Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-28
Discussing Trades, Unions.

Discussing Trades, Unions.
PUBIC MEETING UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE
CARPENTERS CNION-ADDRESSES SETTING FORTH
ThE ADVANTAGES OF wORkINGMKN's ORGANHA-
TIONS.
public meeting OF Local Union. No. 1, Brother
mood OF Carpenters and Joiners. was held at
Journeys hall, corner OF I34 and streets, last
night. the president, Mr.. Gabriel EdmonstOn, in
the chair, and Mr. Joseph Billingsley secretary.
The hall was well filled. "friend and foe" alike
having been invited to attend the meeting. The
meeting was called TO order by the chair, who
stated The object To be the free discussion OF the
Merits and dement's Of trades organizations, IL
which those opposed would have equal chance With
those favOring them, aud outsiders, too, should
have the privilege OF expressing themselves
MIR. JOSEPH BILLINGSLEY
led of. saying the subject proposed was so broad
and exhaustlesS q one that 1t would require more
time than he could give to it When the fruits OF
carpenters labor become so Scanty as to render
them little better than beggars, 1t becomes men to
look a.,Out To- see what can be done to remedy
whatever is wrong, and lnfuSe new life and energy
among the craftsmen. This is necessary for the
maintenance and support OF their wives and chill
dren, and to maintain the high character Of the
trade Twenty wears ago. when the wages OF car
penters were 3 per day. the prices OF the neceS-
SarieS OF life Were cOrreSpOndingly low and even
mechanics could make q decent living Now this
state of things has changed. and, while the wages
OF their trade had been in vaciatlng condition,
with very Slow upward tendency. the prices Of
the necessaries of life had been going up steadily
until the carpenter and Joiner could no longer MAIN
tam nlilSSI! anu MS Dtte ones There was better
chance for carpenters then than now, when the
price Is 81. 80 per day. Now they see the need OF
trades unions more than ever, and the need OF their
continual organization and discipline in order to
maintain their rights among the capitalists They
do not wish To be banded together like gang of
thieves and robbers. but like honorable men they
Will strike Tor their rights Can there be any more
perfect organizations than those among the cap
1taliotS. who always stand together, with their
heels on the necks OF the iaboring classes? These
are the enemies OF the laborer and mechanic, and
VIII take any mean advantage OF them for their
own advantage and profit. But the mechanics do
not propose to bite the dust without a struggle
The capitalists Will sit Idle and live out this de-
mand for higher wages until starvation will relax
the nrln purposes OF the mechanic. So say the
bosses and contractors The contractor has no
right TO go into the market and engage to have
Work done at the Rates which he knows to BE much
TOO low the bricks. lumber, hardware &C., have to
DE- paid Tor at the rates asked, and TO make Ii sum
up rlght, the wages OF the mechanic must come
down. This is what the trades unions propose to
remedy, so that the mechanics lIay enjoy the han
plnesS OF their homes and an occasional luxury
with the rest OF mankind. He spoke Of the ele-
waiting INFLUENCES CT trades unions upon their mem
they would maintain their sef-reSpect. The car
penter has rs much right To fix his pay the mer-
chant TO ny his price for lumber, and public Opn-
Ion ana private opinion will be with them.
Mr. GKUEBs, OF PHILADELPHIA,
was called upon, and said he quite agreed with Mr.
Billingsley far he went but he did not 90 far
enough more perfect organization is what is
needed most. Mechanics are too apt to grow cold
and Indifferent and to fail out OF the ranks OF the
be to get qlid pro quo for their skill and maintain
the right price by standing together His obiec-
ton 10 trades unions was that they get frightened
TOO easily, as q class, at the winks and blinkS of
capitalists In the states politics apt to swerve
the mechanic from voting according to his Sent-
greS5 and to state legislatures to enact laws in
stead Oh the honest and rlght-m1nded mechanics.
MR. P. J. MGINNIs,
president OF the national Orga OF carDenters
and Joiners, from Chicago who was present was
Introduce by the chair and made a brief address,
during which he was frequently appltuded. He
said there could hardly be found right-minded
man who did not believe In trades organization
They accomplish more good to the body polite than
many other human organizations lhuch more pre-
tentlotlS and self glOritied. The man who denies
their usefulness may be watched az dishonest
and quibbling pretender. He spoke on the progress
this organization was making all over the country
where he had Travelled. He mad visited the eastern
states and the north, and found general prosperity
among the carpenters and JOinerS' unions Ii had,
unfortunately, been the custom among some me-
chan1cs 10 hold back from the order and keep aoof
These men were the very ones who will boast that
they get along quite as well their neighb0rs who
are in the org nizatton 1t does not strike them at
all that they are dishonest in living off the benefits
OF the efforts OF their neghbOrS, who strive TO be-
come good members and live up TO its principles.
Usually, when a carpenter and joiner remains out
Side the organization he is a scab and dishonest
man.
Mr.. AUGUST DONATE
said that the Efforts of the mechanics in this Dis
trict to organize for their mutual interests had
been of immense service, and hundreds OF men,
women and children have had. and are at this
time receiving the benefits OF such organizations.
he pictured the Inequalities OF life and the hard
ships some are called upon TO suffer, while others
seem 10 succeed in surrounding themselves with
comforts and happiness without much effort. The
carpenters have all the power WITHIN themselves
If they will properly organize ami hold together
The men OF to-day should not forget the rights of
those who are TO follow them. Interesting
10 hx-H
Gabriel Edmonston, McLane Brown, John 2. Rose
and Others