Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-19
X. OF L. AND TRADES UNioI
President Maghan Answers General Fore
nan Bishop
Attitude of the Trades Union In the
District The Building Trades
and the Beer Boycott.

can t'eQer0tlOn OF LABOR IN the DlStr1ct- ana
the interview with General Worthy Fore
man Bishop Of the Knights of Labor. printed
subsequently, have caused a great deal of
talk in labor circles. In reference to the
matter. President Maghan Of the Brick
layers Union, prominent trades union
man, today said to a Star reporter: "Of
course, Mr.. Bishop is not disposed to think
favorably Of the proposition to form a CEN
trail body Of trade union organizations in
this District. AS a consistent and very
opposed to trade urionism on general prin-
ciples. This fndisposition to tolerate union
OF ganization and recognize union control
has resulted in the disintegration of the
order.
"Mr. Bishops statement that relief for
labor troubles can best be found in follow
ing out the principles of the Knights of
Labor Is honestly questioned from political
standpoint while the methods pursued have
in most instances resulted In failure and dis
organization. During that period when the
order was at the flood tide of power when
the directive intelligence Of the body had
array of workers than was ever enlisted un-
der single standard, when it was possible
to demonstrate the ability of the K. of l..
to successfully manage the trade relations
OF the membership, the most disastrous fail
ures in the history of the labor Of this coun-
try occurred.
These were the series of railway strikes
and boycotts on the Gould or Southwest
ern system. which involved % 600 employees.
large number of whom were forced into
idleness and want. From that period to the
present ill-advised strikes have been hastily
ordered and ill-judged boycotts have been
imposed, the result of which has been the
disorganizatfon Of the order.
Ill-Advised Boycotts.
at has generally been the policy of the
Knights Of Labor to organize an assembly
OF those who have reyer had experience as
organized workers, and very short time
thereafter declare boycott-avowedly In
the interest of the unsophisticated local
ard involve all labor bodies in the trouble
against the better judgment of those who
have had years of experience in trades Or
ganiZation. and this has very remarkably
been the case of this District.
After the experience of the Anacostia
railroad strike the gentlemen who engineer
cd That move, which resulted in disgrace
Iul Iallure. should have considered a while
before involving the labor Of the District
IN an uncalled-for boycott.
Inc fact has been abundantly demon
strated not only here, but elsewhere
throughout the country, that the knights
OF Labor. If unrestrained, can precipitate
enough trouble in twenty-four hours 10
engage the active attention of labor for a
year.
man Bishop that it was impossible for trade
unions to accomplish any good results
prior to the organization of the knights
OF Labor has become a threadbare asser-
ton, which has been frequently disproved
by the industrial history of the country
That the methods Of trade nnionism are
more practicable and effective is evidenced
by the enormous increase of union organi-
cations and the rapid decline of the knights
of Labor
Unfortunately. the 'well-defined princi-
pies OF the Knights of Labor have more of
sentiment than business; trades unionism
mas more OF business than sentiment Had
the order of the K. of L. been confined to
the education of the masses along the lines
marked down by Uriah Stevens and not
attached the trade feature and entered the
legitimate field of trades unionism, it would
perhaps have accomplished to some extent
the political purposes of the order. 1t has
tailed i'll both instances, and has ceased to
be an important factor either in politics
or trade.
The charge that the American Fedora
ton of Labor is based upon the selfish idea
OF assisting only members of the some
craft is untrue, If the avowed purpose
or that organiZat ton to unity and solidifv
the labor of the country for mutual support
Is correct. The truth is, the knights of
Labor have opposed that A. F. of l.. for
years. and this opposition has resulted in
the survival of the fittest.'
The Building Trades Counct,.
1.-THE criticism of the action taken by the
Bricklayers' Union Of this city in refer
ence to the beer boycott ordered by d. A.
66. K. Of L., Is uncalled for 1t is under
stood that that organization has no apol-
ogy to make to any one for the position ii
has taken. 1t has been neither bribed by
the brewery bosses nor bulldozed by the
bosses of d. A. &C. Neither is it an at
tempt, as alleged by Mr.. Bishop, to betray
fha ty,$n of fl,~ 1~l~-
the District. They very sensiby recognize
the fact that the interests of that organiza-
ton are closely allied with the interests of
other labor organizations, and that any eff
visers and manpulators to involve them in
unnecessary trouble by intruding their
offices upon the men Of Gambrinus Assem-
bly, should be rebuked.
1.-The Bricklayers' Union is composed
largely Of men who have had years of ex-
perience in .organizati tons. They have been
through strikes and lockouts, and have
learned those lessons which it would be
well for others to learn who presume to die
tate and crticise. They are capable of at
tending to matters relating to themselves
and are not disposed to be dictated to or
controlled arbitrarily by those who. not
withstanding the experiences of the past
are yet in the kindergarten stage.
1.-The reminder to the Building Trades
Council that they are bound by the action
Of D. A. 66 is entirely gratuitous That
body is composed OF representatives as In
teligent and as honest that of the Fed
Grafton and D. A. 66, and are as capable of
wise counsel as either of these bodies. Why
the council should be charged with attempt
ing to break the solidarity of labor in this
instance trades union men cannot under
stand when the very fact Of it's existence
breaks the solidarity which exists in this
District-the solidarity which has been
maintained by an entire submission to the
control of the Knights of Labor
!, 1.-The organization of that council insti-
tuted representative body controlled by
trades union organization and for the first
time in this District has broken the sol-
darity of an organza ton whose member
ship is solemnly sworn to maintain the
supremacy of the Knights of Labor above
that of any other labor organization on
earth"
BOLD BANK ROBBERY