Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-04
A VOTE ON SECESSION
An Attempt to Get the Brickmakers
Out of the Knights of Labor.
TWILL BE SETTLED NEXT MONDAY
Mr.. Ross Denies That He Rides on Pittsburg
Traction Cars.
PITHY LABOR ITEMS OF INTEREST

A general and special meeting of L. A.
2946, Knights of Labor, brick makers, was
held last night. About 20 new members
were received into the assembly. A COM
mittee has been appointed to investigate the
matter of breaking away from the knights
of Labor and going into the Federation. A
special call will be issued for next Monday
night, when vote will be taken on the mat
ter. One of the members stated last night
that they would stay in the Knights of
Labor, although strong effort is being made
to have them leave. The Assembly has en-
ployed John O'Shea at a salary of SIS per
week, as walking delegate, to build up the
organization. He is working the Federation
scheme, and will do all in his power to get
the local out of the knights. The Assem-
bly, has over 200 members in good standing,
and the loss would be felt in the district.
ADVISED TO HOLD FAST.
At the meeting last night District Master
Workman Ross and Mr.. O'Shea were pres
ent The latter made an address in which
he advised the men to hold fast to their
organization. He said the order was rapid
ly building up in this section, and reminded
the men that their present condition was
due entirely to the Knights of Labor. Be-
fore the craft was organized the men were re-
ceiving considerably less wages than they
are at present. They have received several
advances in wages within the past two years,
and the reason was on account of the organ
ization.
When the District Master Workman had
concluded, Mr.. O'Shea took the floor. He
spoke for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the
tenor of his remarks was all in favor of
federation. He did not come out plumply
and advise them to leave the Knights of
Labor, but allowed it to be inferred. After
the conclusion of his remarks committee
was appointed to find the feeling of the
members and report at the next meeting,
when the vote will be taken. One of the
members, who tried to guage the feeling of
the members, said that about three-fourths
of those present would be against leaving
the knights of Labor.
DON'T WANT A CHANGE.
Nothing else was done at the meeting.
The wage scale will expire May 1. but there
is no disposition on the part of the members
to change it. Nearly all the brick yards in
the city are now organized.
The idea of the assembly leaving the
knights of Labor was freely discussed
about headquarters yesterday. Master
Workman Ross will not oppose the move
ment and if the members want to leave the
knights of Labor they can do so. He,
however, does not like the idea of member
of the order trying to pull others away to
join the Federation. When the per capita
tax was raised at the district convention
about six months ago, great many of the
members of Local Assembly 2946 objected
to paying it. They have since found out
i - H., III Al - Ah4 ,1rt& b. 81
Labor for what they have and will stick to
that organization.
Two new local assemblies have been Or
ganized within the past two weeks. One
of them, the brass molders', held their first
meeting last night They have about 40
members. The other local will meet this
evening.