The morning times., 1896-12-27
Federation of Labor.

Representatives fr, m clghteen iocallahor
orcanizat 0Hs lraved tie stoTmy weather
of last Tuesday evening and resi- ondsl to
their names when Secretary stephen A.
Clements called the rcIl at the regular
meeting of the Federation Of Labor.
Knowing the anxiety Of the delegates
10 Ire out with the holiday shoppers, Presi-
dent McHugh let fan hls gavel promptly
al = 80 O clock.
Tie reading Of the minutes and other
routine business were quickly disI oScd Of
Reports wercthcn taken up fIorn the stand
ng and special committees. The rel ort
from the work on the Consumers
brewery brought out a very Interesting de
late. during which the recent action of the
directors of the brewery in deciding
which were legitimate labor organizations
was fayoraIy Commcnted upon.
While il was admitted that with such
mass Of iucOutroveItille evidence as had
been presented by the G., n-mittee and which
defird successful cuntradic; on, the ''di-
rectnrS'' a. loaest men, could not have
decided otherwise, still IT WIS the unani-
nous opinion of IL present that The direct
urs verrrititlt-d' o The waTu-cst commerda-
ti,n -or the courteous and patient manner
Iu witch the Investigation lad tccn con
Quoted.
The delegates further gave il as their
opiu on that the decision Of the directors
would have a decided effect in checking
iu futur, the fcrmat on of hogEs labor or
gauizatiaEs Or mushroom growth that We're
started. either for the Eul oSc Cf break
ing down legitimate organizations, or to
get coutio. or work. that had teen Spcci-
fled to he cone by union lator. In either
case. the delegates gave il as their honest
belief that the main purpose WAS 10 defeat
the Legitimate ends for which III OF men
were organized.
The discussion was then changed TO the
prospects Of the passage of the blll now
before Congress. faYoriUE the erection Of
District public buildings by day labor ia
preference To contract work. Quite n
Number Of delegates gave il as their opin-
ion that the agitation should hc kept up
L was, the speakers believed, to be OF the
utmost imI ortance to the working people
Of the District OF Columbia that the meas
ure should bc, ONE law. The recent act of
the House OF Representatives IN recomnit
ting the bill was sufficient cause for all
friends Of the till TO be on the alert. The
bll had been pushed t. its present promi-
nence more by the organized trades of
this city than through anE Other agency,
and the Federation would rot bc truc to
itSolf if il did not keep up the agitation
The adriSahility of keeping representa-
tive OF the Federation at the Capitol to
look after the interests OF organized labor
was wei discussed. The personal opposi-
ton Of the chairman Of the House District
Committee 10 day labor in preference to
that done by contract was also announced.
Tie sentiment OF the delegates was that
the entire legislative committee should be
al the Capitol as mach as possibein the in
tereStS of the bill. No definite action was
taken. for the reasons. first. that Congress
had taken q recess for two weeks: and
second, that a new legislative committee
would be appointed at the second meeting
night oGthe FederatiOnin January when The
semi-annual election of officers would be
held. In the meantime the present COM
mittec and all delegates were instructed to
exert every influence among the members
OF Congress to procure their support to
the measure.
An important resolution was adopted at
the meeting, bearing on financial matters
The resolution provides that in future all
motions for appropriations must be re-
ferred to the finance committee for report
before appropriations can be made.
TIE delegates from the Tailors' Onion
reported that their union had adopted a
union label. which was proposed to be af
liked on all custom-made garments. The
label reads: This garment was made by
member ofthe Journeymen Tailors, Il and
=. Onion, OF Washington" with the seal
and secretary of the chairman attached
on motion the label was indorsed by the
Federation.
Special committees were then appointed
10 look after the Interests of the Fedora.
honin securing work for organized labor.
Under good OF the order the propects
of the Federation were ecommentedupon and
regarded as very favorable.
The roll-call OF trades was, on motion,
dispensed with, and organizations having
special matters 10 report were requested 20
make them. After the reports had been
made IL was seen that not a single griev
ance had been reported, and is also fact
that not a case has been placed on the un-
fair list for some time back TIE friendly