The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-03-21
BROTHHRLY CARPENTERS
The United Order of Joiners
Branching Out in
Jersey City.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.
Speeches by P. J. Mcclure and
Samuel Gompers---Endorsements
for "The Jersey City News"

Despite the inclement weather last
evening, Cooper's Hall was well filled
with carpenters when, at eight o'clock,
Chairman j. G. Anderson called the
meeting to order, and, in a few well
chosen remarks, introduced MI. P. J.
Mcclure, General Secretary of the
United Order of Carpenters and Join
ers of North America. Mr.. Mcclure
said
II came here tonight to appeal to
non-union men. Our organization is
one that appeals to unionist and non
unionist. 1t has the combined merit
of being both protective and bene-
fetal. In the five years it has been in
existence it has paid out 1924, 600 in
sick, disability and funeral benefits.
We have never lost a strike, but have
compromised two. We pursue a
policy of Cancellation where pos
sible, and the strike with us is
a deauae7. resort. We believe in perfect
autonomy and self regulation of the
affairs Of trade unions; an d, therefore
while we approve of the Knights of
Labor as an educational institution,
and believe that as such, it exerts a
beneficial influence, we maintain that
when it has attempted to fulfill the
functions of a trade union it has
proved a dismal failure because of the
system which it follows, of allowing
horse-shoers and tailors and men Of
different occupations to interfere in
controversies between employer and
employee when the would-be medi-
ators have not the slightest profess
sional knowledge of the difficulties
requiring adjustment"
MI. Mcclure tn en- went on to con-
trast the condition of the carpenter
when the Brotherho cd was organized
and his condition now, and showed
the immense improvement that had
been made by the trade organization.
He cited as an instance of the neces-
sity of organization, that some years
& when the g hod-carriers of
Baltimore were organized and the
carpenters of that city were not, the
hod-carriers received $3.50 and the
carpenter $3.50 and $1.75 per day.
Mr.. Mcclure continued in this strain
for some time and closed with a fer
vent appeal to all to join the union.
Samuel Gompers, President of the
American Federation of Labor, was
the next speaker, and in a closely-fol-
lowed, earnest speech showed the ne
cessity of united action upon the part
of wOrkingmen that they might be
uplifted in the social scale.
'sWe must reach down to the lowest
stratum said he, land help those
who are lower down than we are, up,
for by helping them we help ourselves.
/ hope the day will come when the
working people of the country will be
welded together in harmony in the or
CARNATIONS of their trade, and thus
deprive the unfair employer of that
potent and convincing argument
Gentlemen, if my wages don't suit
you you can go; there are plenty of
men willing to take your positions l
presume you see the force of that
argument. / hope that your meeting
tonight will prove a success and that
you will gain in numbers so that the
carpenters of Jersey City will take
their place on a footing of equality
with their brethren in the other large
cities of the country
President Gompers asked those who
were present to support THE NEWS, as
it was fair in its treatment of labor
matters and treated its W employees
in o manner deserving praise.
P. w. Brick, OF Brooklyn, spoke next
and he entertained his audience with
quantity humorous anecdotes and tell
ing SMILES, and when he closed he left
his brother chips as he called them,
in great good hulnor.
John T. Burke, of THE JERSEY
Cry NEWS, was the next speaker.
He assured the carpenters and others
present that THE NEWS would always
print the news in a fair and impartial
manner, and would not use parti-
colorcd spectacles in dealing with
difficulties between employer and
employees.
p. T. O'Hara followed, briefly. and
took occasion to congratulate his
hearers upon the fact hat THE JER-
SLY CITY NEWS was a bright, able
paper, end that it was here to tell the
truth upon all matters.
The meeting then passed a vote of
thanks to the speakers and adjourned
with cheers for THE JERSEY Cry
News.
/ noticed the following prominent
labor unionists in the audience
Building Trades Council; Secretary
James f. Moran, of the same organiza-
ton; Dennis Mullin, G. Van Houten,
Frank r. Vreeland, of Bayonne;
Thomas Flanagan, President Stewart,
of the Painters Union. and Duncan