Birmingham state herald., 1896-12-29
TRADES COUNCIL
Regular Meeting Sunday-Letter From the President National Federation of
 Labor-Report of Committees, Etc.

The Trades Council held its regular semi-monthly meeting Sunday. Presi- dent Umbenhauer presided and Secretary Mosely, of the Labor Advocate, was in his seat.
 The reading of the minutes being dis pensed with the secretary read the fol- lowing communication from tn President of the National Federation of Labor
 Indianapolis, Ind, Dec. "A, 1S96
 MT. J.: Dear Sir and Brother-I have your favor of the 8th, including papers in a contest between the Journeymen Plumbers Union and the Master Plumb CTS association of your city, and 1t has been referred to me for decision.
 When the matter first came under mo- tice determined it would be best to re- fer the matter to the executive council of the American Fedora tion of Labor. By their order 1t was referred back to me for consideration and decision.
 I have given the subject matter con- siderable thought and have arrived at the following conclusions:
 1. An agreement exists between the Journeymen Plumbers Union and the Master Plumbers association. That agreement Is morally binding upon both parties. The question under this agree ment arises whether the Journeymen Plumbers Union is in error when it al- lows some of its members to work for the Alabama Gas Fixture and Plumbing company for the reason, as is alleged, that said company is an unfair compet- itor to the other master plumbers.
 The ground for this allegation Is that the Alabama Gas Fixture and Plumbing company could procure it's material at advantageous prices, while the other master plumbers procure their material at prices not so advantageous.
 It appears that for this reason the Master Plumbers association have de- clared the Alabama Gas Fixture and Plumbing company unfair competitors.
 In my opinion the ground given for such declaration Is entirely untenable. When employers enter into competition with each other some who are better financially situated and who can buy in greater quantities have the advantage of purchasing upon more advantageous conditions. This fact is a universal rule in all trades in all commerce, and can form no real ground for grievance on the part of labor, and is no good reason why organized labor should treat such firm as unfair, so long as union wages, union hours, union rules and union conditions of labor are conceded.
 It is to be regretted that any dispute should have arisen, particularly upon matter of this character between the journeymen and master plumbers, but there is no escape from the conclusions here reached upon any basis fair to both OI Fraternally yours,
 SAMUEI. GOMPERS, President American Federation of Labor.
 No report was made by the legislative committee.
 The Typographical union will ask for the passage of bill providing that all state work bear the union label. The plumbers will ask assistance also requir- ing examination of plumbers as to com potency.
 in behalf of the committee appointed to go before the mayor and board of alder men relative to an abatement of license:
 Brother Harrison and myself went be- fore the board, Brother Umbenhauer be- ing unavoidably absent We asked the board to abate the license of 1897, point ing out to them as best we could the reason for asking that the license be abated, giving as the principal reason the scarcity of work and the hardship 1t would entail upon men at this time to pay license. The board of aldermen abated the license in so far as 1t applied to men who work themselves and do not employ journeymen. This Is a great concession to the workingmen of the city. As 1t includes all men in the vari- ous crafts, you can see that your com mittee was not selfish They made an effort to have all crafts exemtped from paying license, both organized and unor- ganized If it were possible to get men Gu. take the place of little petty jealousies, we could, as long as we keep our demands in the bounds of reason and justice, have them granted.
 But we despair sometimes when we see men working for the same ends using every honest effort to further the cause of labor. Instead of all standing together as one man until our ends and aims are accomplished, we divide. to show our Independence, and let the world see that we wear no mans collar. Then, if we think our brother is in po- sition to help us. instead of standing shoulder to shoulder, we seek to pull him down, no matter if all go down with him. We would rather see all lost than see a brother accomplish anything if there is any credit attached to it.
 If we had the true spirit of unionism that we should have, we wouS soon have nothing to complain of. Ne are strong enough to right all existing evils if we had the intelligence and moral courage, but we are sadly lacking in both We have in this city and county more than thirty labor organizations that will average more than 100 men each Of this number we have more than 2,500 votes. Yet there Is not man