

If you can suggest or propose any practical

plan other than that which we have done and are endeavoring to do, let us have it, and in perfecting the project you may count upon willingness and earnestness and zeal little realized or understood by those who are unacquainted with the real, redblooded, aggressive trade union movement, struggling for right and for justice for all the toilers.

I thank you for the information that the one purpose of the New York Call is to be of service. Very truly yours,

SAMUEL GOMPERS,

President. A. F. of L.

TAILORS! HEED THE UNANIMOUS VOICE OF

B

LABOR!

ECAUSE of the critical situation now prevailing

in the tailoring and garment making industry and for the correction of any misstatement that may be made in reference to the situation, attention is called to an official communication, signed by each member of the Executive Council. The letter was prepared and sent after the Executive Council had considered the unwarranted action of the so-called "Tailors' Industria' Union," in violating the unanimous decision, direction and declaration of the Philadelphia Convention by giving recognition and encouragement to seceding garment workers.

The Executive Council letter shows that a request was made that the letter be published in The Tailor, for the information of the workers concerned. Up to this time the letter has not appeared in that journal, but, on the contrary, each issue has contained misrepresentation and attacks on the American Federation of Labor and its officers. It is therefore necessary to publish this communication in the AMERICAN FEDERATIONIST, the official magazine of the A. F. of L.

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 15, 1915. Mr. E. J. BRAIS, Secretary,

Journeymen Tailors' Union of America, 1595 E. 67th Street, Chicago, Ill. DEAR SIR AND BROTHER: At the meeting of the Executive Council of the A. F. of L., being held in this city, the officers of the United Garment Workers of America officially brought to their attention the action of your organization since the close of the Philadelphia Convention of the A. F. of L., November 9-21, 1914, in so far as it is in violation of the decisions and action of that convention, upon the subject-matter of your organization and the seceding faction from the United Garment Workers of America. Substantially the entire matter is as follows.

You are aware that the Executive Council of the

A. F. of L. reported upon the subject-matter of the action of your organization as follows:

Unwarranted Extension of Jurisdiction and
Title-Journeymen Tailors

It becomes our regrettable duty to call your attention to a very serious condition of affairs which has arisen, of an affiliated organization assuming a title which is wholly a misnomer and in direct conflict with the constitution of the A. F. of L., Article IX, Section 11, which requires that before an affiliated organization can change its title or extend its jurisdiction, it must receive the approval of the A. F.of L. We refer to the Journeymen Tailors' Union of America, the smallest organization in the tailoring and garment working industry, which has assumed the title of "The Tailors' Industrial Union," and with it jurisdiction over the garment working industry. The organizations affected are the United Garment Workers of America, with a membership of 60,686; the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, with a membership of 70,716-that is, a total membership of the two organizations of 131,402, and then the Journeymen Tailors' Union, with a membership of 12,000. Now, as we have stated, the Journeymen Tailors' Union not only unwarrantably and against the laws and practices of the A. F. of L., but against the interests of the entire tailoring or garment working industry, assumes the title of "The Tailors' Industrial Union," and claims jurisdiction over the entire tailoring and garment working industry.

The officers of the A. F. of L. have by the constitution been compelled to refuse to recognize the Journeymen Tailors' Union under the assumed title, "The Tailors' Industrial Union." Secretary Morrison under our direction accepted per capita tax and issued receipts therefor to the Journeymen Tailors' Union of America, and these receipts have been accepted.

We all recognize that if there is to be an assumption of extended jurisdiction in a trade, it must necessarily be accomplished with the

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consent of the other organizations of the industry which are so closely akin.

It is our belief that a closer alliance, perhaps amalgamation, should be established among the organizations in the tailoring and garment industries, so that the interests of all may be better protected and promoted, but this desirable end can be properly consummated only by the co-operation and consent of all three unions at interest, and not by change of title and extension of jurisdiction by one union. That report was referred to the Committee on Executive Council's report, which, after much consideration, reported as follows to the convention: Unwarranted Extension of Jurisdiction and Title-Journeymen Tailors

Under the above caption on pages 138 and 139 of the Executive Council's report will be found a report of the action of the Journeymen Tailors' Union in changing its title to "The Tailors' Industrial Union," and extending the jurisdiction of that organization to include all workers employed in the garment or needle industries. The Executive Council firmly and strongly rebuked the Journeymen Tailors' Union for its unwarranted action and unjustifiable assumption of extension of jurisdiction.

