New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-11
A START TOWARD UNION
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM SAMUEL
GOMPERS.

HE ASKS THE CENTRAL LABOR UNION TO JOIN
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
Al the meeting Of the Central Labor Union in
Clarendon Hall yesterday an important letter
was received from the American Federation OF
Labor signed by President Samuel Gompers'
1t asked that the Central Labor Union Join that
National labor organization Mr.. Hoadley SAID
the letter was one Of the greatest documents in
the interests OF organized labor he had ever
read Although he Is knight Of Labor. he said
he Wished President Sovereign, of that organi-
yation had the same stuff in him as Gompers
bas President Gompers's communication was
referred TO the affiliated unions of the Centpol
labor Union for them to act Upon. 1t was
run,orod that this is the beginning OF general
movement which has as It's object the amalsa-
nation of the two National bodies, the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and the Kngh's OF
Labor 1t Is also said by members or the orga'ii-
zation that If this could be accomplished II
would be the deathblow Of the SOCIALIST LABOR
Alliance which is only an adjunct 10 the oociai-
ist Labor Party The leaders or TINS iatier Or
SANITATION have declared themselves repeatedly
against the principles OF trade unlohisni' anu -
is declared they are seeking political preference
at the expense of the workingmen OF America
William l. O'Brten presided at the meeting
YESTERDAY. MT. tOdulty piSSSH'SN 49,
tho Central Labor Committee appointed 10 ana
tho improved Housing Council in its work MI
IJoadlev spoke in favor of the project OF the
canitalsts represented by Professor l.. X. L.
Conld Of the Johns Hopkins University anu
eo,a that the committee upon investigation
thought the scheme of providing better homes
of y reasonable rental to workngmen ana their
families n good one and worthy OF every en-
enlargement. ~, ...,axons of Tho
MIR McDermtt, one Of the patriarchs OF the
Central Labor Union, advised the Douy " ~
slowly in the matter. Inc report VI '"S ~
tee was accepted ,..,. ,ssor,h,y
letter was received from District Asselho.!
No n Knights OF Labor, Of Brooklyn' request
ing the Central Labor Union 10 use lts liiiiuei-
10 have Workingmen patroniZe the Nassau ouees
railway lines in Brooklyn and not the lnes VI
tho Rroo<lyn Heights Company. The Dlstllct
Assembly alleged that the latter company WIS
making its motormen and conductors WORK ivui
teen hours a day, and that some men Ia Ia
worked that length of time Tor 90 Cents;
cCmnanv also made its men purchase their OWL
rniforms paving S2S for them in winter ana :. !,
In summer When off duty they were coiipehT'
20 wear citizens clothes. The letter also al.
legged that afte: the settlement OF me Dig 5
railway strike in Brooklyn. in lo9f-oo' IT'S
Sant Rossiter of the Brooklyn Heights Coih-
many promised that the company wouiu not us
rrin,inate against the strikers. but that ne was
row doing so and imposing on all the Ola mn
hsrevar he could do so and gradually driving
fhem from The companys employ. Inc hieL uie 20
not want to strike If they could help IL. out J!
tbinps aid not change for the better tney nlleH'
ho forced 10 do so. The Central LABOR oiilo.I
,ro,ad ~ do what it could to help the members
~ District Assembly No IS in the matter