Evening star., 1897-05-26
THE TRADES UNIONS
Work Of Various Bodies in Sessions
Held Last Evening.
PRESIDENT M'HUGH'S RESIGNATION
Letter Of Building Trades Council
to General Sternberg.
THE ENGINEERS UNION

TIL E ENGINEERS UNION
The somewhat surprising statement was
made at the meeting last evening Of the
local Federation of Labor that "it was as
serted on good authority that the present
officers of the Central Labor Union would
follow the example set by President Nc
Hugh of the Federation, in retiring from
Office in the interest of harmony among the
labor organizat tions of the District and in
that case the officers of the other central
labor bodies here would no doubt fall into
line"
President McHugh's letter of resignation,
already referred to in The Star. was ad-
dressed to Secretary Maidens, and was, in
substance, as follows:
President McHugh's Views.
"A number of you know that have been
contemplating for some time rendering my
resignation as your president. The motive
that prompts me to take this step is the
utterly demoralized condition of organized
labor in this city. There are four central
bodies here and each is represented by
a humber of unions OF the same trade or
calling. This is a condition of affairs
which should not exist, and there are no
creates confusion and discord. and every
fair-minded man who has the interest of
his fellows at heart must know that the
hnal result will be disaster and defeat
that labor is better organized at present
tnan ever before. as every man. at all con-
yersunt, with the situation and sufficiently
generous to admit it. must acknowledge
that never before have the uniSns been so
badly paralyzed. and working at cross-pur-
pesos as they are Today; utterly incapa BILE
OF gaining any recognition at the hands of
employers and business men, In support of
similar cases"
Mr.. McHugh then mentions q number of
instances in which trouble has occurred In
reference to the employment Of union labor.
and continuing. SAYS. -
Here are business men who have hmm
d1eds, ST thousands of dollars invested In
business enterprises. These men are alb
setute4y' IN no manner responsible for the
q larrels of rival labor factions, yet they
are daily tormented by Committees from
the several central bodies, each claiming
to be the legitimate union, and condemning
the others In most unmeasured terms as
SOAPS and traitors. They advance their
claims under threats of .boycott. ann ali
manner of dire penalties No matter what
position business man takes, no matter
now honest his intentions TfEy be- no mat
ter now fair he wishes to actin the ma tier
he finds himself between the devil and the
deep sea, with no woods in sight and will
be placed on the unfair list, by the side he
ices net recognize, and supported by the
one he does. What farce! It's a certain
poycott In either case. and, as the forces
are ABOUT evenly divided, one is as effective
as the other.
Time to Cry Halt. - --------
Now. I maintain it is time to cry a halt
and make an effort to manage our own af-
fairs sensibly, before we undertake to saw
sEeerest nonsense to say that it is impossi-
BILE to organize into one central body. Moth
ing in the world is easier, If disorganizers
and !ohStructionistS keep their hands off
Fermit the rank and file, who are anxious
1es peace ana-hafmoay, to get together and
organize one central body, where all can
me ct under the same roof as Is done In a
thousand other cities
NOW, you viii remember chat made the
proposition to resign a year ago The pIan
was laid before others occupying similar
positions, who refused, saving that thew an
preciated the honors they were enjoying.
and did not propose to give them I'D.
am as positive as I 1--WE, and speak
from experience and observation among the
rank and file of organized labor In wash
ington. that they realize the predicament
they nnd themselves in. and are anxious
that peace and harmony should prevail
again and, If not interfered with, they can
and Will bring it about themselves.
II tender my resignation in the interest
OF peace, and sincerely trust that organized
iapor IN Washington may Join hands and
work Tor the good Of all. You know the old
adage, "A house divided in ITSELF &C. I
your honorable body, and, in my humble
way, to do what can, as private to pro-
mote and protect the interests of the
workers"
Accepted With Regret.
Inc resignation was accepted, after e
lengthy discussion, during which many re-
grets were expressed that MIR. McHueh
had felt 1t to be his duty to take the step.
TWenty-one organizations were represent
ed at the meeting. Second Vice President
Roy Carroll called the body to order, and
gee presided.
The grievance of the painters received a
thorough airing. they having requested the
federation to place River View excursion
poats on the unfair list. The committee
appointed on this particular business made
a written report of tho entire facts in the
premises, and recommended that the fed
Grafton do not concur in the request of the
painters. The recommendation of the COM
mittee was adopted.
Duflding Trades sC0uncil.
The regular weekly meeting last even
ing of the Building Trades Council was
held at Electrical Worksrs Han. and was
attended by the representatives. sof nine or
ganizations, nearly every affiliated union
having delegates present. President Will
liam Silver occupied the chair, ana Mr. Jas.
Nd. Boyce oficiated os secretarys
Attention was called to an article pub
lished in The Star Of last evening, in refer
ence to "a beginning which, It was stated,
was about to be made In carrying Into
practical operation the plans for which the
Sanitary Improvement Eompanys of this
city was organized and in reference
thereto Secretary Boyce was directed to
send letter to General George M. Stern
berg, president of that organization, q
COPY Of which Is as follows:
The Building Trades Council II informed.
through the columns Of The Evening Star,
that the company of which you are the
president contemplates the erection of
specimen healthful homes Ter tho better
class OF wage earners.'
I'VE would respectfully suggest, while
you are giving attention to the hygienic ar
rangements of these proposed homes. and
In giving out your contracts for the con-
structfon. that you also provide for the en-
ployment Of. the better class cf wage
workers, and speGlfy that none but union
workmen ahall beknmployed.
BY acti4g In accordance with this sug-
gestion, yp viii 6tve the better class Of
wage iearnet4 "a clfance to earn ths money.
necessary to pay rent Tor their homes. and
70 provide hea!thfui food end clothing for
their families"