The San Francisco call., 1896-02-20
Local Unions May Adopt the Plan
of the Western Labor
Council.
NOW FOR THE SWEATsHOPS
A Crusade to Be Begun Soon Against
Those Who Make Use of
Child Labor.

vention last Tuesday. r. t. McIvor of the
Painters and Decorators Union intro
duced a long resolution from the commit
tee on resolutions and asked that it be
adopted as the platform or declaration of
principles of the convention. 1t provoked
much discussion and it was finally referred
to committee, consisting Of ore delegate
from each union, which was directed to
arrange platform and resolution and to
formulate plan for the permanent organ
ization of the new federation.
This committee has not been idle. It's
members have been hard at work discuss
ing various forms of organization, and
particularly how all interests can be har-
monized so that all will work for COM
mon purpose.
This matter was brought up last night
at the meeting of the American Railway
Union. For the first time since the late
strike the members of this organization
have kept out of sight and rarely has the
attendance been over fifteen, although the
names of over 700 members in good stand
ing appear on the unions roll. Those who
have stayed aw ay from the meetings have
done so for fear that if it became known
that they were atfliatlng with the 4. r. U.
people they would soon be among those
blacklisted. Last night, however, the
meeting hall was filled and the movement
was received with the greatest enthusiasm.
AS stated, the manner of how the new
federation shall be placed upon solid
foundation was discussed, although it was
recognized that the matter is in the hands
of the conventions S special committee
The proposition that received the most
favorable consideration and which is be-
ing seriously considered by many OF the
members of the committee is that on
which the Western Labor Council is based.
Delegate l.. Z. Stinson in explanation
stated that the Western Labor Council is
an organization of all the trades in Wash
ington, Idaho and Montana. Each State
and Territory has its own central body
which sends its delegates to the general
central body, which meets in Butte, Mont,
every year. This body passes upon the
qualifications OF every candidate for Con-
gressional honors, and the candidates
selected are voted for to man by every
voter in the entire amalgamation.
The success OF this plan is matter of
record. Candidates for legislative posi-
tions are passed upon by the central body
of the State and the same course is pur-
sued with reference to county and munich
pal selections. The fundamental point is
that whatever the selection be the labor
union men stand by the edict.
Mr.. Stinson holds that the same course
can be successfully followed by an ANAL
gamation of all the unions in Oregon,
California, Nevada and Arizona, and the
proposition is being seriously considered.
by the committeeman. He said:
The City organization is the first stem We
will go into politics and stand by the men of
our selection. The A. K. U. men, 700 strong
can control all the way from five to 100 voters
elect or defeat any candidate in the field, no
matter what party he may belong to- This
movement will be success Notwithstanding
that there may be q few who are opposed to
radical measures They will see. However
that their only hope lies in the formation of a
Pacific Coast amalgamation, and that partisan
differences must be buried. / feel confident in
saying that the radical and progressive ele-
ment in the labor unions in this City will con-
troll enough votes to put the workingmen's
candidate to the front, and that is what we are
going TO do.
In McIvor's resolution was the clause
Prohibition of the employment of
children of school age and of the employ
ment of female labor in occupations
detrimental to health and morality.
Equalization of women's wages
with those OF men where equal service is
performed" a strong movement toward
enforcing the observance of these prin-
ciples has already been started by the
leaders OF the progressive element. II.
Nj. Saunders OF the Carpenters has started
the ball in motion. He and T. +. Burns
of the Cigar makers, in comparing notes,
summed up half dozen ''sweatshops''
in this City where children under IA wears
of age are worked hard when they should
be at school. In these same places
women are oyerworked and poorly paid
until many are breaking down in health
The places enumerated are principally
factories where cheap clothing is made for
men and boys. Mr.. Saunders said:
believe that there Is a law against child
labor, but it is full of flaws. What will be done
is to call the attention of the Labor Commits
tenn so unpopular here as to drive the proprie-
tors out of business or make them reform.
will bring this matter before the Building
Tredes Council tomorrow night and have it
taken up by the painters and decorators and
the district council of carpenters at their next
meetings. The delegates to these bodies will
make reports to their unions and the latter
bodies will give their delegates 10 the conyen-
tions instructions upon the matter. We will
break up the system II we have no solid law to
work upon.
$100 to District Organizer E. o. MaIsbury
to go to Sacramento next week and organ
ize the carpenters of that city. 1t was de-
clded to cease patronizing cigar-dealers
who handle cigars made by firms in De-
troit employing little children. 1t also
decided to recommend that the carpenters
unions raise the initiation fee to $40 on
May /. This is for the purpose of prevent.
ing mem bers from leaving the unions dur
ing dull times. On March a social
smoker and reunion Of carpenters will be
held at lis Turk street, under the ausnices
of the council. The committee in charge
thereof are R. B. Ingle, J. Kraiewski.
Thomas Done, P. McDonough and ]. E'
McVlcker.
All of the BARRIERS organizations in this
City have joined their forces and will make
common cause against any and all yio-
lators OF the Sunday closing law who shall
o'clock on Washingtons birthday. Bar
bers finding any violations will report the
same to an executive committee which
Il L.. Ill cf " --N--