, 1889-07-11
ORGANIZED LABOR.
How 1t Became So Prominent
the WAY 1t Was Done.

Spokane Falls seems to be the syno.
nym of progress. Whatever makes
start within its limits succeeds; Ia what
ever its magic name is attached becomes
prominent.
About three years ago labor organizo.
tions made their first appearance in this
city. Among the pioneer organizations
are the Knights of Labor, Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners, and the Typo
graphical Union. The prevailing prcju-
dice against them was to such an extent
that, when the Knights of Labor were
seeking for convenient place to hold
their meetings, u prominent citizen of
Spokane Falls, who happened to rent
out hall III his building, deemed it
necessary to insert a clause torbiddng
tho subletting of the hall to an organiza-
ton known as the Knights of Labor.
The oIanaation finally found a suita-
Bile hall, and at once began its activity,
which has resulted in the triumph of or
ganized labor. With n membership that
kept steadily on the increase, plan was
mapped out to get every trade and
branch OF labor organized, and to get
them all under some head or central or
ganizaton. This was successfully car
ried outilast November, at an open meet
ing held 10y the Brotherhood of Carpen-
ters and Joiners, to which the Knights Of
Labor and Typographical Union We're in
vited. During the time the arrange
mcnts were made, as well as during the
meeting no organization has had the
least expectation that it may result in IL
step will forever remain the most import
organized labor. This was in tie
shape of set of resolutions care
fully prepared and introduced
by W, II. Galvani, master workman of
the Knights of Labor, to the effect that
it is the sense of this body of union men
that steps be taken at once for the or
ganization of Trades Council, with the
main object to strengthen the existing
unions and to aid III the organization
of new ones.' The resolutions were
unanimously adopted, a meeting was
held the next Sunday and the above
three organizations laid the foundation
for the Trades Council, which is at
present perhaps the strongest combina-
tion OF labor north of SAN Francisco, il
not on the Pacific coast. Through the
efforts of these three organizations it
numbers now ten unions, all under one
head, working harmoniously, assisting
one another to accomplish its objects,
and to maintain n reputation that is u
credit to organized labor There in
fluence is felt everywhere and their aC-
tions are just and honorable The aver
age membership of the unions is about
fifty or sixty, while the Knights of Labor
number between three and fourhundred,
and have also a members hip of ladies
among them Mr.. Galvani serves now
the second term as president of the
Trades Council.
While this was accomplished within
the city limits the knights of Labor
have taken n similar step over the part of
territory lying east of the Cascades
formed Il District assembly, embracing
all Eastern Washington and Northern
Idaho was just lately attached to it.
The headquarters for this District As
sembly are here in Spokane Falls.
To complete their remarkable success,
they have now IA weekly paper, Northern
Light, edited by Mr.. Galvani, and the
fact that they do not stop at criticising
deemed wrong, show TO what degree
they ondcavor to deal justly.
From the above it looks as if the dcs.
tiny of organized labor of Spokane to get
as near the. heights of perfection as it is
within the reach OF human power to
make IL