Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-13
NEITHER is RECOGNIZED
STATUS OF RIVAL COUNCILS IN
BUILDING TRADES.
Action of the General Executive
Board Discussion of the
Local Conditions.

At the meeting last evening of the Build
ing Trades Council, held at Typographical
Temple. Mr. f. j. Ratfgan presiding and
Mr.. Milford Spohn serving as secretary
the announcement was made that Mr..
Spohn and Mr.. John p. Healey had for
warded their designations as fifth vice
president and chairman. respectively, OF
the legislative committee of the National
Building Trades Council to General Secre-
tary-Treasurer H. w. Steinbiss of that or
ganiZation. at ST. Louis.
Before the announcement was made a
letter, in part as follows, was read from
Mr. Stenbiss:
1T has been decided that, under the pre-
vailing depiorable circumstances in the
building trades of your city, it will be to
the best interests of the National Building
Trades Council not to recognize either of
the federal tons of building trades now ex-
listing in Washington until such time as
there will be but one such organization,
which condition it Is thought will be con-
summated more speedily by the National
Bui ding Trades Council being neutral and
siding with neither.
II hope that within a short time you will
be in position to again re-enter the Ma
tional Building Trades Council with solid
and thoroughly organized council, and as
you have done heretofore, be foremost in
good and practical advice in guiding the
management of this organization.
II can assure you in all sincerity that no
one can possibly be more sorry for these
conditions than 1, and. while l have acted
Slowly in the hope that matters would adj
just themselves in due time. 1 could not
stem the tide, and it is my honest wish
that shall be able to have the pleasure Of
meeting both of you. who have shown prac-
teal friendship to me, at our next conven-
ton"
Mr.. Spohn's Reply.
Mr.. Spohn stated that in reply to the let
ter from Mr.. Steinbiss he had sent that
gentleman a communication of which the
following is extract:
II received your letter of the 7th instant
informing me that the general executive
board of the National Building Trades
Council had decided not to recognize either
of the federated building trades now exist
ing in Washington, D. c., until such time
as there shall he but one such organization
This. you assert. will be consummated
more speedily by the National Building
Trades Council being neutral and siding
with neither. Perhaps the decision of the
executive board was all that could be eX-
pected under present conditions. 1t is never
theless to be regretted that an element of
discord in our locality should succeed in
dfsrupting our council. You have, however,
been fully Informed of the status of those
who are directly responsible not only for
present conditions in the local building
trades, but who have in the past and are
ganized labor of this city than all the I'M
disguised scabs within the boundary of
the District
Mr.. Spohn went on to say in his letter
that since the general executive board has
decided not to recognize either federation
of building trades now existing In Wash
ington he cannot properly remain as a
fifth vice president or a member of the leg
islation committee. and he, therefore, ten
dered his resignation from both positions,
and expressed the desire that the same be
accepted by the general executive board as
soon as possible.
bliss was Endorsed by an unanimous vote,
and an order passed to spread the same
upon the minutes of the meeting.
Council to he Maintained.
The present condition of the building
trades here was discussed, and it was de-
cided by an unanimous vote to maintain
the local council, and the constitution was
amended SO as to provide that none but
trades unions affiliated with their respec-
tive national craft organizations shall be
represented in the body.
The announcement was made In this con-
nection that at a recent convention of the
National Association of Steam and Hot
Water Filters and Helpers, held In Cincin-
natl. a resolution was adopted indorsing
the action of +. J. Ratigan in the Building
Trades Council controversy at Washing
ton and the secretary instructed
to notify H. w Steinbiss, general secre-
tary-treasurer of the National Building
Trades Council at St. Louis to that effect.
This action of the convention was deemed
important because Mr.. Ratfgan is president
of the local Building Trades Council and
a member of the National Steam and Hot
Water Filters Association. which is one of
the three national organizations allied with
the National Building Trades Council.
series of resolutions was adopted Sc
verely censuring Mr.. A. NJ. Lawson as an
enemy to organized labor and requesting
that he be discharged an employe of the
District government.
The chair appointed a committee to act
with a similar committee from the Central
Labor Union for the purpose of arranging
for an excursion on Labor day. The COM
nIttee was composed as follows: Messrs.
J. ]. Crowley, +. l.. Lomax, Benedict Tran
II, John Cusick, f. ]. Ratigan. Charles Nc
Gowan. II. Taylor. c. Mays, C. A. Cabbitt,
T. Frazier.