Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-07
BRlCkLAYERS TALK BACK
A Lively Discussion at Their Meeting Last
Night.
The Differences Between the Trades
Unions and the knights of Labor
Statement by the Union.

pointed to cooperate with committee OF
the Building Trades Council in an effort to
adjust the trouble between the brewers
and their e Ized-out men.
1t was a>asounced after the adjournment
that there Fad been a very free and en-
phatic expression of opinion which was not
complimentary to those who are said to
have assumed charge of the boycott. The
report of the Bricklayers committee, which
was verified by the committee of the Build
ing Trades Council, all of whose members
were present was that the action of the
Building Trades Council at the meeting
Tuesday evening last was disapproval of
the boycott ard also Of the methods Of those
having 1t in charge.
This action was Endorsed by the union by
a practically unanimous vote. A motion TO
discharge the committee and pledging the
body to remain neutral was tabled IN a
most emphatic manner. A resolution was
introduced demanding that the matter al
issue between the brewers and their locked
out men be arbitrated. but this was not con-
sidered at all. A statement of the position
of the trades unions was adopted
Statement by the BrickInyers' Union.
The following statement of the position Of
the trades unions in relation to those Or
CARNATIONS exclusively represented in D.
"A.
made by prominent members of that body
was adopted at the meeting of the Brick
layers Union last night, and a copy or
dered to be sent to The Star for publica-
ton: ''The statements made by promi-
nent members of d. a. g. K. of L., and
published in The Star of Wednesday, de-
cIarng that if the Building Trades Council
had decided not to support the boycott, the
District Assembly will withdraw their
representatives in the council and thus
isolate the bricklayers and granite cut
tiers as labor bodies are regarded by the
bricklayerS a threat and considered by
them as the last act in the windy program
which has been played with questionable
success by a few self-appointed leaders.
who are more interested in place-holding
than in the industrial struggles Of the
working people.
They make impotent threats that D.A.
&C will destroy the Building Trades Coun-
Gil by automatically calling away the
trades represented in that body, and thus
reducing it to an insignificant and help
less condition.
The fact is, d. A. 66 never desired the
Building Trades Council has never recog-
Eized it as body and would have destroy
ed it long ago had it possessed the power
to do so.
Acting uron the rule or ruin principle
which has always characterized the order,
and which has resulted in the ruin and de-
noraiiZat:on of the organization insidiously
and persistently, this impotent body has OPP
posed the council because an overwhelming
majority composing that body belong to the
fold of trade LniCnism, and this represent
ative body of the building trades could not
be captured and controlled by them they
have done with the Federation, which, as
the result of their peculiar methods, is
simply an adjunct to ID. A. 66.
AS self-appointed leaders, these few gov
eminent office holders should inform them
selves of labor conditions in this District
bpfnra :, int 1.ox t,o
impression that a large majority of the
building trades belong to the X. of L.,
when, iii fact, but three of these trades in
the District belong to that body
The building trades in this District have
common cause; there are trade conditions
existing peculiar to themselves; an inter-
dependency, which does not and cannot
exist among the other trades and when a
threat is made by those who have no in
terest in common with organized labor that
role of intimidation and hulldoZing will
be played to disrupt those relations; it is a
resort to the methods which have been pur-
sued by the Knights of Labor in all other
localities in the United States, and which
has resulted in largely increasing and solidi-
Tying trade unionism,a and reducing that once
splendid organization to the pitiable num-
Der of $500 ali told. under the control of
so-called national body, which has been
denounced by their best men as corrupt
ring Of fakirs,' not deserving the support of
the remaining few in the order
Too long have the trade union organiZa-
lions of this District tamely and tacitlv SUBJ
United TO this corrupt and arrogant control
which has constantly tended toward dis
organization. Ill-advised boycotts without
due consideration, and for sinister purposes:
have been hastily imposed behind closed
dcors in star-chamber sessions. and the
union element of the District has been com
nianded, through an autocratic ukase n
support this action morally and financially.
without question.
IF, as in this instance, they exercise the
nj nd
lines of arbitration and conciliation they
are threatened with boycott.
1T is resort to the. same Disturbing
methods. which, reacting upon them, has
forced them from a thousand imaginary
strengthens to their last refuge, within the
District lines.
This method, here as elsewhere will con-
vince the union organizations of the neces-
s1ty for absolute and perfect unity among
themselves. A unity which will force re-
spect, which Will demonstrate as hereto-
fore. the latent power of unionism which
mas never been admitted a factor in the
labor autonomy of this District and which
will save them from being slaughtered in
the house of their profeSSed friends This
has been the alternative forced upon them
elsewhere. This, as final culmina ton
will be but the repetition of the history OF
the last quarter of a century, as the in
evitable result of utilization of trade or.
CARNATIONS with a quasilabor body which
while organized ostensibly in the interest OF
WORKERS, became DOIiti-
cal appurtenant to any party for a small
share of political holdings. Under these
conditions cheap prestige has been secured
as capital to maintain place and emolu-
ment.
Under the leadership of such men the
legitimate purposes of trade organizat lions
have been diverted, the basic principle
prostituted, and contention and disintegra-
ton has been the result. BY this element
the charge has been made that trades
unionists had not sufficient intelligence to
conduct any matter of interest to organized
labor, and arrogating to themselves mon
opoly of intelligence and exclusive control
they would force all others into the posi-.
ton of the blind Samson, and If they will
not permit the dalliance of Delilah their
locks will be shorn by d. A. &C.
The building trades have no apology to
make, and no fear of threats that have
been made. In the past they have met
trade emergencies intelligently and adjust
ed them honorably and satisfactorily, and
in the supreme hour of a crisis they have
endured privation and made sacrifices in
that spirit of manlness and self-abnegatior
which has earned them the respect of the
general public, and which challenges the
efforts of professional agitators to drive
them from any position which, after ma
ture and intelligent consideration, they be-
lieve to be just, wise, honest and manly
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