Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-11
THE COUNCIL OF LABOR.
Arbitration Preferred to Strik es-Rep.
resentative Coles Acknowledgements
Resolutions Adopted.

ieSoiution winch urged the unions through
OUT the country to put into practical operation
tiie eight hour day, If they felt strong enough
10 orins such a result about The unions are
asked 70 report March LIST, 1886, what efforts
nave peen made to establish the eight hour
oay' ana those unions which decide by that
time not to enforce it, by reason of their belief
that they would not succeed, are requested by
the legislative committee to aid those unions
that decide to enforce 1t. Reports were made
arbitration, and all reported that the bodies
wh!cn they represented always favored arbi-
uness ana were opposed to beginning strike
ton then adjourned until to-day.
During HI, the noon recess Representative VIM.
on the questions of interest to the laboring
classes and the legislation that ought to be
c con n oy the national Congress. Upon
was rendered to him.
PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY.
The Federation met this morning at o'clock,
but upon representation that the committees
had been unable to give the time to the matters
referred to them that was necessary. it was de-
cided to take a recess until IL O'clock When
the session was resumed Mr.. EdmOnstOn read
a letter from Mr.. Fred. w. Stems, of the Mil
waukee Trades Assembly, explaining that he
had been prevented from attending the Fedora
ton on account OF some local trade troubles in
that city.
THE Observation-Disclosures OF THE REMEDY OF
The committee on resolutions through Mr.
Enrich, reported series, which set forth that
the remedy of boycott has been grossly abused
SO as to endanger the usefulness of this legiti-
mate ana powerful weapon in the hands of the
working people to protect their rights and in
teres s. that some organizations resort to il for
trivial causes, and that there were instances
when rival factions OF workingmen had placed
oOycott ON union employers or firms employ
Ing union labor. In view OF these facts the
resolution recites that the Federation dscoun-
tenances such proceedings and deprecate it on
account OF the odium cast upon the working
| classes and the injury to their interests.
BoYCoTTING IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Mr. T.. w. Oyster in commenting upon these
resolutions said that it was very important
matter to the wOrkingmen of the District but
had been abused. He did not like this term
exactly, as it was apt to mislead the public as
to its meaning. 1t had its origin from a Capt.
Boycott in Ireland, but what 1t meant in this
country was that where a firm refused to en-
pioy union men a boycott was placed upon their
District was that on Heurichs beer, but that
had not been imposed until after u full and
complete conference with Mr.. Heurich. He
this respect and tile boycott ought not TO be re-
| sorted to unless after every thing had been done
to reach an ainicable understanding.
ONE BAD EFFECT OF BOYCOrrING
Mr.. Sharpe, of Philadelphia said that one
bad result of the boycott to the workingmen
themselves was that when establishments were
placed under the boycott union workmen were
excluded from it, and it was given up TO the
ScabS.
Mr. Oyster, in reply, said that here boycott
was never placed on a shop when the union,
whose members were at work there, did not
| ask for it, If the members of the union made
such arrangements, SO that they could continue
TO WORK there the union was not intertered
with
the resolutions, but that lie had known cases
where unions often attempted the impossible in
placing a boycott and were Obliged to with
draw. He thought that it was very important
that grea: care should be exercised in Its use
The resolutions were then adopted.
LABOR UNION LABELS on CIGAR BOXES.
The committee further reported that the In
ternational Cigar Makers union had a label to
mark their goods, SO as to protect them from
coolie, contract and prison labor, aud that the
Federation endorse this label and recommend
to the workingmen and their friends to smoke
no cigars except those bearing this label Mr.
| u union OF the Progressive and fnterna tional
Cigar Makers union was probable in the near
i ,ua' ana that In such case their labels
ted.
DETECTIVES AND SPIES.
The next resolution proposed that some
measure should be Introduced in Congress pro-
hibiting the Pinkerton Protective Patrol, or any
other combination which acted as spies or
thugs for corporate monopolies for the purpose
OF overawing and intinidating work men who
are peaceably engaged in protecting their own
interests anu rights \ member susxesle ed that
this was not a measure for the consideration or
the national Congress, but came within the
province OF the state authorities.
Mr.. Enrich main tanned that il was n prOper
matter Tor the consideration OF Congress-.
Mr.. ToinsOn said that unless this system was
stepped now il would become aggravated
force which acted as spies, entered into trade
organizations, and III various ways intcrlered
with the workingmen. These armed forces
q led
over all, just AS the corporations do which
employed them, and it was becoming IA matter
OF serious Importance to the work ingmen.
The Resolution was adopted.
RESOLUTION AS TO JUDGE SMELL.
The committee further reported the following
| resolution:
"W hercas Police Judge Smell, OF Washington,
has placed himself on record as bitterly hostile
| to trade unions, having expressed himself in
violent Language toward them when suit was
being tried before him, involving the right of
unions 10 employ pickets during strikes: There
fore
Resolced, That this perversion of a high and
honorable positiOn,pubiicly INDUCED In, should
| be regarded as just cause for his removal from
Ol1ce, and that the legislative committee en-
deavor to i'm press the same upon the attention
OF the President of the United states in order to
secure the suspension of Judge Snell.''
some question was raised as TO whether this
was in the power OF the President, and whether
the proper course for the removal OF the Judge
was not by impeachment Without deciding
| this point II was thought desirable to Call the
| "a
| rate.
MIR. Edmonston inquired If Judge Smell had
not repented Of this language and publicly
withdrawn it,
Mr.. Oyster said that he did in certain way
| by cOmplimenting resolutions adopted at Il
| Chicago labor meeting, which all wOrkingmen
| could endorse, and which were the expression
| OF the sentiments OF all true workingmen. He
| did not, however, think that the correction
| made atoned for the first ottense. The resolu-
| ton was adopted.
The Federation also adopted q resolution re-
guessing all the organizations to indOrse the
handmade cans, bearing the Trademark OF
the National Canmaker's Protective asSOcia-
ton.
CONVICT LABOR.
A resolution protesting against the employ
ment of convict labor upon the public build
ings erected by the state and general govern
ments,as pernicious and opposed to the interests
I OF the WOfktngmen, and that the legislative
committee be instructed to prepare q bill for
| introduction In Congress providing that the
work on public buildings should be placed I'M
der superintendents and not given out by con-
tract. A similar resolution was reported by
| the committee on standing orders, as offered
W Mrs. Charlotte Smith, with the recOmmen-
dat1on that 1t be Incorporated in the other
| resolution.
THE WORKING WOMEN.
! Mr.. Kirchner thought that 1t was important
to recognize the working women, who had also
suffered under the contract system, and the
|