The times., 1897-11-14
IN THE WORLD OF LABOR.

Thr local factions of organized labor
| have haze plent gof cause for serious thought
during the last week and more. The com
binationS Which haye been made by the
| trades uni0nists and the Knights OF Labor
| during the last yedr for the advancement
| of tradc Interests is not working as
! smoothly as was anticipated aud the result
is that inatea.I of closer trade rela tions there
las Of late been a widening of the breach
whis separates the two ma tionai organiza-
tions.
The fiist oomhination was made over n
year ago between the several local or
ganizations Of bakers, Confectioners, and
Bakers Drivers; liien followed the Car
pentera Combine, which included the fhur
organizations Of That craft, two being
! knights or Lahor and two being trades
unionists. From what can be learned these
combinations are not working together
as ltartnunionsly as was expected. Or could
be wished. In fact, from what has taken
place during the last week or ten days
there IL every reason to believe tina there
will be d disruption of the bakers combine
before very long.
Th'. trouble seems 10 have grown ont Of
the fdcl that recently the trades unionists
have organized Bakers Drivers Union
which ouIifiicts with the interests OF the
knights Of Labor Bakers Drivers This
cohditior OF affairs has caused a great deal
of discussion in the local labor bodies, the
question resolving itself into the advisahil-
ity OF having two organizatins of the same
craft in the same city. This question has
been the one on which the trades unionists
and the Knights of Labor have always held
verg decided and opposite opinions, the
latter claiming that under the most favor
aide conditions it is detrimental to the ~
telests oe organized labor. On the other
hand, the trades uniouists contend thar un
der the autocraticrule and Capitalization OF
powe' system practiced by the former such
conditions are unavoidable. 1t appears,
however. that no matter what the causes
which necassitate this condition it win
alwayS remain as a barrier against a con-
soldatton Of the toiling masses OF the
country.
The agreement reached by the Central
LaGor Union and the Building Trades
Council, On the one side, and the pro-
prietors of The local breweries. on the |
other, disEUses OF a matter which has
caused mdcn uneaSneSs among the trades |
unioDists of the city for some time. While |
the terms of the agreement do not guar |
aItee the members OF organized labor |
affiliated with the bodies mentioned enl- |
pl0ynens for some time. still, 1t is satis- |
factory, in the light of a recognition on |
The part of the brewers, which the Y were |
not assured OF before. The matter of the |
members OF the fire department making |
repairs on the engine houses and improve |
mcnts on private property owned by Off
GERS Of the department, which has been |
cha' gee by the Building Trades Council
is still under consideration. Last week
the council received a communication from
The District Commissioners, which stated |
that the repairs done at the engine houses |
were entirely Tor the comfort and conven.
ience of the fi-emen, and not OF nature
To Interfere with the rights of local work.
men. The letter, it is haid, however, en-
tirely ignored the reference to the Work |
don't hy members of the fire department
on piivate property belonging to those
ill authority connected with that branch
OF tile municipal government. This NJ
iegec evasion, whether purposely or not hy
the Commissioners, " as not satisfactory, |
AMI special committee was appointed TO
Thoroughly investigate the matter and re-
port in detail at the next meeting. It Is
TIE intention of the council. it is under
stood, to have the committee report so in
detail on their findings that the CoEinis-
sioners win be compelled to take cogni-
Zance
While the local leaders are differing rs
to the best methods Of advancing the in
terests OF the laboring classes, they are
united on the question Of suffrage for the
residents OF tie District All the central
bodies have given this subject serious
consideration, and after calm deliberation
have appointed special committees to CO.
operafe with the District Suffrage A $50
citation. These committees have already
put themselves in communication with the
local general suffrage associa ton, ami
have perfected arrangements for a mass
meeting to be held during the coming
week
The representatives OF labor viii be OF
great assistance to the associa ton in ae-
comprising the end desired. For, while |
the residents of the District who are in.
terested N this matter can only Use
sliasion With the members OF Congress, il
is understood that organized Ia bor, through