The Washington times., 1895-04-28
FEnERATIoN oF LABoR.


The regular meeting OF the Federation Of
Labor was held, as usual, last Tuesday
evening in the Hayden building, Four-and-
a-half street and Pennsylvania avenue.
President James F. McHugh was in the
char, and representatives from every
local labor organization were present.
Credentials OF Daniel Donohoe, in place
or Thomas Byrnes, from the JourneyInen
HoTseshoers' Union, No. II, were read
and accepted.
Communication was read from the newly
formed organization of boss BARRIERS, setting
forth its aims and objects, and requesting
the privilege OF having representation IN
the Federation Of Labor.
In accordance with the custom OF the
Fedora t1on, the request was referred TO
the local of the same craft or calling al
ready represented in the Federation.
The employment of union men on the
building now being erected for Mr.. Mades,
on the corner of Seventh and N streets north
west, was then considered. The chair
man Of the contract committee reported
interview with the representative OF MT.
Mades, who had Informed the committee
that a clause had Deen inserted in the
specifications providing for the work TO
be done by union men.
The Federation then took up the special
further consideration of the revision of
hecOnsutution and bylaws
Section by section was considered and
thoroughly discussed, and important addi-
tions and amendments were adopted.
The Declaration OF Principles, as ap-
proved, is as follows:
whereas, past experience has demon
Etrated the impossibility of workiugmen,
by Individual appeals or demands, to secure
q Just compensation for their labor, that
those dependent on their strength may not
be reduced TO pinchiDg economy, which
ends in want when accident or disease
enrorces idleness; and
Whereas, said experience has further
demonstrated that the indifference of the
working classes to the efforts Of organized
intelligent workmen TO reform the abuses
we Justly complain of, can only be traced
TO ignorance (the mother of many chill
dreul, prominent among which are vice,
crime and slavery;
therefore, we seek, through combina-
ton, the attainment OF the folio wing OBJ
jccts:
First. To lift our occupations from the
degrading position Of accepting bare
sustenance as a reward for a life of honest
toll. and to elevate labor to higher plane
of responsibility.
Second. To reduce the number Of hours
of labor, thereby increasing the amount of
WOrk ana Tue demand LOT ldDOT COIItepOuu-
ingly.
Third. To educate the uninformed work
men by discussing questions affecting the
interests OF labor; to render mutual assist
ance 10 each other in securing all just de-
mands; to encourage all who labor in their
efforts to ameliorate their oppressed con-
dition. and the belief that justice demands
equal pay for male and female skilled la Dor.
ITO accomplish these objects we, the
representatives OF the labor organizations
of the District of Columbia, solemnly pledge
our earnest efforts"
one OF the important amendments TO the
the constitution is: THAT all grievances
against persons or firms must be pre-
scented in writing, signed and under the seal
OF the organization making the complaint. y
After debate it was decided not to change
the basis of representation, each organi-
zation, as heretofore, is eutitled TO five
delegates.
After all OF the sections had been approved
the constitution was adopted as whole,
and ordered to be printed.
The delegates from the Carpenters AS
sembly reported favorably on the request
OF Mr.. Solomon to be taken off the unfair
list, provided the proposition as laid
down in his letter to employ union men in
the future was complied with. The matter
was referred 10 a joint committee OF the
Federation and District Assembly 10 draw
up the agreement aud present the same
for signature.