Evening star., 1896-02-13
A Central Body 'f of the American
Federation to Be Formed.
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT SILVER
Action Taken on ,the Death Of Ed
yf
ward f., Rea.
ELOQU UENT TRIB UTE S


Eeen for some time in communication with
Vice President James Duncan of the ATeri-
can Federation of Labor in reference to
matters have reached the conclusion that
the time has arrived for the formation OF a
central body of tie American Federation
of Labor In Washington, and arrangements
have been made to hold Letting for the
purpose in one of the halls in the central
part of the city either on Sunday next Or
the Sunday following, as may best suit Mr.
Duncan's convenience to attend.
The presence OF Vice President Duncan
at the initial meeting is necessary, In order
that the proceedings shall be strictly legal.
because he has been especially charged by
the executive council of the Federation to
organize central body of the order here,
whenever, in his judgment, it should be ad-
visable.
One CT the leaders in the new movement
today said that he has beea assured by the
authorized Representatives of fifteen or six
teen trade union organizations that those
bodies are heartily in favor of the move,
and will be present at the meeting to help
accomplish the object
President Silver Of the Building Trades
Council today told Star reporter that
there was no question but that the proposed
the next week or So and that it would at
once take an influential well as promi-
nent part in labor matters.
Obstacles COntended With.
For two years." continued Mr.. Silver,
I'VE have been hampered in our work by
organizations, some of whose members
have tried by every means in their power
to break us up. They did not succeed in
bringing that about, but they managed to
keep us in comparative obscurity until
about two weeks ago, when the brewers
decided to recognize our organization In
their future dealings with Dor bodies.
"As soon as this step became known the
Building Trades Council began to receive
applications for membership and, as has
already been stated in The Star, two-the
Steem Filters He'll ers and Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers-were admitted at
our meeting Tuesday evening last. Two
more-the Electrical Worker and the Mo-
sale Tile Layers-have also been elected to
membersl p, and 1 expect that their dele
gates will be admitted to the council with
in the next week or two.
'The members of, the Building Trades
Council" continued, MI. Silver, ARE Wei
satisfied with the progress in growth it is
making, and in reference to statements
that have been made in the public press.
| that the council is about to be broken up. l
| wish to state, with the kindliest feeling for
all in the labor cause, tEat such is not the
case, and that publications of that sort
mislead e great many persons.
The CO. lci is here TO stay, and will in
future be conducted on pure trade union
basis, making it a distinctive body. We
will follow closely the lines laid down in
our constitution and bylaws, which pro-
vide for a model orga niZation.
LAS Il rule" he said IN conclusion, "our
members are in favor of enlarging the
council, giving 70 il certain powers that il
! does not oW possess.
The Beer War Truce.
| Matters have BECOME exceedingly quiet
|
| persons that the present truce, while not
having been formally made by either of the
contending parties, is the forerunner OF
| permanent peace, and that the whole mat
ter will be allowed TO quietly die out. The
brewers claim to be selling nearly as much
| beer as is customary with them at this
| time of the year, and there are but few
| signs on any of the saloons in the city
| which convey the impression that the boy
cotted beer has really been boycotted.
| There are a few signs which state that
| union beer is sold in the place, but very
| few indeed at saloons which state tha
union beer is exclusively sold
| Labor leaders, however, claim that The
| boycott is doing great injury to the brew
| ers and say it will be maintained.
Honors to the Late Mr.. Rea.
A special meeting Of the Eccentric En-
| gineers Association was held last evening
| TO take ACTION III TelcIeIlCe 10 tuc uedt
of Mr.. l.. J. Rea, who was one of the mos
active members of that body. Many per
sons not connected with the Eccentric En-
gineers, but prominent in the labor cause
were also present. Appropriate resolution
| were unanimously adopted.
The resolutions were seconded by Prest
dent James F. McHUgh of the Federation
| of Labor. Speeches were also made b!
| w. G. H. Simmons. master workman o
| District Assembly No. &C. X. of L.; Secre
tary Arthur Keep of the Federation Q
| Labor Messrs. Trainor Worden, Lawson
Holmes, Cuff and Dougherty.
Arrangements for the Funeral.
The funeral arrar gements, in which ar
also included those for the burial of Mrs
Rea, WI died a few hours after her hus
trio Engineers Association shall assembl
at Speare's undertaking establishment an
escort the remains Of the deceased en-
gineer end his wife to Typographical TEN
pie, where the services will be conducte
by Rev. Alexander Kent, pastor of tn
Peoples Church.
| The pallbearers will be selected fror
amcng prominent members of the Fedora
ton of Labor and D. A: 66, K of l..
Many handsome floral tributes have bee
sent by different societies Of organize
labor as melnentos of respect, and will
placed on the graves.
Discomfort Among the Early Arrival
| To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
would invite your attention to a cruelt
practiced on small children who attend tn