Your committee heartily concurs in the action of the Executive Council, and fully endorses the rebuke therein contained for the Journeymen Tailors' Union, and we would further recommend that the Journeymen Tailors' Union be directed by this convention of the American Federation of Labor to immediately resume its former title, that of the Journeymen Tailors' Union of America, and to cease at once all its efforts to operate under its unwarranted and unjustifiable assumption of extended jurisdiction, and that the Executive Council be instructed to notify all the affiliated national and international organizations, and through them the local unions of the country and the state and central bodies and directly affiliated organizations of this action to the end that the American labor movement be apprised of the attitude of the A. F. of L. in regard to this unjustifiable action of the Journeymen Tailors' Union, and thereby afford the greatest publicity possible, to the end that the other national and international organizations of garment or needle workers will not suffer by reason of the course pursued by the Journeymen Tailors' Union.

That report and recommendation of the committee after considerable discussion was amended so as to extend the time of full compliance in so far as title and jurisdiction is concerned to April 1, 1915, and in that form it was adopted.

You will recall that a number of persons came to the Philadelphia Convention claiming to be officers of and delegates from the "United Garment Workers of America." They had what purported to be credentials signed by S. Hillman and Joseph Schlosberg, President and Secretary of the alleged "United

Gament Workers of America." The Committee on Credentials, to which the entire matter was referred, reported to the convention as follows:

There was turned over to your committee a document from an organization calling itself the "United Garment Workers of America." On its face the document bears its own refutation "The United Garment Workers of America" represented by Thomas A. Rickert, as its president, and B. A. Larger, as its secretary, is the organization affiliated to the A. F. of L.. the officers of which have been in communication with the A. F. of L. covering a period of many years. The persons signing their names as president and secretary to this document purporting to come from the "United Garment Workers of America," are not known to the A. F. of L. as such officers.

President Rickert and Secretary Larger of the United Garment Workers of America have sent in the credentials of the duly elected delegates of the United Garment Workers of America. Desirous of ascertaining the full facts in the case. we heard the representatives of the United Garment Workers of America, and a representative of the claimants to recognition as the United Garment Workers of America, and what was disclosed to your committee is the fact that these claimants represent a number of seceding garment workers from the organization of the United Garment Workers of America; that these garment workers by their acts of secession have voluntarily alienated themselves from membership in and rights to the United Garment Workers of America and the A. F. of L., and we, therefore, find that they are not entitled to recognition by this or any other body of organized labor. We find further that President Thomas A. Rickert and Secretary B. A. Larger are the duly elected and accredited officers of the United Garment Workers of America, and that only such credentials signed by these officers are entitled to consideration and favorable action by this convention.

For these reasons your committee has recommended the seating of the following as delegates representing the "United Garment Workers of America:"

Thomas A. Rickert, B. A. Larger, M. Schwarz. V. Altman and Margaret Daley.

That report of the Committee on Credentials was adopted by the convention by a unanimous vote.

In the official journal of your organization, The Tailor, issued December 8, 1914, is contained a statement that the executive board of your organization had under consideration at that writing an agreement with "The United Garment Workers of America, represented by S. Hillman, President, and Joseph Schlosberg, Secretary," which supposedly recognizes and undertakes to make an alliance with an organization which the convention of the A. F. of L. by unanimous vote declared to be—

seceding garment workers from the organization of the United Garment Workers of America,

that these garment workers by their acts of secession have voluntarily alienated themselves from the membership in and rights to the United Garment Workers of America and the A. F. of L., and we, therefore, find that they are not entitled to recognition by this or any other body of organized labor.

As stated, that report was adopted by the convention by unanimous vote, and you and the other delegates of your organization were present and participating in the convention.

In a later issue of The Tailor, the official journal of your organization, you announce that the proposition or agreement entered into with the seceders from the bona fide United Garment Workers of America has been adopted and that by that action you undertake to form an organization of the Journeymen Tailors' Union with the seceders from the United Garment Workers of America, and this in direct antagonism to the specific and unanimous declaration of the A. F. of L. convention that they, the seceders

are not entitled to recognition by this or any other body of organized labor.

The Executive Council, in considering the entire subject-matter, had before it the complaint of the officers of the bona fide United Garment Workers of America, and the official declarations made by you in the official journal of your organization, of which you are editor, and these matters are brought to your attention, and we trust will be brought to the members of your organization for the purpose of conveying the information that the A. F. of L. can not and will not permit the conclusion unanimously reached of its conventions to be flouted, disregarded, repudiated, and action taken in direct conflict with such unanimous action of the Federation. The American labor movement can only make progress and be successful when it and all its parts are honest, open and fair, and a straightforward, honorable course is pursued. The course pursued by your organization under your direction, as above enumerated, has been wholly at variance and in conflict with the declarations and decision of the A. F. of L., an attempt by unfair and unwarranted action not only to circumvent it but to give aid and encouragement to a faction of workers who would secede from, and in that secession undertake, if it could, the disruption of a bona fide trade union affiliated to the A. F. of L.

