Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-11
The Federation Of Labor.
rHB MOVEMENT AMONG woRKINGMEN HRRE-wHl
IL IL PRaPosRn 10 ma TALK WITH A nEIRGATK

rHB MOVEMENT AMONG woRKrNGMEN HERE-wHAr
II 10 PROPOSED TO Do-ATALK WITH DELEGATE.
For some weeks past the representatives of the
various mechanical branches OF business In this
District have been engaged in forming their trades
into associations or unions and in organizing q
central union or federation Of labor. Thus far
about dozen organizations have elected dele
gates to the "feieration," and within a few weeks
it Will be fully organized. At the meeting In
TiInms' hall Thursday night Mr.. EdmonStOn pre-
sided, and the carpenters tallors pasterers, stone
cutters 1.-TWO branches sail makers, brichl lyerS
paper hangers, hod carriers and telegraph oper-
atOrs Were represented a general iScusSioh was
mad. IN which reports from the unions ia Chicago
and New York were read showing That they are
ia more GOurisbtng condition than they have
been for twenty years.
WHAT A DELEGATE SAYS.
One OF the delegates said to STAR reporter that
the federation viii be OF great advantage to the
workingmen generally, for through it the
mechanics Will be kent informed OF the
state OF trade in different sections or
the country, with the prices paid, etc;
that it can he. and he hopes it will be, the means
Of bringing about aud maintaining amicable re-
lations between employers and employees, and, In
Short that II can hind Will be. the means OF eie-
waiting and improving the condition nj the working
men. He remarked that there is not much going
on among the tr!des--espa ciaiiy those en-
gagged in building. The brickhyers, however,
have been able TO work almost every Week this
season.
PROSPEROUS SEASON FOR TAILoRs.
"Merchant tailoring" said the delegate, refer
ring To bis own trade, sis good deal better than
1t ever was before In this month. You know that
January has been looked on as one OF the dulleSt
months heretofore, but 1t was not so this year.
There has been demand here for first-claSS jour-
neymen. and they are scarce all through the cOun-
try. The people seem to be getting more tasteful
In dressing, and So they patrOniZe the merchant
tailor"
SUCCESSFUL PL AsTERERs STRIKE.
"By the way" continued the delegate, some plas-
terers here were successful a few weeks sin ce.
They were working for a man who attempted to
put 'scabs" on the work and they struck. The con-
sequence was that the party could not get all his
work done as it should be done, and rather than
run the risk he dropped the "scabs' The public
OF Milwaukee have helped the cigar makers there
In their strike. They had been out for eight
months, and the public siding with the union, gave
mp patrOnZlng the houses which refused the prices.
The union prepared stamp to be used by the
manufacturers paying the union wages, and now
the wages and using the union stamps. Only one
OF the large houses is now standing out Labor all
over the country is organizing, and to-day there
are IA assemblies, federatiOnS, or unions orga-
nized and in good working condition. So when we
are FULLY organized we Will not be alone"
NOT AN "AGITATIoN" MOVEMENT.
The inquiry was made by the reporter whether,
when the federation was organized, the next thing
would be agitation as to wages. The reply was,
"Oh no, not necessarily, but the prices should be
fixed In some trades. 1t Is to be hoped that by
made so that bosses may make their calculations,
there viii be no striking. BY 1udiciouS manage
ment the federation may be made a benefit to all
DO sses as we'll as jours."