The times., 1897-04-04
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| Inc local Federation OF Labor occupies
position peculiar TO itself in relation tc
the other central labor bodies in the dis
trict, a s well as to the organized labor oi
the outside world The Federation hai
alwa VS. been recognized, both by the public
generally and by the members of organ
lied labor in the city, no matter what their
national affiliations, as a most conserva
tive body, taking cognizance of only such
matters as come plainly within its view
asa northumberland ofthe welfareo of
the workingInen OF the District
Like many other local labor organiza.
tions, the Federation, when first formed,
had different form Of government than
at present, and was made up of mixed as
seinblies. II was given q very high sound
ing name, THE National WorGingmen' s
| Assembly, but its name did not give it
| much influence in the community, nor did
| 1t prove a great attraction to the wage
| earners OF the District, and after struggle
! for existence for four long years the As
/ sembly' disbanded during the summer OF
| 1880. Two years later, however, the Fed
| Grafton of Trades and Labor Unions was
| organized The new body was composed
| of delegates from every organized labor
| body in the city, and at once assumed a
| prominent place in the District as q central
| body,
Only few months before the orga ni2ati0n
Of the F. T l.. U. the Knights Of Labor
h ad successfully established several
local aSsembliesin the city and had already
organized District Assem- bly, No. sc,
Knights of Labor, This, however, although
1t was generally conceded that the Knights
OF Labor were bitterly opposed TO any
thing savoring of trades unionism, did not
prevent the Knights of Labor assemblies
and the trades unions in the city from COM
biDing to form the Z. l.. L., and without
regard to national connection working
together for the advancement Of the in
terests Of the wOrkmen Of all trades and
crafts i u the District
The charter president Of the old National
Worknguen's Assembly was Mr.. Ga
Driel EdnOuStOn, at that time member of
Carpenters Union, No. l, but now a mem
Der Of the Brotherhood ofCarpenters Union,
100. The first president Of the f. T. L. U.
wasMr. a NJ. X kennedy ~ member or ColuTn-
tia Typographical Union, No. 101. Mr.
Kennedy served for three terms, and 10
his sound advice and Judgment and conser-
vatism in all matters OF differences be
tween organized labor and the public,
is due in great measure the firm founda-
tion on which the Federation OF Labor
stands today.
Mr. Kennedy was succeeded bg Mr.. Ed
Oyster. also a member OF Columbia Typo
graph ical Union. Mr. Oyster has the
distinction of having flied the pIesiden
tal chair Of the Federation of Labor for
eight consecutive terms 1t was during
Mr.. Oysters term OF office that the pres
entname FederatlonOf Labor, adopted. |
From three organizations, the bIicklayers, |
plasterers and printers, which organized |
the F. I. l. u, in 1852, the Federation |
grew. in 1887, to twenty three, seventeen !
of which We're &. of l. assemblies. In |
this connection it may be oted that ever |
since that time the Knights or Labor repre- |
seutativcs have been in the majority in |
the local Federation, but only twice during |
these years has "a member OF the Knights /
of Labor been houOred with the presidency |
These were MT. Thomas Denlam, OF the |
Painters and Millard +. Hobbs, Of the /
TIasterS'. 1t is to this circumstance, as /
much as anything else, that the Fedora
tion lays its claim to conservatism.
1t was, however, during tile presidency
of Mr.. Oyster that the f Federation assumed
an important place i'll the community as
an influential factor in all matters relative
to the advancement Of the interests OF
,vorkngmen, no matter whether hey were
knights of Labor or trade unionists. 1t
was about this time that the iaboring men
throughout the country began looking for
relief through legislation, and III promoting
heir efforts the Federation took a most |
prominent part In all matters OF legis-
ation, looking to the improvement Of the
Of the city, the Federation
has been ably seconded by District As
,eIubly No. Go, Knights of Labor, and also
~ the general officers Of the order Of
Knights of Labor.
These are some of the measures, the |
success of which belongs to the Fedora
iou by reason OF originatoTs or first
movers. This is true especially of the
of the National Bureau OF
4abur Statistics The matter was first
lgitated in 1879, by the short-lived Work .
ngIncns Assembly. The agitation was
in Ss3 by the Federation, andcon-
inued until the object was obtained
or the legislation affecting the inter
SITS of the Iahoring classes, not only in
he District, but the country over, in which
he local Federation of Labor took an
ctivc part in forcing to enactment, may
re mentioned the mechanics lien law, the
rec book system for the pubic schools,
he establishment Of night schools, the
ight-hour law, the adjustment of con-
let labor in the District, bill to prohibit
ne Importation of foreign labor under
bill to regulate licensing OF
-eam engineers in the District, the aboIi-
on of the truck system the regulation
force and hours of work OF the employees
Z the city, street railways and many
thers
So far as the organization of the Fedora
Oh is concerned, like all local bodies, it
as troubled with internal disSenSiOns,
hich very nearly caused it's disruption OIL
le three original organizations which
,rmed the nucleus of the Federation. two,
e bricklayers and painters, were trade
1ionists, and the other, the plaSterers
ere Knights of Labor The Plasterers
is said, demonstrated that the other two
emhers should abandon their national
and join the Knights of Labor.
his the brickiayers and painters of course,
fused to do, and the plasterers threat
ed to withdraw, but the matter was
rally compromised by the other agreeing
at all new organizations formed should
'filiate with the Knights of Labor.
As early as 1882, thelocal Federation was
presented in the American Federation
Labor, Mr. Gabriel Edmonston attend
z the convention of that body, held that
,ar in Cleveland, Ohio In 1887, how
er, the delegates from the local Fedora
N, to the annual convention of American
Of Labor NyhiCh met in PaI-