Evening star., 1897-03-16
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
A System Designed to Protect Union Made
Goods.
Meeting of the Body Last Night-Many
Matters of Interest
Discussed.

The meeting of the Central Labor Union
last evening was largely devoted to the
consideration CT routine business. Presi
dent Milford Spohn presided, and J. ].
crowley was secretary. communication
was read from Eugene Peltier secretary Of
the Trades Union Circle Check Associat tion
having headquarters at Richmond Va,
callirS the attention of the central body to
the circle check system, which, he said
has been indorsed by organized labor
throughout the United States, and which
has been adpoted and operated with dccid-
ed success i'll Newark. Nj: Springfield,
Lowell. Lynn, New Bedford, Mass; Hart
fcrd. New Haven, Conn: Providence Paw
tucket, r. L.; Wilmington. Del; Elmra
Binghamton. N. y; Richmond and Nor
folk Va. and over fifty other cities, large
and small, by trade unions.
Details of the Plan.
The object is to ascertain and place on
record the friends of organized labor in
business in cities; to make demand for
union labeled goods, and to increase the
treasury or create benefit fund for mem
bers of the local union
This system is given to any store favora-
bic to the unions and that will agree to
supply the demand for union-made goods
All members are instructed when buying
goods to demand a circle check, upon which
the dealer indicates the amount OF the pur-
cnase and signs the name of the firm This
check is then given TO the purchaser who
deposits 1t with his local union at the end
OF each month. These checks are given to
general collector from the Central Labor
onion, IL there be one). who returns them
TO the union dealers who have issued them
and collects 3 per cert of the amount thew
represent. One-third of this collection goes
10 the Central Labor Union, which supplies
an cnecks ana makes collections; the other
l"o-tnlfdS goes to the local unions ac-
cordlng to the members purchases
Inc association is organized to Introduce
this system and will send an agent to So
kclt all stores and do all necessary work
Tor the proper starting of the system and
supply first lot of checks 1,OvD) to each
store.
miscellaneous Matters.
In view of the fact that the members of
the Central Labor Union did not thorough
ly understand the check system above re-
1efred to. committee composed of Messrs.
Gompers, Willis and Weber was appointed
TO make further inquiries relative to.it.
me committee appointed to investigate
the charges of alleged incompetency pre-
ferred against the foreman of carpenters
employed at Fort Washington, read u let
ter from Capt. Cruise who is in charge
mere stating that the man referred TO
passed civil service examination before
appointment, and that his average was
highly satsfao tory. The committee was
continued with instructions to bring the
matter before the committee of Congress,
which is expected to Investigate the work
inss OF the civil service law
The Central Labor Union laid on the table
an invitation to attend a lecture of J. Nah
Ion Barnes on ''Old and New Trades IN
ionism.'
A committee was appointed to investigate
report that man who has been expelled
from the Bricklayers' Union was putting in
the furnaces at the new post Office
Nine unions reported that they had in
dorsed the boycott of thea.er whose own
ers. it was stated, did not pay the me-
chanics employed in the Improvements
made there.
Delegate Canty reported that notwith-
standing the depressed condition of affairs
here during the past winter. the Brick
layers Union lost less than l per cent of
its membership.
The arrangement of the details for the
proper celebration of the first anniversary
of the Central Labor Union, which takes
place Monday evening next, We're referred
to a subcommittee composed Of Messrs.
Weber, Lannis and Golden.