Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-08
LABOR PROSPERS In OMAHA
Various Crafts Make an Excellent Showing
in Their Organizations.
CENTRAL UNION NEW DIRECTORY JUST oU'
Omaha Is a Stronghold of Unionism
and the Central Body is Made Up
of Representative Craftsmen
Facts and Figures.

Omaha Central Labor union has just is
sued its official directory for 1899, neat
book and valuable compendium of local
labor affairs The Central union is com
posed of thirty-three trades organizations.
The directory shows a healthy and growing
status of labor in Omaha, with decided
I tendency ON the part of the workers to dig
nifty labor and to keep abreast OF the times
in every particular.
The following trades are represented In
! Central Labor union: Carpenters, painters
I bricklayers, plumbers, electrical workers
plasterers, stonecutters, sheet metal work
ers, machnists, coopeGs. horseshoers, theat-
rical workers, brewery workers, retail
clerks, leather workers, typographical work
ers, pressmen, cigarmakers, musicians
cooks, bakers, garment workers, hackmen
broom makers. bartenders, bri2kmakers
bolermakers and American Federation OF
Labor Nos. 7112, 713S and 7136.
The officers of the Omaha Central Labor
! union are: President, #. M. Youngs; vice
president, j. E. Ryan; recording secretary
/ G. e. Sparks; financial secretary, NJ. J. Cur.
ram; treasurer, c. e. Watson; sergeant-a
arms, w. o. Shrum.
! In addition to these officers there Is alst
board OF trustees, besides the variout
standing commibtees All are prominentl!
identified with labor and in the roster o.
officers several trades are represented.
Central Labor union operates under {
charter issued by the American Federation
OF Labor The charter bears date of Feb
ruary 23, 1894, Meetings are held the frs
and third Friday evenings of each montl
in Labor Temple.
Organization Has Strength.
Although the charter dates only from
! 1894, the organization was brought into ex
istence February 7, 1887. 1t is the centra
/ body of all trades unions. Each organiZa
| tion is allowed three delegates to the Cen
tral union. With tho prevalence OF union
ism in Omaha, this basis Of representation
makes notably strong organization, for i
is the rule Of each union to send its ables
delegates to the central body.
In addition to other information contained
| in the directory, there is a review of eacl
union, containing much interesting history
The bricklayers held their preiminar,
meeting in February, 1881. The following
month permanent organization was effected
The initial meeting of the union was hell
! in gun store ON Douglas street. In Ma,
OF the same year the Omaha union was Off
cially recognized by the national organiza
!
United States with regard TO age and 1t i
well toward the front as to strength and in
fluence, The present officers are: Pres
ident, ]. II. Withnell vice president
Charles Mccall; recording secretary, Charlie
Hay; financial secretary, George Clark
treasurer, John Davis; sergeant at arms
| William Wolff.
The carpenters and joiners date their pres
ent organization from February, 1893. Prio
to that time two unions had ex
listed and the idea OF consolidation
was based on the knowledge tha
in union there is strength. The agta
tion which commenced in February resulte
in a permanent organization the following
March, and the union has since that dat
steadily expanded until now 1t ranks anon
the best in the city. AS a general rule tn
carpenters are a prosperous and happy lo
Many OF them have made notable records i
the general advancement Of the cause G
labor The present officers Of Carpenters