Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-03

some Excitement Occasioued by Remarks of
President Gompers.

L SShAsS A-ASftcfhcHt oSCastoueQ py heh0rko Oh
| President Gompers.
There n good attendance at the mass
| meeting Of the Amsigama.ed Society and the
| United Brotherhood of Carpenters held las:
| night at Concordia Hall Under the call for
the meeting an invitation was extended to all
Union men, and non union men were especially
invited.
There were apparently two factions in the
hall before the meeting opened and it was sny-
gested tina. there might be a row. The pre-
dicticn came near being verified, for one
speaker was interrupted several times and
finally one rian In the audience, who had more
to cay than any other, withdrew, saying he
couldn't stand hearing what the speaker was
talking about. Later a man near the door
cried ''scab," .tramps" and rats" but no at
tention was paid to him.
The Amalgamated Society was organized IN
June. 1860, and in circular distributed at the
meeting last night an earnest invitation was
extended to all carpenters to join the society
The past history renders it unnecessary TO
point out the stability of its management.
while the steady progress made during those
years together with the readiness with which
the society has met all claims. furnishes ample
proof OF its sound financial basis" says the
circular.
WHAT HAS BEES ACCOMPLISHED.
1T would also he simply waste OF time to
give in detail the advantages that have been
secured to the trade by our organization, and
which are now Enthusiastically items OF history.
''Many opponents endeavor to raise an OBJ
lection in the amount of contributions re-
Yuired, but careful observers will at once see
that the benefits held cut are more varied and
extensive than those promised by any other
society connected with the trade.
Every one knows that at some period OF
life ne will have to endure sickness, accident,
old age or death Every one knows that in fol
lowing his occupation he must be prepared to
battle with ordinary vicissitUdes, together with
the inevitable uncertainty of the labor market
Every one knows that. individually, he has no
earthly chance of successfully combating the
majorities Of those foes. What, then, is the
remedy?
AT the end of 1859 we bad All branches
more than $4,000 members. spread over the
British Isles. America, Canada, New Zealand,
Australia and South Africa-with an accumu-
lated capital of over $500, 900"
1t was stated that q total Of So 1924 Cos had
been paid from the benefit fund since the
formation of the society TO December, 1888.
MR.. T. J. INQUIRIES REMARKS.
Dir. E. L. Lomax chairman Of the meet
ing, and after music by an orchestra of union
musicians he opened the meeting by telling of
what the working men had accomplished
through organization and he then introduced
Mr.. L. j McGu1re. secretary OF the u Is. Nine
years ago, he said there were enough car
penters in this city to more than ill the hall,
| and while the hall not filled tonight, he
said there were more present than he had ex-
pected. He failed to find the same general in
terest among the carpenters now that there
was nine years ago. He thought it was because
| they we're not pulling together as they should;
that they were pulling against each others in
terests and were sliding against each other in
their efforts In the first place, he said, the
carpenters must rid themselves OF personal
luminosity and prejudices, and the 700 or 200
| carpenters in the city should become united.
The speaker then referred to what organized
labor had done for the working people. I'm
fortunately, he said, there we're many nom
union men Pin this city, who complain of low
wages and long hours and yet they will not
join a union. Nothing, he continued, would
ever have been achieved had it not been for the
efforts of organized labor. Without organize
ton wages would still be low and the hours
long. The men would all be working ten hours
and none of them would be rec, living more
than S225 per day. As it is many of them are
working from eight to nine hours per day
and are receiving better pay. During the COM
ing season a movement for eight hours is to be
made, and Baltimore and other cities will sns-
tain the Washington carpenters.