Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03
WAR TO THE KNIFE.

Federation Painters Will Work No Longer
with knights of Labor-A Story That
Shows How the Rival Organizations
Regard Each Other.
It is pretty generally recognized that the
American Federation of Labor is not in the
greatest accord with the Knights OF Labor,
and that the knights Of Labor would very
much rather such pugnacious body as the
former aid not exist. For any time during
the last six months there have been denials
and counter-denials of the intention OF one
organization to wage war on the other, but
story came to light last night which shows
very clearly that war between the two pow
erful'( (and antagonistic) bodies is on; and
on In earnest. The pith of the story is that
the Painters and Decorators unions OF Al
legheny county, which are affiliated with
the Federation, have decided not to work
any longer with the Knights of Labor
painters, comprised within Lacal Assembly
1897.
The local unions Of the Painters and Dec
orators International Union met in special
assemblage some time since, and resolved to
take the action announced above. This res
olution was submitted to the Building
Trades Council, and approved by that body
in special meeting on last Thursday night.
simultaneously with this public announce
ment of the commencement of hostilltles be-
tween the two bodies the first shots will, in
all probability, have been fired. In other
words, the Federation painters are expected
to inaugurate the war on their knights of
Labor brethren to-day.
Many reasons are given for this action on
the part of the Federation painters. The
Painters Assembly of Western Pennsyl-
vania has been in existence since 1877, and
includes some of the Oldest and most re.
spected members of the trade. The assembly
numbers about 80 members, and if the
Federation men carry out their intention, it
will be a fight for existence Of 80 men
against 400. More than this, the fight will
resolve itself into a royal trial of strength
between the Federation aud the Knights of
Labor. 1t is claimed that the Federation
hope to coerce the knights of Labor painters
to join its body, but in this hope it
may be disappointed. The annual con-
vention of the Painters and Decorators
Union takes place in this city on Tuesday,
and whispered that not great amount of
harmoniousness will prevail. There is con-
siderable internal disruption-especislly be-
tween No. 10 and No. 15-and it might
happen that the Knights of Labor receives
an accession of members instead of the
American Federation.
Master Workman Evans was called upon
with regard to what action the knights
would take under the circumstances. He
said:
81 can hardly believe that the painters
and decorators will refuse to work with the
knights OF Labor painters. If they do 1
can say that we will not take their action
with Indifference. If they want to fight
they will find us ready. The Knights of
Labor are too long established here to yield
to any intimidation. We shall see what the
outcome of the matter will be next week, it
indeed anything will come of it. Their
action is in strange contrast to ours when
we sent two men from shop to help Nor
throp on Heinz's new work and withdrew
them on learning that Northrop's was a
struck job"