Evening star., 1895-06-15

Of existence, and the three or four unions
tnat survived 1t soon afterward ceased
operations. The trades composed OF men
who enjoyed public places retained their
former standing.
The knights of Labor.
Meanwhile the Knights of Labor as a ma
tonal body were gradually gaining strength
throughout the country, and in the spring
of 1851 organization was attempted in this
city. The plasterers were the first to form
local assembly, which Is the initial body
of this organization. and were quickly fol-
lowed by the painters, carpenters, timers,
plumbers, stonecutters, moIders, BARRIERS,
bakers, engineers and machinists. Under
the laws of the Knights of Labor there had
to be at that time ten local assemblies or
SanlLed In the same neixhborhOod before
a charter would be granted for the forma-
tion of central body or district assembly.
Ire local assembly corresponds to the
county of one of the states. except that it
mas greater and more perfect autonomy
than has the county. 1t has the right to
organize a strike establish a boycott
whenever 1t deems its grievance of sufIl-
Client importance to resort to those extreme
measures. For the purpose of concentra-
ton and strength the local assemblies in
the same neighborhood are banded together
by representative delegates, chosen from
each in the district assembly, and this
body has certain supervisory authority
over the locals, and corresponds to the
authority of the state In the American
government
Beyond the District Assembly there is
the General Assembly of the Knights of
Labor, which Is composed of delegates
from each of the districts in proportIon te
the number of men which each rsDi iesents,
and, meeting once yer, his final and
relating to the o'-.er even as Congress has
over the upf,ed States.
ID. A. No GS.
The local District Assembly. which must
not be understood as having derived its
name from its location in the District of
Columbia. for the name is the same
throughout the United States. was organ
lied in October, 1881, ten locals having
then been formed to comply with the re-
quirements of the X. of l.. charter. The
Washington District Assembly is known as
No. 65 and to laboring men throughout
certain definite significance which is never
misunderstood.
The entry of the knights of Labor into
the local field had, 1t Is claimed by it's
feet on labor in the District, and from a
state of lethargy the trades sprang into
active organization on every hand. Unions
were also formed that did not belong to the
ganization of D. A. sc there was a general
demand on the part of many organized
tradesmen who had no central representa-
ton, either local or national, for an asso-
citation or assembly here that would give
them a representative body which could
enforce their individual demands and lend
aid and sympathy whenever matters
should come to climax in the form Of
boycott or strike.
This caused the organization in 1882 of
what is now known as the Federation of
Labor, but whose full title then was the
Federation of Trades and Labor Unions.
faoa thnr oil
gates from all the small organizations in
the District irrespective of their central
affiliations, and SO today the Federation of
Labor is the common meeting ground of
the unions and the assemblies of the
knights.
Federation of Labor.
In order to accommodate those trades
that had no national representation a dele
CATION was sent from the District Fedora
ton in 1854 to the annual convention of the
American Federation at Chicago, and the
next year. the convention being held in
Washington the local delegates were warm
ly received. But in 1856 there came a dis
agreement, such as seems to be inevitable
at times in labor organizations, owing to
the compieXity of interests involved, and
the District Federation ceased to be a
member of the American Federation.
The convention was held that year at
Baltimore, and two delegates. of whom Mr.
E. w. Oyster. row foreman of the specifi-
cation division of the printing Office, was
one, were sent to the convention, but were
refused admittance Cn the ground that the
District Federation of Labor included rep
resentatfves of the Knights of Labor. This
was a fact, but the chief complaint of the
local labor leaders ia resisting the action
of the national body was that there had
been no attempt to conceal the fact at the
two previous conventions, at which the To-
cal delegates were given seats.
Mr.. Oyster was given credentials to the
American Federation from the Typograph-
ical Union, but he was again refused ad-
mittance. Thus the District Federation
ceased to be represented at the annual con-
ventions of the national body, and there Is
now no connection between the local Or
ganizationS and the American Federation,
except SO far some of the unions not of
the x. of J.. are there represented through
their own national bodies.
There has been talk for few seasons
back to the effect that perhaps it will be
possible in the near future to re-establish
relations between the American and the
District Federations. But there is no def
mite move to that end at present.
Unions and District Assembly.
The unions and the District Assembly
have generally worked in perfect harmony
since they were practically Joined by the
organization Of the Federation. There are
differences of opinion as to which is the
more powerful and influential body, each
being representative and organized upon
somewhat similar system. The District
Assembly is composed of three delegates
from each of about twenty local assem-
blies, and consists of about sixty indi
vduals, vino are elected once a year. in
midwinter, and may serve as many con-
secutiye terms as their local assemblies
desire.
1t is often the case that the same men
who are chosen as delegates to the District
Assembly are sent in the same capacity to
the Federation Of Labor with two others,
the Federation being composed Of five dele
gates from each trade union and local as
sembly in the District of Columbia. At the
meeting last Tuesday evening of the Fed
Grafton there We're representatives from
organizations, nineteen of
them being outside of the Knights of La
Dor.
When the knights of Labor were first
organized it was quite common for assem-
blies to be formed under conditions Of per-
feet secrecy. so that the mere fact of or
ganization was often kept profound mys-
terry in order that the fact of association
with this great body might not become
known. and SO possibly operate to the dis
advantage of the individual workingman.
Gradually, however. the secret assemblies
or CLOSED unions" have been thrown open,
and no attempt is made TO conceal the