Evening star., 1897-03-20
Central Labor Unionfto Celebrate Its
Birthday.
MEETING ARRANGEB FOR MONDAY
Remarkable Growth rim Its Twelve
Months Of Life.
T H e RATIONAL BODY

The anniversary Of the Central Labor
Union, which will be observed by holding
an open meeting of that body next Monday
evening, rounds the first year of the only
distinctive trades union central body which
has thus far been successfully maintained
in the District of Columbia.
!: Until the formation of the Central Labor
Union the union organizations of the city
were represented in the Federation of
Trades, which, as body, was purely local,
having no national affiliation.
For some years before the formation of
the Central Labor Union many who were
prominently identified with the trade union
organizations became dissatisfied with con-
ditions existing in the local federation, and
the formation Of distinctive trades union
body was regarded by them as necessary to
promote the best interests of local labor.
Though it Is said by those VINO are inti-
n ate with local industrial conditions that
the formation of a body of this character
was only a question of time, the imposition
OF the beer boycott in the latter part OF
1888 caused conditions which hastened the
organization of trades union central body
In response to call issued early in
February of 1896 for a preliminary meeting
TO consider the formation of a central body
which should be conducted along trade
union lines, sixteen organizations sent rep
resentatives. Thirteen of these locals
agreed to temporary organization. and a
call was issued for meeting to perfect a
permanent organization.
The First Meeting.
This meeting was held March %, 1896
and was attended by delegates from the
Amalgamated Carpenters Association,
Bakers and Confectioners' Union, Bricklay
ers' Union, Cigar Makers Union, Columbia
Typographical Union, Electrical Workers
Union, Brotherhood of Carpenters. Musi-
clans Protective League, Steam and Hot
Water Filters, Granite Cutters Branch.
Stereotypers' Union and Steam and Hot
Water Filters Helpers Association.
At this meeting Milford Spohn of Brick
layers Union No. l and u. I. Jenkins of
Columbia Typographical Union were chosen
president and secretary, respectively.
AS the new organization was composed
CARNATIONS of their respective crafts,
charter was obtained from the American
Federation of Labor and, for the first time
in the history of local labor a representa-
tive body of trades unions was organized
under these conditions.
The purpose of the organization was
stated to be:
ITO unite the various trade and labor or
ganZatiopS of the citySand vicinity, and
assist in the forma ton iof organizations
where none exist that d brotherhood
may be formed for the defense of the rights
and the protection OF the interests of the
ldDOIHS 10 DISCUSS ana eNa mine
all questions affecting the general interests
of the workers and to SO concentrate the
forces of labor as to enable them to sue
cessfully compete with orga nized capital
in influencing the Law making power of the
country; to use the utmost endeavors TO i'm
press upon the various branches of labor
the necessity of maint aiming a more per-
feet organization of the, crafts and to use
all honorable means to arbitrate difficulties
between w,rkers and their employers"
There was much opposition to the for
matfoE of the new bIy. by those who
maintained affiliation with the other cen
tral organiZat tions,s but norwi thstanding his
opposition rle Central Labor Union in
creased In membership through the with
drawal from the local Federation of the
Hod Carriers Union and the Galvanized
Iron and Cornce Workers Association, and
the organization Of the Brotherhood of
Painters and Decorators, Engineers Union,
No 661S; PAYERS Protective Union, Bar
bers Local 21. Operative Plasterers' Union
and Brewery Workers Union. No. us.
The roster of the central body includes
the largest organizations in the city. hav-
ing aggregate membership, it is claimed
of near 1000, comprising, with one excep
ton, all the local trades and the l., Hiding
crafts of the District.