Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-13
Desirability of One Of the American
declarations of Labor.
TALK WITH VICE PRESIDENT DUNCAN
Preliminary Correspondence ane
Conferences Already Held.
PRESIDENT M'BRIDFs LETTER

sentative of The Star, said, in speaking Of
the movement to organize branch of the
American Federation of Labor in this city,
II regard the movement as an already
practically assured success, although 1t
will necessarily be some little time before
everything will be in smooth running Or
der. a preliminary conference may. how
ever be held in Washington in the course
of a very few days.
1.-The present movement, as far as the
American Federation of Labor is concerned
has grown out of the action Of the eXecu-
tive council of the A. F. of L. taken at
the meeting Of the latter during the week
of April % Of the present year, when
res olution was passed authorizing the vice
president, whose headquarters are in Bal
timore, to endeavor to form central body
of the American Federation of Labor in
the District of Columbia, either by getting
some of the central bodies now in exist
erce in Washington to unite in the move
ment, or, falling in that. to form a central
body Independent of the present District
organizations. to be composed of locals of
national unions who are already affiliated
with the A. F. of l.. and such other locals
as might be inclined to join the new or
ganization.
Preliminary Conferences.
LAS soon as possible after 1 returned
from the meeting of the executive council
I entered into correspondence on the SUBJ
ject OF the formation of the new body with
some of the most prominent of the labor
leaders In Washington. The responses re-
ceived were very gratifying and 1 have
since made one or two visits to the ma
tional capital in the interest of the move
ment. One or more committees from
Washington have also come over TO see
me in regard to the subject. and matters
are now in good shape for the successful
starting of the new branch of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor as soon as the
proper time arrives, and which is not now
far distant.
ION one of my visits to Washington 1
called on President McHugh of the local
Federation of Labor and had long talk
with him in reference 70 the proposed new
organization. l also talked with number
Of other men who are prominent in labor
circles In the District and found most
of them strongly impressed with the be-
lief that it could be good thing to have
branch of the a. F. of l.. located in
Washington. for many reasons. principal
among whiC is the possible influence that
such dn organization might have with
Congress in shaping legislation for the
good of the members of the societies; of
organized labor. Mr.. McHugh seemed to
think, however. that it would not be best
for the members of organized labor soc-
cites in Washington to enter into the for-
nation of another central body. there be-
ing already in existence there the local
Federation. D. A. 66. X. of L.; the Build
ing Trades Council and the Carpenters
Council.
II then put the direct question to Presi-
dent McHugh, whether it would not in his
opinion be better for the Federation of
Labor of the District of Columbia to be
affiliated with the American Federation of
Labor. Mr. Meningitis reply was that he
did not know that at the present tine it
would, but that he did not care to be iden-
al
movement
Representatives Here Necessary.
owing 10 the strategic Importance of
Washington in reference to national legis-
lation II is very necessary that the Amer-
can Federation of Labor shall have repre-
sentatives there, and as several of the lead
ing organizations have not only expressed
a wish but an anxiety to become attached
to q central body of the A F. of L.. the
executive council of the American Fedora
ton of Labor look very favorably upon the
movement to organize branch of the A.
F. of l.. in the District, or to annex the
present Federation and have that fer the
central body. working under a charter from
the American Fedora ton of La Dor.
In order to make this complete it is on
iy necessaly to get the present organiza-
ton to'reoIganiZe under the constitution of
the American Federation of Labor. which
practically calls upon all locals of afiIiat ted
national Unions to attach themselves to
central bodies working under a charter of
the A. F. of L.
President McBride's Letter.
letter received in Washington today
from President John Mcbride of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor at Indian
arolis says: TT is now generally
admitted by all really educated and
honest men that a thorough organiz1-
ton of the entire working class to render
employment and the means of subsistence
less precarious, by securing an equitable
share of the fruits of their toll, is the most
vital necessity of the present day.
TO meet this Urgent necessity, and to
achieve this most deSra BILE result, efforts
have been made, too numerous to specify
and too divergent to admit of more than
the most general classification. Suffice it
to say that those attempts at organization
which admitted to membership The largest
of others than wage earners
were those which went most speedily to the
limits of movements that won't move; while
of tie surviving experiments those which
started with the most elaborate and ex-
haustive platforms of abstract principles
were those which got the soonest into fatal
and soonest became en-
hausted.
In the face of SO many disastrous fail
ures to supply the undoubtedly existing
solving the great problem, the question
suggests itself to many: Which is
the best form of organization for the peo-
ple-the workers?
Il unhesitatingly answer: The organiZa-
ton of the working people by the working
people for the working people-that is the
trade unions.
Trade Unions Have stood the Test,
The trade unions are the natural growth
of natural laws, and from the very nature
of their being have stood the test of time
and experience. The development of the
trade unions, regarded both from the stand
point of numerical expansion and that of
practical working, has been marvelously
rapid. The trade unions have demon
strated their ability to cope with every
emergency-economic or politicians it
arises.
1t is true that single trade unions have
been often beaten in pitched battles
against superior forces of united capital
but such defeats are by means disas-
trous: on the contrary, they are useful in
calling the attention of the workers to the
necessity of thorough organization, of the
inevitable obligation of bringing the yet
unorganized workers into the union, of
uniting the hitherto disconnected local
un ons in national unions, aiX of effecting
a yet higher unity by the afiiliation of
all national and international unions ii.
one grand federation, in which each and all
trade organizations would be as distinct as
the pillows, yet the sea.
In the work of the organiza ton of labor.
the most energetic, wisest and devoted of
us, when working individually, cannot hope
to he successful but by combining our eff