The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-06-01
LAST
EDITION.
LOCAL LABOR LEADERS.
A Glance at the Men Who
Have Directed Organ
lied Movements
Safely.
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN STRIKES.
THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN STRIKES.
Young Men, Most Of Them, but
Steady in Judgment and Full Of
Pluck.
ave do not believe in strikesv'

I'VE do not believe in strikesl"
This was the almost inyariable senti-
ment that came from the lips of the lead
ers and officers of the labor organizations
of Hudson county with whom have come
in contact during the past few months.
And when it is taken into consideration
that the sentiment exactly the reverse of
that quoted above was the more popular
only few years ago, the public is natur-
ally curious to find out how such change
of feeling has been wrought
THE JERSEY CITY NEWS is able to give
the information.
The reason lies in the fact that the fire
eating element which was in advance a
few years ago has been relegated to the
rear. New men have taken the leader
ships thus vacated, and, profiting by the
disastrous lessons of the past, have ar
rived at the sensible conclusion that the
only way in which labor organization
can be managed successfully is by the
introduction of strictly business methods.
The men who represent the workers Of
Jersey City at the present time are nearly
all young, but the wisdom of their leader
ship is proven by the fact that in the
building trades they gained nine hours
last spring without strike, and that the
clerks and statesmen of the city are now
enjoying the benefits of early closing, and
this was also brought about by wise and
conservative action on the part of Hud-
son county's labor leaders.
A GLANCE AT THE LEADERS.
And who are these leadersa
Well, the first to be brought to public
notice is Charles Shugru. He is the pre-
siding officer of the Jersey Association,
District Assembly of the Knights of
Labor, which has within its ranks fully
One-haf the organized workingmen of
the city. Mr.. Shugru is young man,
about twenty seven years of age, of
medium height, a blonde. and clean
shaven. He is fair speaker, but his
talent is most conspicuous as an organ
iZer.
The secretary of the Jersey Association
is George Gruber, who makes cigars for
his father at No. 303 Newark avenue. He
was born twenty-seven years ago within
block of where his fathers store now
stands. He is an earnest worker and
pleasant and convincing talker. He is
also an officer of the Pocahontas Associa-
ton of cigarmakers. He is TALL well
knit, with a blonde mustache and twink
ling blue-gray eyes. He is good work
man, for as ! conversed with him he
deftly made cigar, which he presented
to me, and as it was a good one / enjoyed
it very much. ~ E NE
Caspar BeckmeYer is the president of
Cigarmakers' International Union No. 49,
He was born in New York City, and is
''talker,n but makes up for that by ac-
lively "hustling" for his organization.
His brother is District Master Workman
Beckmeyer, of Newark, one of the most
prominent workingmen in the State.
II. z; Trapper is the secretary OF No;
is twenty-five years of age. Mr. Trapper
is fluent speaker and tireless worker.
He is the organizer of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor for Hudson county, and
was secretary of the county's Trades As
sembly. Mr.. Trapper is short and clean
shaven and full of "gon
J. G.. Duff is the Presidentof the Plumb
ers' Union. Like Mr.. Trapper, he is also
Young man. He was born in New York
city twenty-fou years ago. He is a good,
logical speaker. He is TALL rather Of the
brunette type, and wears brown mus
tache. He has q very pleasant face.
William Higgins, who was born in Jer-
sey City twenty-five years ago, is the
secretary of the Plumbers Union Mr..
Higgins is noted rather as a worker than
as talker.
John Caffery is one of the plumber dele
is very effective speaker He is tall and
stout, with dark mustache and brown
eyes, and about thirty-two years Of age.
Louis Fackert, president of the News
dealers Union, was born in Hoboken
thirty-two years ago. He is Of medium
height, stout, and wears light brown
mustache. Mr.. Fackert is one of the best
known news men in Jersey City He is
delegate to the Newsdealers' Central
Council, and strong and effective
speaker.
Nathan Borden is the secretary of the
Newsdealers' Union. Like Mr.. Fackert,
he is just thirty-two years of age. He is
not q speaker, but Is a very energetic
worker. He is rather below the average |
height, very slim and wiry, and wears |
heavy brown mustache He is also dele |
gate to the Central Council
CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS.
John Q. Anderson is president of Lodge |
SSA of the United Brotherhood of Car |
penftrs and Joiners. Mr. Anderson is tall |
and wears light brown mustache. He is |
about twenty5seyen years of age, a good |
talker and tireless worker
George Wilcox is president of that |
branch of the Brotherhood which meets |
on the Hill. Mr.. Wilcox is a better Or |
ganizer than talker. He is about thirty |
1fve years of age, ruddy and stout.
hn0Qey heeSncu, WHO ~ also carpen-
center, is the president of the Building |
Trades Council and a veteran Of labor |
organization. Mr.. Keeshen is nearing the |
fifty line in age, is tall and powerful in |
build, and wears gray moutache. He is |
not talker, but works hard for the |
Council
p. IT. O'Hara is the carpenterorator and |
one of the best known labor men in Hud- |
son County. Mr.. O'Hara is about forty /
years of age, very tall, with hair and |
mousfAch that are beginning to show |
the .'siIwer 'mong the gold.
John Callahan, of the Tin and Sheet |
Iron Workers, Is an old soldier in the |
labor cause. He has filed all the posi- |
tions of honor In his organization. Mr.. |
Callahan has turned the forties, and his
brown hair and beard are silyering, but
causeaS ever.
james Stuart, the presiding officer of