The morning times., 1896-12-06
FEDERATION oFLABoR.

The II Getting OF the Federation of Labor
held Iast Tuesday evening was very short
one. President James +. McHugh was In
the chair.
The only business transacted was the re-
rerring Of a grievance against the supcrin-
tendent OF the Parcel Delivery Company,
by the Horseshoers' Union To committee
for investigation. Owing TO the absence
OF number of delegates who We're out on
important committee work, IL was decided
to adjourn over till Tuesday evening, when
il IL expected that several important reports
VIII be made.
CARPENTERS. JOlNERS AND STAIR
BUILDERS UNION. No. /.
The regular weekly meeting of the Car
penterS. JoinerS and Stairbuildcrs' Union,
No was held as usual on last Wednesday
evening in the hall of the Labor Bureau,
3l6 Eighth street. President John +. L.
MaEec ocCapicd the chair. and a good al
tendance of members was present. The
principal business of the evening was the
CuIi>IucraliUn OF the best metnous To bring
about more thorough harmony among the
organized trades Of the city. During the
discussion the following article from the
Labor Advocate was read:
Recent oVcrturcs made by the Central
Labor Union, Tor a conference with the
other central labor bodies may not have
been made in good faith. lJhas been charged,
still we fail to see where any possible
harm could have Resulted. The personnel
OF the committee had, however, much to do
with the action OF the district Assembly i'll
rejecting the proposition. 1t may bc
humilatinE to have 10 meet in conference
with those whom we feel confident have
betrayed us, and are not acting in good
faith, but for the best interes'S of tine cause
OF labor, personalities should he set All ie.
IF the proposed conference had been
held, each side would have had the right
to submit propositions, and the repre-
seutatives would, in turn, have had to
Submit them 10 their respective orgauiz:l-
uons for ratification before they would
have been considered binding Indiyid-
uals or committees are not organizations
by any means. hot does il follow that any
organization Is bound to accept a propo-
sition simply because it originated with
one of its own individual members
one thing IS certain beyond the shadow
OF doubt, and that is harmony does rot
prevail. 1t may be charged that this
state Of affairs is due to this or that organ
zafIon, but at the same time il must be
remembered that the other side has the
same privilege; but this doesn't help mat
tiers Again, II makes no particular differ
ence which side can claim Ia have the ma
1or1ty, the fact remains that no good can
result from continuing this style OF war
fare nor can the principles that both claim
To Toe striving for be obtained.
THE question then arises. Where is the
remedy? There are without doubt some who
are determined to make no compromise
nor make any concessions. Victory or die
fighting is their motto, and TO hades with
the cause might be added which virtually
means the same thing. Such would-be lead
ers should be thrust aside, and the rank and
file take hand. Letthere be a conference,
and let every labor organization in the
city insist upon it.
''If the central bodies cannot bring 1t
About let the locals do it, by appointing
representatives to a conference, for the
purpose of establishing central body
and abolish all others. If the ma jority de-
eide that they want a central body with
national affiliation, let it be SO. If the
majority decide that local body is the
best, then let the minority say amen
Both sides may have advantages. 1t is
claimed that affiliation with a national
body will assist materially in bringing
about needed legislation.
''on the other hand, it is claimed that
the local body has obtained more national
labor legislation than all the combined
national declarations put together. Again,
IL is claimed that better and more lasting
harmony would prevail in a local central
body than in the other
The reasons given, are that in some
sections of the country the A. F. L. will
not recognize bricklayers affiliated with
the branch here in Washington, and that n
clash is bound to come sooner or later
Again the horseshoers, machinists, printing
pressmen, and others, whilc affiliated with
the American Federation, through their
national bodies, prefer to be affiliated
In the local in Washington. Let the con-
ference be held, and let there be fair,
square presentation of facts, and we have
no hesitancy in predicting that good, sound
Judgment will prevail"
After the article had been read, it was
unanimously indorsed, and the suggestions
contained therein favorably commented
upon.