The times., 1897-12-12
IN THE WORLD OF LABOR.

The action OF District Assembly No. h6,
knights OF Labor, requesting those as
semblies which disagree with the 'ad
ministration" On matters OF fact to change
their delegates to the central body, ms
been the talk OF labor circles during he
past woek. While such a course of action
vas not wholly unexpected, by the con-
sc. vative members of the oider IL is Thought
tc be very fnJudicious Just at this time,
and there are fears enter aimed by some
that it may tend to disrupt the order in
the District.
This fear IS entertained because 1t is
believed that In the event OF the assem-
blies requested SO change their repre-
sentatives not complying, the next step
to ha rmoni2e District No. 66 viii be To
demand the withdrawal OF the assemblies
themselves. In fact, this much was in
tmated by a prominent member OF tie
District Assembly not long ago. Those
who have given the situation serio is
IL ought and considered all the circum-
stances which led to internal dissensions
do not anticipate that such radicalmeasures
VIII be resorted to.
As matter of fact some IF the members
the order question the right OF a district
assembly 10 request, much less demand
the chs nge of the personn ell of the delegates
| sent by local assembly to represent
them in the central body. The District
Assembly, it is claimed. has no power
except that which is delegated to it ~
the repre sentatiyes OF the locals. In
other words, it is given life by the local
| frl l.ofr
delegates are supposed to represent the
| sentiment Of the assemblies TO which they
belong, and il they in fact do not, it is to
theirowL organizations, and nor the district
| assembly, tc which they are responsible
| for their actions.
In other words, it is maintained that the
| district assembly is a creation and not a
| creator Of the local assemblies.
1t is very probable, however, that the
| differences between the assemblies will
| be referred TO a referendum vote, and that
the minority Will be guided by the VIII
of the majority
1t was hoped that the visit of the general
secretary Of the United Brewery Workers
! Union to tbs city would have resulted in
an arnicahle settlement of the troubles
between the two local Brewery Workers
was disappointed. III fact, it is thought
the presence OF the general secretary
only tended to widen the breach be-
| tween the two bodies. The democratic
spirit of local government which predond-
| mates the members was stronger than tie
Influence from outsiders, and as a conse
uuence the advice of the visiting general
| secretary was not needed. 1t was r..
ported that al the conferences held with
the two organizations of brewery work
ers the general secretary advised that
the union consolidate under one charter.
According to the old sa ying that 'iIn
union there is strength this was, no
doubt excellent advice. IL, however, The
general secretary had been Informed o;
the condition of affairs existing in local
ciganized labor, he would have known that
such Il course of action would not be con-
sidercd BY any two organizations of tie
sane trade or craft in the District.
| The object and endeavorof the controlling
spirits OF the Central Labor Union since
it was organized has been to form dulli
cate unions of every ytrade and craft IL the
District which is not dominated by Trades
Union principles. This, together with the
announcement made Some time ago by the
knights of Labor that they, too, intended to
organize all trades and crafts at present
not affiliated with them, precludes tn,
probability of the amalgamation OF organ
| izations subservient to the influences oi