Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10
The National Body to Meet Here in
November.
ENTERPRISE OF TIE LOCAL UNION
Statement Of the Objects Of This
Representative Organization.
SOME PERSONAL SKETCHES

advantages of Washington as the place OF
meeting for the coming convention of the
brotherhood. and they did so, with such
success to secure for the national cap
itai the support of every union save one
in the eastern and central states. and more
than enough votes to win the coveted prize.
The unions in the west have divided their
strength between st. Louis, Milwaukee and
Chicago, making 1t impossible for nny Of
them to defeat the efforts of the local I'M
ion of this city.
Less than two months ago 1t was regard
ed as foregone conclusion that the next
convention Of the national brotherhood
would be held in Minneapolis. The conven-
ton of two years since had so decreed 1t.
and the various unions were preparing to
select their delegates to go there.
But about that time reports began to
reach Mr. j. 7. Kelly, the grand secretary
treasurer, at st. Louis, that many of the
members who would be glad to attend the
convention and listen to the important pa
pers which will be read and the discus
sions to follow thought that Minneapolis
was too far away from almost the en-
tire section of the country whence the
brotherhood derives its greatest strength
Mr.. Kelly wrote to President Berger If the
local union here, telling him that he was
under the impression that the meeting
place of the convention would probably be
city.
Energy and Enterprise.
Mr. Berger determined that IL brains and
energy could secure the convention for
Washington he would leave no effort IN
tried to bring about this result, and, call
ing his associate officers into consultation
he laid his plans before them. The latter
seconded Mr.. Berger's suggestions and
promised their support which action was
subsequently Endorsed by the union itself
Immediately Mr.. Berger went to work.
and day and night, even depriving him
self of necessary sleep, he wrote letters
to almost three score of the other unions
or about three-fourths of the entire men,
bership-setting forth the advantages Of
Washington as a place of meeting, and So
Letting the vote of each at it's next meeting
In favor of this city.
The result of these efforts has already
been told in The Star, for Sunday last at
the meeting Of the Labor day conference
Mr.. Berger was able to announce from
information that he had received from
Grand Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Of the
executive board and others that the next
convention Of the brotherhood will be held
in Washington November 11-17 next
The history of the organization and its
officers is OF more than usual interest
Local Union No. %. Electrical Workers.
was organized May 90. 1892, with fifteen
charter members, and is affiliated not only
with the Federation Of Labor of the Dis
trict. but with the American Federation of
Labor which. outside Of Washington, has
over 100 unions throughout the country ex-
tending from Maine TO Texas, and having
a membership Of over 10000. while the
membership of the electrical unions alone
is at least 10000.
The first president of Local Union No
26 was P. A. Defer, who served two terms
of six months each, and was succeeded by
Mr.. Metzel declined a reelection, and was
succeeded by A. Man, who retired at the
expiration Of one term
Mr.. Man was succeeded by Mr.. ]. NJ
president, and who has also served as
press secretary for much longer period.
Sketch of MIR. Berger.
John M. Berger. the present energetic
president, was born In York county, Pa,
April %, 1883. and was taken by his par
ents to Baltimore when he was two years
old. He received his preliminary education
In the best schools, and later entered Loyola
College, where he graduated with high
honors. During his career student at
the college he took great interest in cleo
tricai experiments, and when twenty-one
years old was appointed assistant night
manager of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company. Here he remained for
two and half years. during which time he
also practiced telegraphy and became an
expert operator
Resigning his position with the Chesa.
peake and Potomac Telephone Company,
ne accepted the place of chief of the tele-
phone lines of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
oad Company, remaining there until the
great strike of telegraph operators in 1883.
when, with the great majority of other
knights of the key, he went out, and, also
like many of them, has never since return
ed to the key.
Mr.. Berger was next employed in the
editorial department Of the Baltimore Even
ing News, where he remained for about
eighteen months. when he accepted the
position Of chief Of the test room of the
Baxter Motor Company. an office which he
held until the failure Of the company in
1885. While in the Baxter service he be-
came the pioneer in movement, which
was Endorsed without hesitancy by the
beard of directors of the company. to pay
the employees time and a half for work
done between pm. and midnight. double
7 am. and for Sundays. Prior to that 1t
was the custom to have the employees work
up to any hour that they might be called
upon to do and also on Sundays without
extra pay.
Mr.. Berger came to Washington Septem-
Der %, 1889. and secured employment with
A. u. Burkett & Co., electricians with
whom he remained for several years. He
was among the first members of Local
Union No. &c. and July 1, 1893. was elected
p1 esident.
Efficient Officers.
Vice President John Hebbard was born
in Rockville, Md, and came to Washington
in 1856. He learned the trade with Mr..
Christian G. Schneider and is still in Mr..
employ. He has been mem
Der of the union from its formation was a
trustee for two years. worthy foreman one
term and is now serving his first term as
vice president
Worthy Foreman Henry Phillips was born
in Baltimore February 20, 1854 and on Oc-
tober %, 1879. when but little more than
fifteen years Of age, entered the United
States navy and served until December IA,
1888. when he was honorabiy discharged.
During his service in the navy he was for
a time attached to the United States man
Of war Pensacola. He was also assigned to
the school of seamen's gunnery in this city,
where he served seven months: from there
he was transferred to Portsmouth. Va,
where he remained seven months. and
from Portsmouth he was transferred to the
Pensacola. where he served until honorably
discharged from the navy.
Upon again entering civil life he accepted
a position with the General Electric Com
pany, and assisted In wiring the steamboats,
the Pilgrim and the Bristol
Leaving the employ of the General Elec-
trio Company, ne returned to this city, and
for three years was electrician at the