The times., 1897-05-30

central body of labor can be successfully
maintained without national affiliaton.
''The lator movement III this country has
outgrown local environments Labor Or
ganiZations, like all others, TO be successful,
must be powerful: to be powerfulit must be
universal This is the basic principle OF
oar Governennt, for which heroic sacH-
fees have been made. The unification
of political forces is the shibboleth of the
IoyaI citizens, and the unificat.on Of th,s
labor forces of the country should be the
desire of every loyal wage worker
..The scheme is TO consolidate all the local
organizations into one independent CEN
trail body could be done if the organizations
having national affiliations will consent
to sever those relations, if those crafts
having dual organizations will organize
as one; If the labor blacklist is expunged
if many of the wage eaners of the Dis
trict can be either forced or persuaded 10
attach themselves TO organizations for which
they have years of accumulated hatred
if the Knight OF Labor will consent TO give
up feaslsy to the principle of his order and
the trade unionist will renounce the plin-
ciples of trades unionism. If this could
he done it is barely possible that some time
in the remote future the scheme could be
consummated.
Another condition is possible prob
able it is that of two central bodies one
composed exclusively of trade unions,
the other OF Knights of Laher assemblies.
Let each work within a proper sphere, and
/ working for the mutual interest Of all in
matters affecting the interest Of all.
"This is possible, and can be done, If wise
council prevails 1t has been said that
there are two many central bodies here,
the number being stated as four. This is
misleading, as the Building Trades Council
is not a central body. tits only a council
OF building trades, all of whichare represent
ed in central body. In many cities there
are several central bodies. Ia some there
is federat ion of trades, a distinct assem-
my, a building trades council, labor
league and other auxiliary organizations
All seem % be necessary an d while at times
| there Is some friction, no one has yet sug-
g.sted that they ali disband and form one
independent whole.
Mr. Eugene S. Brown, prominent mem
Der OF Columbia Typographical Union,
takes entirely opposite view OF the mat
ter He strongly favors the centralza-
ton scheme, and attributes the local diff
ferences TO men rather than opposing
principles.
MIR. Brown, when asked for his views on
the subject, said:
The condition of organized labor in
! Washington certainly is peculiarly unfor-
tunate l do not remember ever having
seen just such a state of affairs in any
| other city. Instead of one strong central
! body, in which all the local unions could
unite for their common protection, we
| have several so-called central bodies,
each representing part only OF the CT
| gani7ed labor OF the District, and some
| of them almost continually at war with
| others. business men who would like to
| favor organized labor are at a loss to
! know how to do so. Contractors who de-
sire to employ union labor know not whom
to employ. tits wonder to me that they
have not given up the attempt and entirely
! ignored the unions before this
Think of the members of one labor
union cutting the scale of wages of an
other in order TO take work away from its
members. Or of one union boycottng a
! business man because he employs members
/ of another union. Or of members of one
! union striking because members of an
! other union are employed on the same
job with them.
"Such a condition is the natural, or at
/ least tie inevitable, result OF having more
than one union of the same trade in the
same Jurisdiction. Several trades in Wash
! ingtonare afflicted with these double unions,
and the result is always disastrous to both
| unions, as well as to the trade itself. No
| trade can hope to maintain fair wages or
| other favorable conditions when its mem
| hers are divided into rival unions, each
contending for the supremacy, and in their
| bitter rivalry cutting down wages, in
| creasing the hours of labor, and otherwise
doing more to destroy their own interests
| than ali the outside influences combined
| As q proof of what real unionisrn viii do
| for a trade refer with pride to my own
| (the Typcgrap phicaD union, which, with its
| local and international bodies, is the
strongest trade union In the country.
| There cannot he two typogra aphical unions
i In the same town, and to this fact is due
| the power and influence welded by the
Typographical Union in the printing bust
| ness today.
Il have not been long resident Of Wash
| ington, and am not familiar with the
causes leading up to such conditions, hut
it does seem that some plan could be
adopted by which all labor interests Of
! the city could he united in one strong
central body, which would be a power in
! guarding the interests of all concerned
! Such body would command the attention
and respect of everybody, and would be
able to enforce every Just and reasonable
demand it might see fit to make.
IL have heard it said that certain indi-
| viduais find the present conditions more
| to their liking, and are opposed to ny con-
| solidation of unions for fear they might
| lose their positi ons as LEADERS" If
this is true would respectfully invite the
attention of such persons TO the unselfish
| and commendable action of Mr.. Nc
| Hugh, who last week resigned the office
! to which he had been elected seven times
| successfully, that it might not he said that
| he stood ia the way of reorganization
The man who places his own selfish amhi-
| tion above the welfare of his fellowmen
| is not a friend of labor, and if he refuses
to recognize the fact it should be forcbly
| impressed upon his mind by retiring him
and electing someone more worthy to
take his place.
Let each central labor body In Washing
| ton and also each subordinate union APP
| point committee of, say, three to confer
as to tile advisability. and suggest plan
/ for a consolidation of all the labor in
| terests of the District, and 1 predict that
| the new organization will he effected in
time to celebrate Labor Day as it has
| never been celebrated before.
FOR MECHANICAL SCIENCES.
Incorporation of a School Devoted
4