Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-10-24
"NatioBaI workjngmen's Assembly. ;
PERMANENT ORG ANIMATION.

PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
The delegates from the various trades met
last evening at Baier's hall to perfect the
organization of a permanent assembly or
union-Mr. W. r. Mclean in the chair, and
Mr.. j. j. Meany secretary. Mr.. ]. p. Hamil-
ton, from the committee on the subject, re-
ported a
CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS, ETC.
The pre- am BILE reads as follows: Whereas
the emancipation OF the working classes
must be accomplished by the working clas
ses themselves, and experience has demon
strated the utility of concentrated effort in
arriving at specific ends that in their accom-.
plisbmeDts all means may be adopted not in
compatible with individual rights or the
welfare OF society, and it is deemed an object
worthy of such effort 10 place labor and its
rewards on an equal basis with capital
Whereas the wOTkingmen OF this District
are isolated when they should be united, and
are without an exponent OF their principle
or organization to give an effective voice TO
public sentiment; and whereas II has been
proven cOnclusively that without an identity
of feeling. interest, and Intention in COM
mon the wOrkipgmen of the District OF Co
lumbia must Inevitably be subjected to in
nOvaiioDs upon their rights, calculated to
conflict with their interests, and eventually
tend TO their Generalization and subsection
u The comb ned Interests of corporations and
CO pital: Therefore
ReScirei, That we, the organized working
men OF the District of Columbia, form our
selves into an associated brotherhood 10 be
known as The National Workingmen's As
SeniDly OF ne DlStrlCt OF COlum bla. TO further
advance our interests. s,nd adopt the follow
ms constitution, bylaws, and rules OF order
for our government"
TIE OBJECTS
are stated 10 be Ito unite all trades OrganiZa-
tons and organized wOrkingmen for the puT-
POSE of securing unity OF action and mutual
support on all measures of common good,
dir. CT representation OF the working classes
in muniC pal and state legislatures aud Con
gresS, and diligently urging such needed
legislation as may he to the welfare OF the
INC on Init Sflfn
aud the repeal Of all conspiracy laws enacted
10 the jeiriment OF labor. Each trade organ
izatiOn or organized body of wOrkingmen
shall be entitled to three delegates for one
hundred or less membership, and shall be
entitled to one delegate for each additional
fifty or fraction thereof"
After some discuss ION the constitution, by
laws and rules of order We're adopted.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
In atditi3 IN 70 he oGiseIs elected Brgy;
In mons and Alfred Thomas, vice prest-
dents; John j. Meany, recording secretary;
J. n. RalstOn, corresponding secretary, and
L. +. MahCr. lreaSurer-the following Were
elected. Mr.. f. E. Crump, financial secI etary,
ard Mr.. John i. Suter, sergeant alarms.
MeSSrS- Allied Thomas, :. HaldeInan, and
VIM Spier were appointed the judiciary
committee. The duties OF this committee
are 10 collect and examine all laws relating
to labor, and report violations and evasions.
SYMPATHY RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. j. F. Hamilton offered a resolution.
which was adopted, 'thet this assembly ten
der its sympathy TO the cigar makers who
are now on strike in New York for reason
aLle ages; That we urge upon them the al
visibility OF preserving their organization
against all attacks from cigar manufacture
erS, and we denOunce all laws and the mis-
taken public sentiment which sanctions tue
organization of capital and opposes the or
gaIiZation of labor"
Mr.. Boron moved that a committee of five
De appointed to prepare
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES,
which was adopted, and VIM Boron, J. u.
Hamilton, j. NJ. Stamp, T.. l.. Barker, and ..
T. Chappell were appointed the committee.
COMMITTEE OF JOURSEYHGN TAILoR5
appeared and were welcomed by the presi-
dressed the assembly, explaining the action
or the tailOrs as to forming new bill of
prices, which was considerably more
mOderafe than the one under which they had
bsen working for some years. Some OF the
osses refused 10 sign the bill simply because
the iourneymen had an organization, and
they had been forced to put one or two shops
on a strike. All the regular tailors mad
signed the Dill, but some, who ara not practi-
cal men, refused 10 sign. There We're only
about 80 tailoTs in the city, and about II
belong 10 the union, and although the organi-
eaton was not very old, the national union
OF the trade is strong, and would sustain
them. Mr.. Mcdonald expressed a very un-
favorable opinion of the press OF the city,
and after speaking III not very compl
mentary terms OF some OF the employing
houses here, said that in order that the public
should be fully informed. the j1urne ymen
taiIOrs proposed to call mass meeting for
Saturday night, and asked the co operation
OF the assembly. Knowing that the assembly
was young they did not ask for pecuni4ry
aiG-ine tailOls will attend TO the expenses.
On motion OF Mr.. RIstOn. the assembly
voted 20 cooperate with the TailoTs' Union
Tor ne puipn>e of calling a mass meeting.
ar MesSrS. Ralston, Clarkson, Landvoght
fmmcns and WhitemOre were appointed
The committee.