Official and Educational Documents Distributed. The following statement shows that during the twelve months ending September 30, 1914, there had been issued from headquarters an average of 4,110 letters, circular letters and packages per day and 269,400 American Federationists and 1,420,000 A. F. of L. News Letters, as follows: Packages of supplies forwarded by express and post.... organizers and others.... Official and circular letters in two-cent envelopes.... Total 2,509 49,708 68,001 80,176 1,420,000 269,400 .1,889,794 EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE A. F. OF L. THE GOOD WORK CONTINUES. Organizing Efforts. The great things in this world are done by those who see great possibilities in life and in men; by those who recognize limitations and restrictions but look beyond them into what may be. Only as we catch a glimpse of what may be, do we get courage and inspiration for the hard ungrudging toil necessary to bring "it is" out of "it may be." The ideals of those who do the work are what determines the direction, the nature, and the progress of any movement. Many of the better things that have come to humanity have come from earnest, honest lives that are love and ideals made reality. Nowhere is this more evident than in the labor movement. The labor movement is what its devotees and votaries make it. It can be no greater and no less. The labor movement can be no greater and no less than all those in the movement, for the labor movement exists only in men and women. They are plain men and women without special opportunities, yet from them have come so much help, hope and comfort into the lives of those who bore heavy burdens and suffered oppression. The greatest power for human betterment and welfare is the labor movement of the world-the practical idealism of those whose bodies and minds are scarred by labor and injustice disguised as "business" and whose hearts gained knowledge of sad things. Every member of organized labor gives purpose and character to the movement-some have more of influence, some less. Those who have most give most. There are those who after their day's work is done try to carry organization among the unorganized and try to make them understand that organization pays. Who can estimate the value of the work of these volunteer organizers? Who can estimate the personal influence of a life or a character? Quietly, purposefully, unpaid organizers have been doing work that makes the history of the great masses of the people. They are meeting the concrete needs of individuals—the practical part of putting every plan into execution. Each month these organizers send to the American Federation of Labor reports of what has been done in their communities. These brief statements of wage increases, trade movements, labor forward movements, progress in organization, are live matters that make up human progress. Translate them into terms of human values and they loom large with importance. Such work brings with it the reward of fellowship with men and women and the consciousness of having made some real contribution that will extend as far as the life influences of those helped. Organization of Women Wage-Earners. Resolution No. 70 adopted by the Seattle Convention provided for an assessment of 1 cent upon the membership of all affiliated unions to be used by the Executive Council in the organization of wage-earning women. The American Federation of Labor, as the resolution states, has not been unmindful of the necessity of organizing women workers. Several organizations are composed mostly of women and almost all have some women members. It has been necessary for women to enter many fields of industry where they work side by side with men. Unless they are organized they constitute a direct menace to the improved conditions in that industry which men have secured through organization. Unorganized workers anywhere constitute an indirect or a potential danger to better conditions which organizations have secured for organized workers. Training and customs of centuries have made most women more highly individualistic than men in their ideals and practices. Women remained in their homes long after factory production had displaced home production. They have been later and slower in learning the lessons that teach the necessity for united action for the protection of the workers. Since women have gone into the mills, the factories, and the shops, many have not yet learned to look upon their work as a permanent trade. Their work is casual labor while they wait for what they have been taught to regard as the end in life-marriage. For this reason women workers as a rule accept conditions as they find them and make little effort to bring about improvements. They have failed to realize that they are responsible members of the industrial organization and that their influence will either aid or retard progress. They have failed to realize that they cannot escape the consequences of their decision even in marriage, for the economic welfare of their husbands and their children is involved. In other words, women have not been taught that they cannot shift the responsibility of their own lives, and have not been taught by experience or otherwise the value of organization. The spirit and the habit of organization must become ingrained in all workers. Not all men have learned this yet. Some women have learned and have proved themselves staunch trade unionists. More women will learn it in time, but their failure to understand now constitutes one of the greatest difficulties to the campaign proposed in Resolution. No. 70. It has been the policy of the E. C. to promote organization of women by making an appropriation for The National Women's Trade Union League. At its January meeting the E. C. voted to continue that appropriation with the provision that regular reports upon the expenditure of the money be made by the League. Of course the results from the use of this fund will appear in the reports of the Women's Trade Union League. At that same meeting the E. C. ordered the one-cent assessment provided by Resolution No. 70. There was a vast field awaiting this campaign. In order to use efforts and funds to the best advantage and to secure manifest results the Federation selected such industries as had organization or as were in close relation or contact with organized trades-natural points of attack for natural progress. Up to September 1, 1914, eighteen organizers participated in this work-men and women were appointed special organizers. Some regular organizers were instructed to co-operate with this special movement. The textile industry was selected as one of those upon which efforts were to be centered. Organization already existed in that industry. The campaign inaugurated by the A. F. of L. came at a particularly opportune time for this organization. Almost every branch of the industry was affected by the depression prevailing during the summer which was augmented by the European war situation. So unsatisfactory are the standards prevailing in the textile industry that every change in industrial conditions is immediately reflected in the organization. Loss of employment or reduction of hours of employment has been immediately followed by decrease in union membership-the workers being unable to pay dues. In the face of unparalleled difficulties, the strenuous organizing campaign has prevented this organization from losing ground. Organizing work in this industry presents many difficulties. In the northeastern states the textile workers are mainly immigrants who have not yet learned our language or our customs. Educational work among them is necessary as the basis for permanent organization. This requires time and does not afford immediately tangible results. In the souts organization has been retarded by the effects of slavery. Old prejudices must yet be combated. Yet despite the normal and the additional difficulties, despite losses of old members and disbanding of unions, the organization has not lost in total membership for the year. The campaign which the A. F. of L. conducted with the cooperation of the international has enabled this organization to hold its own; it has prevented losses in members, because of the unusually large number of organizers available it has enabled the international to render a greater amount of effective assistance at critical times, and thus hold together unions. upon the verge of dissolution. In addition to these results that cannot be computed, 4,655 new members have been added to the organization. Eight hundred and sixty-nine of these are women. Ten organizers worked in this campaign. Already there are indications that industrial conditions are improved in the textile industry. The vigorous trade organization which has been maintained is ready to keep pace with every industrial improvement and to secure to the workers improved conditions and better wages. The workers will not have to lose time and benefits while building an organization-the organization is ready. The results of our campaign will be even more gratifying when the return to normal conditions makes evident all the results. A spirited campaign in the textile mills of Georgia strengthened the organization and was a most effective element in securing the adoption of the new child labor law by the legislature of Georgia. No more fundamental or important aid could be given to the labor movement than the protection and conservation of the children, the future workers. Other efforts made extended organization among the furriers, stenographers, muff bed workers, laundry workers, candymakers, nurses and their assistants. It is impossible at this stage to estimate the results of all these efforts. In Ilinois three unions were formed of nurses and their assitants. There are prospects for similar organizations in other states. In New York City over 300 muff bed workers have been organized. The spirit of organization has been aroused in these workers. They are stirred by desire for better conditions. In connection with this campaign should be noted another movement which demonstrates that wage-earning women feel the need of organization-we refer to the union movement among the teachers, notably of Cleveland, Ohio. More and more it is realized that women do not live apart from the political, social, and economic organization of society, but that they are responsible members and should share in its burdens and contribute to its progress. What has been done in organizations this year is a mere beginning whose |