Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-05
NOT A LOVE FEAST.
The Painters Convention Has a
Knotty Problem 10 Unravel.
TWO LOCALS AT LOGGERHEADS.
The Carbon Iron Works Employs Colored
Men. and Strike Ensues.
INDUSTRIAL ITEMS, ALL OF INTEREST

l
labor circles last night that the convention
of the Brotherhood of Painters and Decora-
tors of America, which opens in this city to-
day, would not be altogether a love feast.
| The convention is called to discuss new
legislation and matters pertinent to the bust
| ness of the organization, but, taking line
through the gossip which is busy at present
with the affairs of couple of the local
unions, it would look as if some little of its
time will be occupied in smoothing over the
differences which exist between rival unions
Every building trade organization in the
two cities is aware that Local Union No. 10,
Of Pittsburg, and Local Union No. Is, of
Allegheny, do not preserve that harmonious
feeling and affectionate regard for each other
which brothers are popularity supposed to
entertain. In short, it is well understood
that the unions named are, and have been.
since their foundation, some three years ago,
rivals of the bitterest kind.
Reference to little ancient history shows
how and when this antagonism commenced.
No. 10 was composed of painters, who had
withdrawn from local Assembly 1897 (the
painters assembly in the knights Of
Labor) some time in 1887, and, with view
of forming a separate organization, wrote
for and obtained a charter from the Fedora
ton.
STARTED THE RUMPUS.
No. Is, of Allegheny, soon after appeared
in the field and also applied for charter.
Against the granting of this charter No. 10
protested, on the ground that No. Is would
only be doing the right thing by throwing in
its luck with No. 10. This No. 15 could
not see, and it finally obtained its charter.
From this date followed sort Of inter-
necine war between the unions A member
OF No. Is was discharged from a shop be-
cause, it is alleged, the Builders League
would not recognize his union. In October,
1887, members of the opposing unions were
engaged on the Court House, and five Of the
No. 10 men were withdrawn by the Building
Trades walking delegate because No. Is
men were at work there. In September,
1888, another member of No. 10 quit work
because there was No. Is man on the
same job. The No. Is man was discharged
and the other reinstated. In 1889 two No.
Is men were discharged from a shop, as they
stated, because they asked for overtime.
Charges were preferred against other men,
bers of No. 10 who worked in the same shop
and they were exonerated from blame.
These difficulties and cross purposes be-
tween the unions were appealed to the Exec.
utive Board of the Brotherhood, and what
was supposed to pass for receipt in full of
the whole matter arranged on the basis that
the two men of No. Is discharged from the
shop should be paid for their lost time.
FUEL TO THE FLAMES.
So much for the early history of the i'm
broglio. It seems-so its friends claim
that No. Is was willing to forgive and for
get, and No. 10-as its partisans declare
was eager to bury the hatchet, when hostili-
ties were recommended as the time for the
election of delegates to the convention
which meets to-day came around. 1t is said
that a tolerably well-known member of No,
10 visited Allegheny and said to No. ID
man: Don't vote for; he is not our
kind, and the quicker such church goers are
out of this organization, the better will it be
for the Brotherhood of Painters and Decora-
tors"
"This speech, which was calculated to be
infammatory, reused the ire OF all denom-
inations in No. 10, irrespective of creed.
Members of every creed met and passed
resolutions instructing the delegates to use
all honorable means to have the No. 10 man
brought to justice before the proper officials.
The Church goers" held a meeting in ALLIE
gheny, later, and decided that if the general
convention did not dispense justice in the
case, they would appeal the matter to every
labor organization; and further. that they
would start a separate organization, based |
on platform where religion would not
have any say"
This is the casus belli that will be fought |
to finish at the convention. It is old his |
tory, most of it, and has already been |
printed in these columns. Regarding the |
proposed changes In the laws extending the |
field Of membership. Southside man said |
to-day: "We will never admit paint max
ers and paper makers to membership Those
men are nothing more than skilled laborers,
and should find no place in an organization
with mechanics.