The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-24
A BLOW AT THE K. OF L.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET.
Brewers Unions Must withdraw from
the Other Big Labor Organ
izatiOn.

The executive council of the American
Federation Of Labor spent the most of the
day yesterday in a discussion of the troubles
among the brewery workers and the result
was a radical action marking the antagon-
ism between the federation and the Knights
of Labor. The National Union of United
Brewery Workers has subordinate branches
both in the federation and the knights Of
Labor, and the present trouble between
the national union and local union No. IS,
OF Chicago, arose out of a refusal of the
local union to pay a tax of nearly $1,000
for the support of striking members of the
knights of Labor. The national union was
represented by Secretary Bechtold, of ST.
Louis, and the local by Secretary Sclecht,
of the Chicago Trades and Labor Assembly.
The council decided that the tax was regu-
larly assessed, but that it would not re-
quire local union No. Is TO pay it unless
the national union would withdraw from the
knights Of Labor. This brings the matter
to a test and will no doubt cause a discus
sion in labor circles all over the country.
The resolution adopted reads as follows:
I'm the grievance of Brewers Union,
No: Is, of Chicago, and the Trade and
Labor Assembly. of Chicago, against the
National Union of United Brewery Work
men the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor decides that the laws
providing for a reserve fund and assess
ments were legally enacted and the as
sessments were legally levied by officers
elected by the National Union in lawfully
assembled convention, IN which Union No.
Is, of Chicago, was represented
For the aforesaid reasons the assessment
of 10 cents a week on each member to sup
port the lockedout brewery workmen OF
the laws of the National Union of State
Brewery Workmen. Hence, we decide that
Union No. Is, of Chicago. should, pay its
Indebtedness of reserve fund and assess
ments now due to the National Union, and
that the latter body accept payment in in
stallments in order that Union No. IS may
not be financially embarrassed by the set
tlement.
I'VE further find from reports of the Cen
trail Labor Union or Boston, Mass, and
other bodies affiliated with the A. i. of L.
United Brewery workmen in seeking to
force its local unions into local
Of Of the he + att IF L. Places as no1 fhaf national tn~ard5 un fpe
interests of the American Federation of
Labor, and we further find that much of
the. trouble has been caused by the dual
position of the National Union of United
Brewery Workmen. in being affiliated with
t noat f harmony NJ, = can "a I best ato be ene establIshed and
preserved by the National Union of United
Brewery Workmen severing its connection
with the spirit Of the provisions of Sec
ton /, Article II, of the constitution, we
Brewery Workmen Withdraw from the
order of the *; Of L. within a reasonable
time and until this requirement is com
visions of Section 8 of Article 4 of the A.
r.. of L. constitution in the case of Brew
ers' Union No. 18, of Chicago"
The resolution affects the brewery work
mems troubles in Pittsburg and Allegheny
Organizations Of brewery workmen there are
nearly all assemblies of the Knights of
Labor divided into two districts. Some of
the brewerieS had a contract with one dis
trict and before it expired made a con-
tract with the other to take effect at the
district %thereupon which lost the contract
declared the other district nonunion and
appealed to the national union and the
American Federation of Labor for support.
The effect of countenancing this action,
members of the council say, would be to
build up the knights of Labor at the ex-
pense of the Federation and this they do not
intend to do. The resolution requires all
the local organizations of brewery work
men in Pittsburg and Allegheny to with
draw from the knights of Labor or be
without the help of the American Federation
The council heard a petition of the Typo
graphical Union against the Arena, the Ros-
Arena office is a nonunion office and that
the proprietors refuse to unionize it. The
council was asked to place the boycott of
the Federation upon 1t. 1t was decided to
send a representative to Boston to wait
upon the proprietors and if the overtures
of the printers were rejected to give pro-
prietors until June / to unionize the Office.
Organized Labor Mass Meeting.
There was a mass meeting in the interest
of organized labor in the Criminal Court
last SfclllHS. WdS COuSluSTdDle
enthusiasm in the proceedings, and the au-
dience comfortably filled the room. This
shows that organized labor is not dead"
remarked one man, surveying the crowd.
Fully a half dozen speeches were made by
representative labor men. The talk was adj
dressed to carpenters more than any other
class of workingmen. The carpenters are
not well organized, and the object of the
meeting was to get men to join their union
and to create an interest in all unions. Vice
President Mcclure, of the Carpenters
Union, made the leading speech of the
evening. He invited all those who have left
the union to come in again. and he urged
upon them the necessity of organization. He
said if the workingmen of America would
show the same devotion to unions that the
workingmen of foreign countries do, they
would be greatly benefited. He said the
workingmen should stand more independent
of political parties, and if they made united .
demand for labor measures their wishes
would be respected. Other speakers warned
those present against false labor leaders,
and all leaders who are attempting to Gre
ate strife and who are working against the
interests of the -workingmen by fighting the
Federation of Labor.