The times., 1897-09-12
IN THE LABOR WORLD.

The past week las been unusually quiet
in local labor circles. No matters OF pub
lie interest were considered, the Labor Day
festivities taking up all, If not Tie whole,
attention of the members Of organized la
Dor. In the case of the Building Trades
Council the observance OF the wage earners
national holiday was extended over into
Tuesday, when the delegates and invited
guests enjoyed pleasant smoker at Elec-
trical Workers Hall.
The council some time ago was presented
by a union firm with twenty-five packages
OF excellent tobacco and half hundred pr
more pipes, and AT the following IneeIiI &
decided to give a smoker on the evening
after Labor Day. Feeling that they would
like their friends to enjoy their good for
tune with them, they sent out numerous in
vita tionS TO their fellow workmen in the
RANKS of organized labor. The members of
the Council nlsu decfd ed to supplement tue
gift from the tobacco firm with . ther things
which 20 TO make time pass pleasantly and
after BRIEF session, the Council adj
journed, and a most enjoyable evening
was spent.
one OF the athletic events OF the Labor
Day program at River View was a tug
of war between teams representing the
Central Labor Union and the Building
Trades Council. For some reason still un-
explained no matter how great the lat
ter may be III the push, il certainly
was not in the pull against the Central La
hot Union, and Mr.. Silver, president of
the Council, was kept busy wering the
question, "Eow about that tug OF war;
Mr. Shaniey. a delegate from the Cen
trail Labor UnioE, capped the climax by
reading a verse, the burden of which was
that the Council was not in it with the
Central labor Union iii the pun
song in irish, sung by Mr.. Harry
I agerts, was also wen received and en-
thusiastically applauded by the audience.
Brief speeches were made by Mr.. Silver.
President Spohn, of the Central Labor
Onion; President Roy Carroll, Of the Local
Federation OF Labor, and Willie Patter-
son.
on account OF the Labor Day festivities
no meeting OF the Central Labor Union
was held on Monday evening and but a
short eSsion was held by the local Fedora
ton of Labor. AT the latter there was a
full attendance of delegates rom sixteen
affiliated organizations. This revival cf
interest is attributed to the appeals made
10y the propa ganda committee to the local
bodies represented in the Federation of
Labor. President Carroll called attention
to this and urged the committee To keep on
witt their good work until every organi-
cation entitled to representation shall
send a full quota OF delegates toeach NE ct
ing.
First Vice President Arthur Keep made a
stirring speech on the subject Of govern
ment bny injunction in which he argued
against sympa tbetIc strikes and warned
the working class that their only hope
OF redress for their wrongs is at he Lallot
lox
During the past week he position taken
by President Gompers, Of the American
Federation of Labor, in reference TO the
ST. Louis conference, Las been discussed
but the leaders are not prepared to venture
their Individual opinions until MIR. Com
pcrs is heard from again on the subject.
M. 7. Carrick, president of the Brot herhood
OF Painters and Decorators in speech
before the United Labor League OF Pitts
burg, Pa, on last Saturday evening, critl.
cised Mr.. GonipeIs very severely and called
HIN some very ugly names. Among the
local leaders, however. there is wide
diversity of opinion as 10 the right OF Mr.
Carrick TO criti else anyone, especially
Mr. Gompers, Some say that his pa
recoid is not such as 10 justify him IN de-
nouncing anyone as 'fakir," while
others say he is all right all right, all wool
| and yard wide, and warranted not To tea
or stretch
The bill TO regulate the hours OF duty
for the members of the metropolitan police
which is being drafted by a prominent
member of the local Federation OF Lator
| is nearly complete, il is said, and VIII soon
| lie submitted To that body for Endorsement
before brlng presented to Congress. The
bill is based on the eight hour law, whica
regulates the time Of Dor Of all Govern
| n.ent employees, and stipulates that the
members of the police force do only
one trick" of eight hours each day, in
stead of two siA-hour tricks, as at present
Their are other features which, il is said
viii recommend the bill to the favorable
consideration of the members OF Congress
| II will be remem bered that a bill very
similar &c the proposed new measure was
| introduced at the last regular session OF
| Congress, but failed Of passage. BY thuSS
| who have given the matter close attention
il is claimed that the new bill has many
redeeming features to recommend it, and
there Is little fear entertained that it
viii not be enacted into law at the next
meeting of Congress.
Neither the very oppressive Weather no
the Labor Day festivities interfered with
the activity of the orgamzer Of the Cen.
trial Labor Union. During the week he was
busy looking after the two new infant
Unions, the Fedora! Labor and the Labor