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Show What Federation of Labor Hns Done. Home jenrs ngo the Knights of Labor numbered 1 000 000, but now their mem-bershlp mem-bershlp has fallen below 200 000 Tho American Federation of Labor Is credited credi-ted nt the present time with SWOOO members On more than one occasion this body his averted the paral)sls of business which would follow a general strike. At Chicago, In 1S1I, for In stance, when the Amerlcin Hallway union demanded a general or sympi-thetlo sympi-thetlo strike nf nil mechnnlcs the executive exec-utive committee of the American Federation Fed-eration rejected the demand Again In 1101, when the Amalgamated Assoela tlon of Iron, Bteel nnd Tin Workers asked for a s)mpathetlc strike, bellev-lng bellev-lng thnt with such assistance they would be able to coerce the United States Steel corporation, the American Federation of Labor refused to comply with their request. These fuels and tig-ures tig-ures Indicate that, except In a few trades American labor organizations have hitherto been too weak to dictate terms to their emplo)ers, an secondly, second-ly, that the dangerous power of ordering order-ing a general or s)mpathetlc strike has been sparingly exercised It Is the pru. dent course pursued by the American Federation of Labor which has led many onlookers to hope, If not to believe, be-lieve, that the United Mlne-Workers will keep the promise made by Mr. Mitchell In their nnme the promise to abide for three cnrs by the decision rendered by a majority of tho commission commis-sion of arbitration appointed by Mr. Itooscvelt Harper's Weekl). |