Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-26
AMONG THE TOILERS
The Washington Building Trades
Council and Its Work.
RECENT DOINGS IN TIE LABOR FIELD
Coming Convention of the United
Garment Workers.
. RAILWAY FEDERATION

A RAILWAY FEDERATION
The Building Trades Council Of Washing
ton is one of the most thoroughly represen-
tative bodies of workingmen that can be
found in any city of the Union.
Its membership comprises carpenters,
soft stonecutters, hard stonecutters, brick
layers plasterers, plumbers, galvanized iron
and cornice workers, steamfitters, electri-
cal workers, painters, paperhangerS and gas
filters.
Each of these crafts is represented in the
council by five delegates, in whose selection
the greatest care is observed to secure men
Of discretion and good executive ability.
Although in existence but a little more
than two years, it has already accomplished
much good in settling disputes between the
members of the various crafts who COM
pose the membership, and between the lat
ter and contractors.
The Building Trades Council never or Its
own motion takes up the settlement of
grievance which may, for instance, exist be-
tween the plumbers and contractor unless
requested by the former to do so, but should
its good offices be invoked, the proper COM
mittee would, under the rules of The council
leave no resource untried to settle the trou-
bic in a manner satisfactory to both Sides
Il
placing a business man or firm on the unfair
list except a last resort. Its members
are proud of the fact that thus far it has pre-
vented several threatened strikes and by
this means has saved an immense loss in
wages to hundreds of the working people of
the District.
The present officers are p. T. O'Brien, pres
ident who enjoys the distinction of never
during the period he has held office having
had one of his decisions questioned Or APP
pealed from; NJ. Wolff, vice president; j.
NJ. Boyce, secretary; l.. Scholes, treasurer
and NJ. d. Rose, official reporter. The meet
ings occur twice month, and are held at
Monumental Hall.
At the semi-monthly meeting of the coun-
ell, Tuesday night last, more organizations
were represented. Delegates were admit
ted from the Steam Filters, Carpenters
Council, Galvanized Iron and Cornce Work
ers and Stone Masons
The delegates from the Galvanized Iron
and Cornce Workers presented a very en-
couraging report of the condition of their
affairs, which was warmly commended and
accepted.
The committee having charge, so far as
the Building Trades Council was concerned,
of the trouble at the National brewery re-
ported that all differences had been set
tied in a manner satisfactory to the COM
mittee.
The council discussed at considerable
length a proposition to appoint an agent to
represent them in all disputes and business
transactions The idea was favorably re-
the subject was laid over until the next
meeting.
The Garment Workers Convention.
Much interest is felt in labor circles in
Washington, as well as throughout the
United States. in the approaching conven-
ton of the United Garment Workers of
America, to be held in Baltimore November
IL. This is in some respects the most re-
markable labor organization on the CONT
nent. having in five years, mainly through
the efforts of one man, Mr. Charles F.
Rechers of New York, who has Travelled
from city to city explaining its benefits.
attained a membership of $4,000. 1t is true
that national organization of the cutters
and makers of ready-made cloaks and
clothing, which are the crafts composing
the United Garment Workers Of America,
existed for several years prior to 1890,
when the present body was formed, but the
organization possessed but little vitality,
and in 1884 1t was completely obliterated by
the Knights of Labor, who were then in
the heyday of prosperity. Clothing max
ers in all the great manufacturing centers
by the thousands united with the knights
of Labor during that year. and were or
ganized into a National Trade Assembly,
the same as the steam filters and members
of several other crafts now are. Great ex-
pectations were formed of what this Ma
tional Trade Assembly would accomplish,
but for various reasons the members were
disappointed, and early in 1890 the assem-
bly, began to go to pieces.
At a conference held in New York city
April 10 of the same year the United Gar
ment Workers of America were organized.
From that day the movement has pros
pered in manner unprecedented, and in
nearly every city where there are garment
makers is thoroughly organized.
The organization has had a number Of
severe fights, notably in New York, but in
nearly every instance has been victorious.
The first strikes were for higher wages and
shorter hours only. In New York the wages
of the makers of ready-made clothing were
extremely low, and the hours were very
long at the time the United Garment Work
ers were organized.
Last year a definite warfare was begun
upon the sweat shops in every great city
and decisive victories were won nearly
the progress Of the various strikes were
such as to cause the legislature of New
York to appoint committee to investigate
the sweating system.
Although the work of this committee is
not yet completed there has been great
improvement in the conditions complained
of in New York and Brooklyn.
At present the United Garment Workers
have no president, and the affairs are
managed by an executive board, which is
composed of Charles F. Reichers of New
York, secretary; A. Harrison of New York,
treasurer; Henry White of New York. au-
ditor; A. J. Felz of Boston, organizer;
Louis Kallen of Chicago, Samuel Gold
man of Boston, Joseph H. Barron of Bal
timore. Meyer Sckoenfeld and Dion w.
Burke Of New York, trustees.
1t is expected that change will be made
at the convention in the constitution and
the present secretary, Mr.. Reichers, who
has been power in the organizat ion elect
ed president.
Federation of Railway Employees.
Ever since the Incarceration of Eugene
V. Debs in the Woodstock, II, Jail he
has claimed that upon his release he would
be able to revive the American Railway
Union, and make it a greater power than
it has ever heretofore been, and, fearing
that he may be able to accomplish this
if steps are not taken to check him, the
executives of the five great labor organi-
cations in the employ of western rail-
roads. viz, Frank B. Sargent, grand mas
ter of the Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen Grand Secretary Arnold and Sec
ond Assistant Grand Master Mayer of the
same order; w. B. Powell, grand chief; NJ
NJ. Dolphin, first assistant grand chief, and
L. A. Tanquery, chairman of the grand
executive committee of the railway tele-
graphers; First Assistant Grand Chief
T nS 10