The times., 1897-05-09

listed among the leaders OF the ulllerenJ
factions of organized labor in the Dis
trict fer a year or more have been for
some time past a matter OF serious consid-
Grafton by men prominent in local labor
circles In fact, it may be said that the
subject is one of deep concern TO the
executive officers OF the national bodies
to which the several local bodies belong.
What the remote causes of the local DIFF
fcrenCes are, or who or what faction is
either remotely or immediately responsible
for the present condition OF affairs, is now
beine Investigated by those who, 1T Is
said, are endeavoring to formulate some
scheme to bring about a reconciliation
among the different factions The differ
ences, it is said, are as much the result
OF personal likes and dislikeS among the
leaders as to difference OF opinion es
to methods and principles Personal afnbi-
tions and the promotion of indi vidudl m
terestS, it is said, are more TO hlaflle for
the descriptions which have taken place OF
late years Than anything else In Tact, 1t
is claimed to be very noticeable TO those
who have given the matter thoughtful
consideration thaJin every instance where
a dis olution or disintegration OF any OF
the local labor organizations has taken
place the cause can be traced TO personal
differences among the local leaders.
Howe yer tins may be, the more consefva-
tive members of organized labor i'll Wash
ington have decided that all Influence and
respect will soon be lost If the internal
warfare does not cease. This fratricidal
warfare they say, if continued, can have
only one result, the total determination oi
one or more OF the factions, but more
probably the annihilation OF all of them
Seeing this condition of affairs stariag
them in the face the conservative lead
ers have determined to maxi earfiest
effort t. reconcile the fractions elements
and organize the wage-earners of the Dis
trict into one body, irrespective of their
national affiliations.
Work along this line, it is understood
has already begun, and the promoters Of
the scheme are much pleased with what
has so far been accomplished. They do
not however, expect 10 find plain sailing
in every direction, especially when indi-
vidaals and organizations are called upon
to abandon principles and associations
which they have been loyal to and battled
the conservative clemeut OF organized la
Dor in the city feel confident that itcan and
will he accomplished, and, further, that it
is the only way in which the organized
workanen can regain the power and influ-
ence they once possessed. The plan sug
gested by the friends Of the consolidation
idea is simple, and, briefly put, means that
there shall be only one central body or
clearing g-house for grievances
The promoters ofthe centr ali zation scheme
maintain that the very existence of four
central bodies in this city is, in meas
urc. iid for strife among the local or
ganiZa tons. 1t is the holding out TO them
of the temptation of a safe place OF
refuge, where they viii always he given
q cordial reception in the event of their
leaving their own oraaniza uOn, no mat
ter for what cause. The single central
body, tits contended, would do away with
Bll such assurances and thereby make the
members as well as their affiliated trades
more careful and considerate of the rights
and privileges OF each other.
1t is proposed that the new central
tody shall take the place of District As
yenibly No Sc, Knights OF Labor: the local
Federation of Labor, the Central Labor
Union and the Building Trades Council.
To accomplish this it will be necessary to
persuade the leaders in these orgaBiza-
hons to step down and out, and fall IN
with the rank aud file, or lie beheaded for
she good of tie cause. II is understood
ihat the majority of the officers in the
existing central bodies have stated that
they would willingly resigu their POSI-
lions TO secure a closer union of the labor
lorces of the city. While the action OF the
leaders in this matter will no Doubt iIave
yreat influence in directing the course
af the rank and file, stll it viii rot nee
ssarily have any weight in shaping tie
policy of the new body, for 1t is understood
that none OF the old leaders shall either
ask for or be elected to any office in the
new central body.
The greatest difficulty the promoters Of
tho scheme for the orga niZa1iOn OF the new
central body viii have TO meet and over
eone will be the weaving Of many of the
local organizations from their national
Affiliations OF course, it is not to be ex-
pected that atthelocallabor bodies shall sever
their connections with the national trade
organizations, but simply the affiliat0ns
with the one or other Of the two great IA
tiouai labor bodies This would leave the
local unions and assemblies intact, so far
as their national trade bodies are con
cerBed SO il is conteuded that the local
bO1ies Will lose nothing by giving their
support 10 this new scheme for the general
advancement OF the interests OF the work
men OF the District Even if the under
I3dng should prove complete failure
the members of organized labor OF the in
iividual bodies to which they belonged
would he i'll no way in any worse position
than at present.
II is also coDtended by the friends OF
tiie scheme that this method of unification
of the interests OF all the organizations
will lend strength to each separate body
which they could gainunder no other system
of combination The central body, tits sug-
geste3. shall be made up ofdelegates chosen
by the different affiliated unions and as
senblies on basis of mem bership.
This plan WILL OF course, give the
strongest organizations the greatest num-
Der of representatives on the floor OF the
Central Council, but it $ proposed to keep
these in check and place all organizations
on an equal footing on the board OF final
resort. which viii be composed OF an equal
number Of delegates from each union or
assembly
The new body, tits said. will be governed
on democratic principles, and in all cases
the decision OF the ma jority shall be
final. This, together withthe determination
of all interested to depose the present
1ocai iea'icrs, will make the promotion Of
cliques and rings nearly impossible not to
say quite Intellectual If formed