The principles on which the American Federation of Labor (q.v.) was founded originated in the practical experience of the leaders of this new movement and in their reaction against the practices of the times. They saw in craft unionism the solidarity and permanence which they found missing in the industrial unions, mixtures of skilled and unskilled, sponsored by the Knights. They observed that the best chances of continuity and strength in a. movement of organized labour lay in formulating narrow and at tainable economic objectives instead of embracing a large and attractive program of economic reform which the trade union ists themselves had neither the interest nor the capacity to make effective. In view, finally, of the frequent and disastrous failures of independent political action, they abandoned attempts to form a Labour Party and sought to achieve political influence by other means. In its beginnings, then, the American Federation of Labor was dedicated to the principles of craft unionism and autonomy, of the collective bargaining that wins recognition of organized labour and advances in working conditions.
To this plan the Federation has consistently adhered. This undeviating policy has made of it a loose federation of about Too national and international unions, each of which retains full autonomy over all of the affairs that are the concern of a modern labour organization. In return each union receives from the Fed eration protection of its charter or of the workers and industrial territory over which it claims jurisdiction. Out of this policy have grown bitter jurisdictional disputes between unions affiliated with the Federation. Although the Federation has usually thrown the weight of decision and influence toward the claimant with the clearest title to the disputed jurisdiction, this has not pre vented far-reaching changes in the structure of affiliated unions.
tain its position of primacy until the formation of the Committee for Industrial Organization in 1935. This organization, led by John L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers, began as an informal committee of 10 unions then affiliated with the A.F. of L. It was organized as a protest against the failure of the Federation's organizing campaigns and its unwillingness to grant full jurisdic tional rights to the new unions in mass-production industries. Its avowed purpose was to demonstrate the feasibility of unionizing non-union industries and to protect the young industrial unions from the attacks of the older craft unions. These purposes the C.I.O. unions hoped to achieve while retaining their affiliation with the Federation. A few months after its inception, the C.I.O. undertook the first of its campaigns, which met with phenomenal success. The American Federation of Labor refused to regard the organization of the C.I.O. and the measures taken by the Commit tee as a lawful exercise of the rights of constituent unions. It ordered the Committee to disband with the threat of suspension from the Federation and eventual expulsion. When the C.I.O. unions defied this order, they were suspended, and in 1938 all ex cept the International Ladies Garment Workers were expelled. The C.I.O. then set itself up as a rival federation of labour, chal lenging the jurisdiction of the Federation in all industries and occupations. In Nov. 1938, it held its first constitutional conven tion and changed its name to the Congress of Industrial Organiza tions. In 1939 the C.I.O. claimed some so affiliated national unions and more than 4,000,000 members.