Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-17

Thc Body 10 Meet In New York Next
Week-'Thc Delegates from this City
The Objects of the Federation rs De.
scribed by one Of the Delegates.

The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor
Unions OF the United States and Canada, a labor
congress which Is yearly growing In influence. win
held Its annual session In New York, beginning
next Tuesday. An Increased interest is felt here
in the dOlnss OF the Federation this year. as sew
eral delegates VIII go from this city. Last year
the only delegate from the District was Mr.. G..
Edmonston, who represented the Federation OF
Labor OF this city. Mr. A. II. Jones, pressnlan. OF
this city. at the last session OF the International!
Typographical Union, WAS elected rs delegate to
repres mt that boiy In the Federation; Mr. a d.
the local Federation Of Labor; Mr.. E1monston,
Who 5 a member OF the legislative commit tee,
holds over as delegate; Mr.. Jno. II. OBrien will
60 as the delegate OF Columbia Typographical
Union No. lei, and Mr.. Tinker will go as the dele
gate OF the Book binders Union.
This is the third general convent, on the Fed
Grafton has had said MI OBrien, the typo-
graphical delegate frcm this city, when asked by
Il STAR reporter for Information concerning the
convention. 1.-THE first convention was held at
PittsburE and the second was neld last year at
Cleveland. The Federation was originally organ
zcd at Terre aute Indiana. This is the first year
that the Typographical Union or any OF the sep
arate trades unions OF this city has sent dele
gate. The International Typographical Union
has, however. sent delegates"
"What bodies are entitled to send delegateS?
aSfel the reporter.
Every national trade assembly is entitled to
organic .tiGnS are entitled to representation
according TO their number, no organization with
less than 500 members being entitled TO more than
one dclgat. The carpenters, printers and other
trades have national bodies was elected by the
typographical Union here Its delegate. A
wrong impression h Is got abroad that the down.
town printers were opposed to the government
Office, AMI that was elected by the downtown
men. The fact was that received as many votes
Offices"
"What are the objects OF this convention, and
how does IL differ from the Knights OF Labor?'
asked the reporter.
"The objects of the Federation" SAID Mr..
O'BrieD, ''arc the encouragement and formation
OF local trade and labor unions trade assemblies,
and organizations OF that kind The Knights OF
Labor is a secret organization. The Federation
does not exclude Knights OF Labor or any one
open ana public prOcee dlng5 to accomplish work
by legislation. It's prime object Is to secure legs-
lation beneficial &c labor ana labor organizations
The last convention discussed free trade, the H.
nesa question and other matters OF interest to
wOrkingmen, but was not unit on any o. these
questions except in the case OF the Chinese ani
the enforcement OF the eight-hour law. They see
the necessity OF organizing to protect labor. AS
IL is now capital is protected and labor is at
ject Is TO organize labor fer its own protection.
The best means OF accomplishing good for work
ingmen Is through legislation and by peaceable
"What is the view OF the Federation regarding
strikes?" asked the reporter.
ject said Nj o'Bren, "but can give 1 my nv own
personal views. think it is proper to have Il
board OF arbitration appointed and recognized by
capital. AS it Is now, the capitalist carrying on
Big business when he gets an extra lot OF stock
on hand reduces by discharges OF employees. The
only remedy Is TO strike and that Is the last thing
we want TO DO Very often men come in and take
the place OF the strikers; some for the purpose OF
getting on good terms with the employers,
others because they do not look for anything more
than actual existence"
1--WE expect" continued Mt. O'Bren, "that there
will be large representation In the convention in
New York. The state OF the trade in the District
Is pretty good. Wages are very fair generally,
except in the case OF printers in private employ,
who average less than any other class OF mechan-
les in the District"