Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1899-08-26
Carpenters Will Become the
Largest Labor Union in
This City.
Labor Day Celebration at Fern
Grove Will Be a ROus-
ing Affair.
PROMINENT SPEAKERS ARE EXPECTED

The representatives OF the several or
CARNATIONS composing the United Trades
and Labor Assembly at a meeting held
last Sunday decided to continue upon
their erroneous course and ignore Presi-
dent Gompers and the American Fedora.
ton of Labor. The rank and file of the
trades unionists of Louisville had ear
nestly hoped that the existing differences
would have been tremendously adjusted
before this, as the Central Labor Union
had sent courteous and dignihed letter
to the delegates of the seeding unions
inviting them to return to the legal and
representative body.
There are those who think, and with
reason, that the members of those unions
will shortly take the matter i'll hand and
send new delegates to the Central Labor
Union, as they can not help knowing the
uselessness of affiliating with body that
will not be recognized by the American
Federation or the national unions. Some
time ago it was intimated by members
of the unrecognized body that they were
only awaiting President Gompers' decis-
ion upon their appeal to take steps to
heal the breach. The Central Labor
Union was ready to take whatever action
was necessary to comply with the Presi-
dents ruling, and the course of the other
body is something of disappointment
and mystery to those on the outside. The
Kentucky Irish American deplores this
division in the ranks of organized labor
which is being encouraged by labor's
enemies and can only result in harm to
the movement, and would suggest to the
workingmen to thoroughly investigate
the matter as it now stands, believing
they will soon find reason to apply the
remedy that will squelch those who stand
in the way of the unifcation and hearty
cooperation of the trades unions of this
city.
Last Sunday afternoon at Beck's Hall
George Roser, President of the Building
Trades Council, presided over a largely
attended meeting of the carpenters of
Louisville, who had assembled to hear
an address by Albert c. Cattermull, of
Chicago, who is a member of the Execu-
tive Board of the Brotherhood of Carpen-
tiers and Joiners of America. Mr.. Cater
null is an able and eloquent speaker,
and for an hour addressed the assemblage,
telling of the advantages to be derived
from membership in the union. Among
other things he stated that the brother
hood had added 5000 members to its rolls
this summer, while wages have been
increased in a large number of cities;
that Louisville was a progressive city
with plenty of building work, but the
wages of the local carpenters and profits
to contractors were far below those of the
smaller adjoining towns and cities. He
attributed the present deplorable condi-
ton OF affairs to the men themselves and
begged them to organize, assuring them
that where there is a good union there
will be no strike or labor trouble, citing
Chicago, which has had no strike since
1890 and will have none during the next
ten years. His reference to the giant
monopolies and their taxation of every
thing from the cradle to the grave ELECTED
applause, which was repeated when he
again urged them to organize that their
employers might also be freed from the
existing unfair competition. Thus they
might get rid of the illegal industrial
and political bosses who are now grind
ing the wage earners between the two.
The editor of the Kentucky Irish Amer
lean also addressed the meeting, urging
the men to heed the advice of the repre-
sentative of their national body and call
ing upon them to make one earnest effort
to improve the condition of their trade.
The contracting carpenters have had
several conferences with the representa-
tive of the national organization and Off
GERS of the local unions, and expressed a
willingness for every carpenter in the city
to join the union. At the meetings held
during the week large numbers were
admitted to membership.
Mr.. Charles Dietz, leading member
of the local union, was appointed organ
izer to see that all carpenters join the
body He commenced work Thursday
morning and will continue until every
carpenter in the city joins. Prices of
carpenter work in Louisville have been
cut for several years past and employers
and employees have come to the conclu-
sion that something ought to be done for
the better protection of the trade.
The working people of the city are
eagerly awaiting the arrival of Labor day.
The crowd that will accompany the Gen.
trail Labor Union to Fern Grove will be
the largest ever seen at that place. Old
men with their wives and children and
, young men and their sweethearts will be
there in thousands, and nothing will be
left undoue to make this the most thor
oughlY Labor day celebration vet held In