Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-19
BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL
BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT ITS
REGULAR MEETING.
Paper Sent Out Defining the Sentiment
on Present Status of
Labor Matters.

Mr.. E. ]. Ratigan is president. met Tues
day evening at Typographical Temple MIR.
Milford Spohn was secretary.
The committee which appointed to
cooperate with a similar committee on the
part of the Central Labor Union in provid-
ing for proper defense for Messrs Patton
and Nedrey, who We're charged by A. M
Lawson with printing an alleged libelous
statement concerning him, reported that
upon hearing of the case Judge kimball
dismissed the charge and released the de-
PENDANTS from custody.
The delegates generally expressed them
selves as pleased with the outcome of the
affair. and after rendering the members of
the committee vote OF thanks the com
mittee discharged.
Credentials We're favorably reported for
delegates from the Plumbers and Gastit-
ters' AssoCia ton, No. ,: SteamfitterS' I.o-
cal Branch No. 10, and the fraternal dele
gate from the Central Labor Union.
President Raugan gave notice that he
would announce the standing committees
for the ensuing SIX months at the next
meeting of the council.
Status OF the Council.
The following paper was adopted as the
sentiment of the council on the present
status of labor matters mentioned therein
and the secretary was directed to send a
copy of the same to each of the building
trades in the District
THAT the status of the Building Trades
Council of Washington may be underst God,
and its relation to several organizations
mainly composing a so-called council, it is
necessary that a statement be made rela-
tive thereto.
THE local council was organized Sep
TENDER Is 1894. the object being, as stated
in the consti ution, to so centralize the
united efforts and experience in the build
ing trades that they may form one COM
pact body, with common interest, to pre-
vent that which may be injurious and carry
into effect that which they may deem adj
vantageous to themselves and for the COM
mon good of all.
"At this period charterless local fedora
ton was the central body of the trades
union organizations of the city, and Dis
trict Assembly No G6 was by virtue of the
law of the order. the exclusive central body
of the knights of Labor.
The federation was subordinate to Dis
trict Assembly No 66, and in all matters
affecting the interests of local labor was
adjunctve Under these conditions the
X. of l.. assemblies of the building trades
were admitted to representation in the
council. In the broad, liberal spirit of
trade unionism, and consistent with the de-
clared object of the council. it was hoped
that the two elements would combine and
labor tremendously for the advancement
of interests of the membership of the trades
unions and assemblies alike. But this was
unfortunately not the result. 1t was soon
demonstrated that democracy of labor
exemplified by the trades union and an
autocracy of labor as maintained by the
coalesce and in concert labor for the mu-
tual interests of all The assemblies
pledged to maintain and support their or
der above all other labor ORGANIZATIONS
were not disposed to consent to the meth
DDS agree with the conclusions of the
trades union element. The aftermath of
the mistaken confidence of the trades union
element of the council was realized in 1896
when in difficulty with the ma joritv rem
resentatveS of the trades unions in the
council decided upon a method to adjust
1t was then one after another in quick suc-
cession these assemblies withdrew from the
council with several sympathetic union or
CARNATIONS for the avowed purpose of de-
stroying the body. Notwithstanding this
secession, eight union organizations stood
Loyalty by the council and maintained IL
notwithstanding the covert acts of the local
federation and District Assembly No. &c to
destroy it.
Disturbing Element.
This preliminary statement is deemed
necessary that the character of six of the
ten organizations now composing the So
called council will be understood. They
constituted the prodigals who returned Inv
sufferance of the loyal union organization:
who vainly hoped that. having learned
from the past, the returning organizations
would work in harmony to advance the in
tereStS OF all. But II was soon learned that
the same intolcrant, vicious and anti-trades
union spirit wholly animated them: and
from the hour OF their admittance thew he
came a provoking and disturbing clement.
They were Ishmaeiitcs unto themselves:
their hands were raised to strike any and
all who had assisted in organizing and
maintaining the Central Labor Union They
had presumed in the. past the entire con-
troll of the labor field of the District. and
had strenuousy opposed the organization
OF that body. Again. in many instances it
was demonstrated thGt they were deter
mined to rule ruin. Schemes were re-
sorted to for the furtherance of their ends
which were, to say the least, highly oues-
tionable; thus they became alienated from
the trades union orga aizations until the
final climax on March p last when thew
openly attempted to admit a so-caIled or
ganization on the recommendation of a
packed committee, which reported that the
so-called organization was charterless and
characterlcss, SO fer as any Legitimate
trades organization was concerned
Fooled in their effort to prostitute the
council perhaps to await a more favorable
opportunity to consummate their scheme
they moved and voted for the adjournment
of the council without day. On the fol-
lowing week six of these organizations
constituting the revolutionary and discor-
dant element met as prearrangcd and
summarily deposed the president and sec
rotary, elected others of the cotere to the
places by a simple motion amended the con-
sfitIItion and admitted savaroI on-couad ~,