The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-21
RILEY ENDORSED
By the stogie Makers League
his Action Taken at
THF FEDERATION OF LABOR
Meeting in Detroit, and It is Decided
That T4ere viii be No Amiliation
With tine international Cigar ia
ksrs' Union-Arr. Riley Reports q
Length on BIS Attempt to Secure
Recognition at Detroit

Last night, at a meeting of local nien-
beers Of the National stogie Makers
League National President W. d. Riley
reported at length on his visit % De-
trolt, where he attended the annual
convention Of the American Federation
OF Labor in an attempt to secure the
Federatlon's recognition OF tine stogIs
makers organization, but as e now
well known, without success The
meeting was well attended and the con
sensus Of opinion was that the stogle
makers would continue as before, On
organization Independent Of the cigar
makers and necessarily without the
recognition OF the Federation. Il being
considered impossible to eoneede the
demand that the stogle workers afiill-
ate with the international Cigar Work
ers' Union.
President Riley made the following
interesting report of his work At De-
trolt;
I'VE have Just returned from Detroit
where we spent week closely observe
Ing the workings Of che Federation Of
Labor in convention. and my respect
for that body has been materially less
ened. Their published reports Of pro-
ceedings when eliminated from the
narrow, bigoted preJudlces that too Of
ten are dominant factors in determine
ing questions before that body. look
well in rrlnt, yet are scarcely recog-
nIzabls to the spectators in convention,
Reflection suggesta the though; that IL
looking for harmony among working
men, and in looking for an adjustment
of grievances 1t would be well to seek
for 1t elsewhere than among these 90
called representative working men. It
is a justlHable assumption that the
claims made by delegates representing
any trade carry with them convictions
Of truth, influencing legislation which
thorough investigation would not
warrant. This was notably 50 in the
case OF the stogie makes who applied
for a charter. Secretary Morrison
promised 10 refer the same to the ex-
ecutive council. but after the lapse OF
reasonable time, We learned that our
appeal was side tracked, either through
press Of business or trend Of inclir:a-
ton. Finally, just before the time ex-
pIred for the introduction OF resolutions
without unanimous consent. we secured
the consen. of Mr.. A. S. Hughes, the
p0tters' delegate, to offer resolution
asking for the appointment OF cOm-
mlttee of Eve to investigate our claims
for charter.
"our success in getting before the con-
ventlon gave the cigar makers cause
for sober thought Ono reflections in-
tended. Trey, not feeling equal to the
emergency. wired for their national
president, and upon his arrival We went
before the committee and presented the
following claims:
! GBNTLEAIEN:-Wo herewith respect.
lily submit some reasons why We should
be AFFILIATED with the American Federation
First-That we are not dual oFganiEa-
| ton in tho sense OF similarity OF work, ea
stogie maker can not make cigar, NOR
! can a cigar maker make stOBio, except
In rare cases.
second-our interests are NOT identical,
/ for an increase in the output Of either
product means corresponding decrease y
! the other. In fact, We come nearer anta8-
oniEIng than resembling each other.
Third-That radical differences exist be-
| tween stogle makers and cigar makers N
reference 10 methods Of work and c0mpa-
titIon for trade. The government Of one
would be detrimental TO the other.
Fourth-The position Of our respective
| Organizations Is somewhat similar 70 that
OF the potters and stone ware. Workera,
bth Of whom are in the Federation d La
Dor, without standing or rlghts being que5-
| toned.
Fifth-our unionIsn cannot DO doubted,
| as the local which was the nucleus around
which We formed our national body was
for thirty-seven years in active, c0ntinu.
| COS work.
sixth-our skill as workmen will bear In
yestigation, as two year apprenticeship
! ~ necessary TO secure membership.
| Seventh--We claim that we are not 0Il-
t1gOnlstc to the international Cigar
Workers in other than legitimate trade
/ competition.
Eighth-That an investigation Of our
books will show an expenditure Of thou.
/ sands Of dollars and years OF continuous
struggle to advance and maintain the best
interests OF the International Cigar Work
ers In our territory, where they have no
/ organization.
Nlnth-That we made to the cigar work
ers q proposition 10 affiliate With them,
provided they would give TO us the tame
| recognition, the same label and protection
they accorded to the cigar workers, and
Tenth-E1istingla Of the International
cigar Workers are such AS to make an
afhlliatlon utterly impossible They vir-
tually. and. In fact boycott NIL clgarl or
htoEies made for less than six dollars or
sold for less than twenty dollars pr thou
I Hand, while our maximum rate Is $ q per
thousand with no restrictions as TO selling
price, We, in the interest OF harmony, ae-
cepted this division line. and struck the
| word cigar from our label and stand toe
| Gay as the representatives OF the Gtogie In
qustry, thus leaving the cigar trade con-
/ troll to the cigar workers
| EIevcnth-,rhat through our organization
| the hours OF labor have been shortened
wages advanced, trade extended, character
| Of work Improved, interest IN organization
| qulckened; all OF which should commend Us
10 the American Federation Of Labor.
| Twelfth-Ihe magnitude OF tho HtoEie In
dustry and tho Importance Of bringing It
| under union control are considerations
| worthy OF special discussion and iegisIa-
ton by the American Federation OF Labor,
and u clipping attached from the Wheel
Ing lnteiligenceTl will show a local
Increase, which IN common 10 other l0-
| cafities. Our efforts 10 better conditions
through ORGANIZATIONS have met With sue
cess 70 marked degree. and should the
American Federation Of Labor Give ~
their powerful support and influence, We
can reasonably expect a ten-foid increase
Of trade benefits. FrnternallY,
w. II. RILEY.
After discussing the above claims,
the committee adjourned to the follow
] To-. hF.,a.., 40, -,