The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-14
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
Secret Session to Consider the
Street-Car Situation.
Row Over the Offices-Commercial Club
and the Unemployed-Plenty
of Sewer Work.

The Contra Labor Union held a rather
exciting meeting last night at Mansur Hall.
The whole trouble seemed to be too much
organization on the part of the carpenters
to suit the musicians, and so a d%issentious
resolution drifted in and a little fight en-
sued. The resolution asked to have the con-
stitution so amended that nc trade might
be represented by more than one man on
either standing committees or offices of the
union. The carpenters at once responded
il effect that the resolution was a direct
thrust at them, and that, while there were
several offices held by them, no office had
ever been sought by them. The chairman
Of the beer drivers committee said that
the great trouble with the union was that
a clique had been running things Without
regard to the wants or wishes Of the minor
ity. Delegate Miller made a protracted
speech on harmony, and attributed the losses
sustained by the union during the last year
to this propensity of the carpenters for
Office. He was in favor Of the resolution,
and said II was the only thing that would
bring anything like harmony back into the
ranks. Delegate Minor admitted that a
great many delegations had pulled away
from the central organization, but they rep
resented elements, in almost every case, the
absence of which did the union no special
harm. He was against the resolution. 1t
was then that Delegate Be~issenherz, of the
musicians, got up and very frankly ac-
knowledged that the carpenters we're OK
actly the ones aimed at in the resolution,
and argued that, while the musicians want-
ec no office, they wanted to see them more
fairly distributed among the trades. Chair
man Perkins did not see where he could
get men to fill his standing committees If
he were so handicapped in making appoint
ments, as very often there were not enough
trades to fill them. The resolution was at
last Ia bled.
The committee On constitutional amend
ments recommended that it be so arranged
that no contractor or employer be admitted
into the union. After considerable debate
the amendment was adopted. The commit
tee on credentials found the marble cutters
credentials all right, except that their seal
was not properly attached. Action on it
was deferred until next meeting. The COM
mittee of beer drivers who were appointed
to confer with the bosses about the dis
missai of two men employed who refused
TO become members of the union reported
that the bosses had waited for them and
that three of the committee had not
shown up at the time agreed upon. The
secretary moved to fine each of the com
- III LAAL clAAONAAC 0COINS "
lowed. One man had been sick, and a man
named Taylor had had to go to Greenfield
to take a job of work. At last it was
agreed to fine the three who had failed to
respond and let the other two go. The
two. not constituting a majority of the
committee, they could, according TO the
constitution of the union, have transacted
no business.
The committee selected at the meeting of
the unemployed reported the work done by
them since their appointment, which has
apeared in the Journal from time to time.
The union then went into secret session
to consider what encouragement or in
dorsement the union would give the street.
car employees in their troubles. Before the
meeting began delegate futile, who is a
member of the committee from the unem-
ployed, said that the Central Labor Union
would be for the street-car men no matter
what hey concluded to do, and that all
the trade organizations of the city would
back their action, but that he could not
say how the sentiment would be dressed
by the union. The session lasted until
nearly II o'clock. Another meeting of the
unemployed will occur in the Criminal
Cotrf room n0xf Friday NIGHT