The times., 1897-05-16
olsintegration which has occurred within


Mr. Milford spohn, president of the
Central Labor Union, which Is connected
with the American Federation OF Labor.
is strongly opposed to the plan. He says
it is impracticabIe, for it would be inn
possible for unions with national trade
heads to withdraw from the national labor
organizat ions without the consent OF
the former. While this may be true, say
the friends of the scheme, it cannot be
denied that the benefits TO local labor
would more than repay for the losses
suffered by the national organizations.
Mr. srohn is thoroughly conversant with
the situation In regard To organized labor
in the city, both as regards the leaders t I'd
the principles they represent. This hnowl-
edge, he says, justifies him in the asscr ion
that 1t is impossible to combine all these
into u single organi zation.
Mr. A NJ Lawson, master workman OF
District Assembly sc. X. of L.. said e had
given the matter a great deal OF .'onsiflcra-
tion. but would express no opinion on the
subject.
A prominent member of one OF the largest
lahor bodies in the city said the scheme, If
perfected, would result in the betterment
of all classes and the members OF individual
trades.
1.-The wage-earners," " he said, ''are mighty
when they are thoroughly, earnestly and
coripactly organized. And when SO organ
izeditisessential to their welfare tohaye but
a single central body No trade is SO strong
that it is requisite to its advancement 10
have two or more unions The more organ
iZations belonging to representative hodies
the greater the detriment 10 the different
associations and such state of affairs
is particularly demoralizing to members of
such organizations, and especially to crafts
rnen not connected with any unions.
ut must be admitted he continued,
''that the condition of affaES in Wash
ington is certainly dScouraging. after a
candid and unlias reckoning. Realize the
true position we, as wage earners. occupy
at the ca pital of the country. We areron-
fronteJ with condition that warrants
decisive action and the sacrifice of err
sonal feeling and vaulting ambitions.
''The solidificatiOn of the many labo,ing
men and women in the District sho.'ld
be the higher hope OF every true aud
consistent person who is allied WITH any
organization which seeks to advance the
interests and conditions of his fell w
workmen The present depression m busi-
ness viii disappear before long, TO be
followed by a revival Of the various o1.ter-
prises now lying dormant by reas)n Of
the scarcity of money. And when That
wave OF prosperity comes we must meet
it in a solid phalanX. This is the summer
of our misfortunes. Let us devoie cur
valuabletime to promote the welfare OF the
toiIing masses There is but one way.
The fashion of our acts VIII nc reflected
in a mirror that always reproduces
true likeness
''The ranks of the wage carners ere
rent with discomfort, unrest. prejudice
aad bias Resolute, determined ind
straightforward action Is necessary.
1T cannot be said that The various
central bodies are not sincere, out 1t is
a positive fact he said. THAT their
efforts are misdirecte1 Men seemingly
have taken the place of principles, snd
self. ACKNOWLEDGMENT has found quicker
root than the work of protecting the in-
terests OF the many.
The time is propitious for a grand
organization Let us have fewer leaders
and more genuine leadership. No man, who
is true union man can hesitate to step
down and out of bis office. when such an
act viii adva nee the condition Of people
suffering for want OF honest unionism.
II have 10 desire To heiittle the labors
of the distinguished gentlemen who are
at the head of the local Federation Of
Labor, the District Assembly. Knights of
Labor, the Building Trades Council. or the
Central Labor Union, they have all done
themselves proud in their time; but il s
patent TO the careful observer that each
and all stand ia the way of proper
md a more creditable organization. L
say creditahle, but no position is credit
able to an unbiased mind which keeps in
jeopardy the advancement or the man who
earns his living by his own labor
1T is Iamentable fact that the four
central bodies in this city cannot be so
solidly organized, that no man viii at
tempt to make war upon the working
classes The rank and file can demand the
heads OF the leaders 1t is our duty.
Sacrifices must he made, and IL will be a
glorious moment when Messrs Lawson,
McHugh, Silver, and Spohn viii advocate
their own decapitatioa, with the hope that
such actions will tend to solidify the
working classes of Washington
'No minister expounds tie teaching Of
the Bible with more zest than do now
invoke the aid ofall true men to accomplish
upiomzation of all trades in this city III
one body Your interests and mine de-
mand it, because as sure as hope to meet
my God when the final test comes, the
weakened lines will be invaded Ivy cap
ital and you will perish as you stand
This is DO idle talk Facts speak for them
selves and because of my great regard FOR
my fellow-nan l shall always advocate
these principles.
IF the leaders OF all the factions will set
aside their ambitions and devote their
energies to a wholesale reorganization all
will be well, and we will have such
central body as will be impenetrable by
its arch eneny-capital 1t will be an in
stitution which will reflect credit upon
the better Judgment of ali concerned.
.sThen labor will be respected, and will
be in position to make reasonable de-
mand 1t will command the consideration
of every appeal made, Ind every member
of the affiliated societies can be proud OF
his position in life
.sThe employer will hearken to our ap-
peaIs and our requests will be treated as
they should be. On such a platform 1
am glad TO stand 1t is broad enough for
all to stand upon Who will so with me
1 am ready to move.
President McHugh, of the local Fed
Grafton. is also an ardent advocate Of
tire Capitalization idea, and has always
favored any and all movements among
the laboring classes which tender to the
advancement of the interests, individually
and collectively
When a similar movement was being