You are aware that the convention gave positive instructions for the purpose of holding conference and doing all in the power of the A. F. of L. to bring

about more harmonious relations among all the workers in the needle trades of America, and in view thereof the attempt on the part of your organization to give recognition to seceders under the pretense of amalgamation can deceive no earnest, honest, thinking trade unionist.

We would be recreant to the trust and confidence reposed in us did we not take cognizance of this subject-matter and present it to you, and through you to the members of your organization, and to say that we can not allow this unwarranted procedure without a protest.

And we advise you that unless we are informed within thirty days from the receipt of this letter that your organization has conformed to the unanimous decisions and declarations of the Philadelphia Convention of the A. F. of L., it will be incumbent upon the Executive Council to take such action as may be necessary to carry into effect the laws, declarations and decisions of the A. F. of L.

Of course, as editor of the journal, The Tailor, you have the right to use your own discretion, but we believe that in the interest of the membership of your organization, and of the entire labor movement, this communication should be published in the official journal, The Tailor, in as early an issue as possible.

Expressing the hope that more harmonious relations tending to the protection and advancement of the interests of the tailors and of all labor may soon be established, we have the honor to remain Yours fraternally,

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CONVENTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL UNIONS, 1915

April 24, New York, N. Y., National Print Cutters' Association of America.

May 1, New York, N. Y., United Cloth Hat and Cap Makers of North America.

May 4, Louisville, Ky., Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers of North America.

May 10, New York, N. Y., United Hatters of North America.

July 20, Milwaukee, Wis., Retail Clerks' International Protective Association.

August, San Francisco, Cal., International Brotherhood of Compositon Roofers, Damp and Waterproof Workers of the United States and Canada.

August 2, Detroit, Mich., Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers' International Alliance.

August 2, San Francisco, Cal., International Sea

May 10, St. Louis, Mo., Order of Railroad Teleg- men's Union of America. raphers.

May 10, San Francisco, Cal., American Federation of Musicians.

May 19, Buffalo, N. Y., Switchmen's Union of North America.

May 29, Washington, D. C., Steel Plate Transferrers' Association of America.

Buffalo, N. Y., International Union of Journeymen Horseshoers of United States and Canada.

June 7, Philadelphia, Pa., International Fur Workers' Union of United States and Canada.

June 7, San Francisco, Cal., International Association of Marble Workers.

June 8, St. Louis, Mo., United Powder and High Explosive Workers of America.

June 14, Washington, D. C., International Stereotypers' and Electrotypers' Union of North America.

June 14, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen of America.

June 14, San Francisco, Cal., Hotel and Restaurant Employes' International Alliance and Bartenders' International League of America.

June 17, New York, N. Y., White Rats Actors' Union of America.

June 21, Chicago, Ill., Amalgamated Glass Workers' International Association.

June 21, Buffalo, N. Y., Boot and Shoe Workers' Union.

July Atlantic City, N. J., National Brotherhood of Operative Potters.

July 5, New York, N. Y., Piano, Organ, and Musical Instrument Workers' International Union of America.

July 5, Chicago, Ill., International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes of America.

July 17, Holyoke, Mass., American Wire Weav ers' Protective Association.

July 19, Philadelphia, Pa., International Steel and Copper Plate Printers of North America. July 19, of America.

-, Upholsterers' International Union

August 2, East St. Louis, Ill., Glass Bottle Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada.

August 2, Cincinnati, Ohio, International Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen.

August 3, Detroit, Mich., International Glove Workers' Union of America.

August 9, Los Angeles, Cal., International Typographical Union.

August 16, San Francisco, Cal., International Photo-Engravers' Union of North America.

September,——————, International Union of
Carriage, Wagon and Automobile Workers of North
America.

September -
San Francisco, Cal., American
Brotherhood of Cement Workers.

September -, Bangor, Pa., American Brotherhood of Slate Workers.

September 6, San Francisco, Cal., National Federation of Post-office Clerks.

September 9, Boston, Mass., Spinners' International Union.

September 13, Rochester, N. Y., Amalgamated Association of Street and Electric Railway Employes of America.

September 15, Minneapolis, Minn., Brotherhood of Railroad Freight Handlers.

September 17,

—, Pocket Knife Blade Grinders and Finishers' National Union.

September 20, San Francisco, Cal., International
Association of Bridge and Structural Iron Workers.
September 20, San Francisco, Cal., Coopers' In-
ternational Union of North America.

September -
St. Paul, Minn., International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of America.
October 4, San Francisco, Cal., International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, Chauffeurs, Stablemen,
and Helpers of America.

Cctober 18, New York, N. Y., United Textile
Workers of America.

November 8, San Francisco, Cal., American Federation of Labor.

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