Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-17
Appeal Of the PIaslerers
TO THE MEMBERS OF TRADES UNIONS IN WASHING
TON CITY.

TO THE MEMBERS OF TRADES UNIONS IN WASHING
TON CITY.
Brother Craftsmen: The undersigned Journey
men plasterers were elected as delegates to the
local Federation OF Trades Unions On the 25,h OF
June last By Plasterers' Association, No l. OF this
city-a society duly organized In accordance with
customary rules OF the trade A majority of
the delegates TO the Federation, present at the
meeting Of the 10th inst, refused to receive our
CREDENTIALS or hear Our statement OF facts, which
we now present through the press to you and the
public You are responsible for the action OF your
delegate, according TO the constitution OF the
Federation, and We therefore appeal to YOU as
fellow craftsmen TO instruct your representative
TO deal justly by US There are 437 plasterers I'm
washington, according TO the census report aud
much less than majority OF them. who were for.
merry organized In union, saw fit to abandon
the regular society as distinctive trade union
ana merge into secret order, known as the
We do not object to any member OF our trade
exercising his right as citizen to join any secret
society, social, benevolent or political Mason
Odd Fellow or know-nothing-and paving hi, as.
mentS as an individual for the support OF such
order; but We do most emphaticaily protest
against their forcing all other men OF their craft
10 follow them outside OF our trade union under
penalty OF being 'scahoed" for refusal
The body or piaSterer5 who assume to stdfs-
grace" Us In that manner in the esteem OF the
workingmen here have lost helr Jurisdiction ouer
car aqe oy Ddiag swaii9wed by monster or
1874, Knights Of Labor" They are O 1nfred as
Sembly, wherein men who have no knowledoe NJ
our trade, or afilation with IL, can be heard and
allowed TO vote On questions In which they have
no interest ~
Plasterers' Union No. have endeavored and are
perfectly willing TO affiliate with other skilled
workmen twhO have pride enough In their own
trade 10 preserve Its Individuality in local and
national federation designed to arncliorafe tie
general welfare OF all the labor Glasses nv nro-
curing proper legislation from the state and ma
Conhl governments We are willing also 10 con-
tribute TO a fund from our earnings to aid our
OrotGer-Inechanics IN Unavoidable troubles that
may arise between workmen represented in the
Iederation ami UNFAIR employers. But we are on
posed teetGtally to being assessed for the snnort
or secret order having secret aims that we cam
not understand without being "oath-bOund.n and
We DENY tagir Ti<ht 10 pass judgment In their
secret ceHncilS on our character Without a trial
or 10 boycott" honorable and upright men in our
line OF business who employ us with our own con-
sent ana pay tie reasonable wages adopted by our
Union equal 10 those received by members OF No.
lSH, Knights OF Labor.
We claim the right (and submit 1t to the iudc-
ment OF every fatr-mindei trade unionist, or IN
tell1gent man OF any calling) TO represent the
OF the district OF Columbia Ia the fedora
uOh OF trace, being organized according 70 the
iorms prescribed by the national union of pias-
terers, which represents, BY common consent The
whole BODY OF 2eo eco plasterers In the population
Our opponents have thrown away the banner nj
the craft. We have raised It up again. and ex-
Seha cordl?i invitation to any member of I.
!; @ .Cta, n. OF L. or any other secret order. who
Is competent workman, and not ashamed or his
calling, 10 join Plasterer's Union, No i. during
tue next forty days; otherwise we may have Ia
fetai1ate oy "scabbingr them as enemies to their
oraoie craftsmen In all trades and we nm.
peal 10 The common sense of every true Craftsman
20 sustain our action.
JOSEPH RosENBEKRY,
A. II. CHAMBERLAIN
CHARLES E CROWN,
Delegates 10 Federation OF Trade Unions