Evening star., 1898-01-04
Again Declines Presidency Of Central
Labor Union.
NORMAN c. SPRAGUE Els SUCCESSOR
The Outgoing Presidents Review
Of Organization History.
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The semi-annual election of officers of the
Central Labor Union was held last evening
at Typographical Temple President Spohn
adhered to his intention, heretofore ex
pressed in The Star, to retire from that
office. He was again placed in nomination
last night, but again declined, and Mr.. Nor
man c. Sprague of Printing Pressmens
Union, No. l, was chosen as president for
the ensuing six months.
Other officers elected were as follows:
Vice president, A. }. keane of Bakers and
Confectioners; secretary, J. J. Crowley Of
The Granite Cutters (re-electcD; assistant
, secretary, ]. NJ Kreiter, Typographical
Union rc-elected); treasurer. ]. d. Mckay
brotherhood of Carpenters; auditors, j. NJ
Heisley of Brotherhood Of Carpenters: VIZ
liam Silver, Granite Cutters and John We
Der Bakers ard Confectioners; sergeant O.
+. Cox of Electrical Workers.
Mr. SpOhn's Address.
In retiring from the chair Mr. Spohn
made an address, which, in part, was as
follows:
ON retiring from the presidency of this
podH L would be remiss in my duty did |
hot express my appreciation OF the honors
you nave conferred upon me. For four con-
secutiVe terms, or ever since the forma ton
OF the Central Labor Union, you have with
'oSi eio'i tioSeit NE aS your Chief
'StcutFe onlcer. Under the conditions
Whlch prevailed when this body was organ
'zed' unremtting. Jealous effort was neces-
SarF 10 protect it successfully from the
attacks or those who. being opposed to the
formation of union local central body
resCrtsd 10 every conceivable means to dis
rupt IL. 1t Is unnecessary for me to recite
the many instances of opposition which
were neither manly nor honest, for they are
thapters IN the history of your experience
Al the Tune OF our organization there were
'hoSe who prophesed that our efforts would
ie.uit III ldliure and even the most san
SWEe friend did not anticipate the success
We nave attained. Having passed the ex-
teriinental stage the body has become th..
dominant labor factor of this District
Two years ago Fine trades unions pro-
testing against the unwholesome methods
then prevailing, formed this body for the
tWo-fold purpose of retrieving the charac-
ter of local labor and forming a represen
tatiVe central BODY upon the all-sufficient
OASIS OF Trades unionsm Since then We
nave increased, until now We have in al
nance twenty-five bona fide organizations
having an aggregate membership of 1000
or ~, per cent of the organized labor of
the District But three union Organizations
LOW remain unaffilated
This body mas twice formally and in
Sood falth invited the cooperation of the
opposing faction, and twice the proposal |
was rejected. 1t is very probable that
had our overtures been responded to in
the same kindly spirit in which they were
made much good would have been accom-
plished and fraternal cooperation would
nave resulted. While it would have been
impossible to ally the unions and assem-
| blies in ole central body. it was possible
that in ell matters involving the mutual
| trade interests helpful and amicable re,a-
tions could have been secured and main
tanned.