Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27
serious trouble before the vexed question is

settled
The principal objection made by the white
organizations to the chartering and conse-
quent national aff1lfation of unions COM
posed exclusively of colored mechanics in
those localities where white organizations
of the same craft exists, is that the colored
mechanic, generally being less efficient or
skilled than the white mechanic, could not
maintain the local rate of hours and wages
and other conditions of employment, which
have been secured through the efforts of the
white organizations. This, It is said. is
generally admitted by the colored crafts
men, who. in many instances when asking
for utilization, state that their rate of
wages will be less than that of those of the
white organization.
1t Is probable that the contest for the
honor of representing the Central Labor
Union in the coming convention of the
American Federation of Labor will be eX-
ceedingly interesting. Although the con-
vention will not be held until next Decem-
Der number who aspire to the honor have
quietly expressed to their friends their in
tention of entering the list as candidates.
London is behind the times in rapid
toned bus and cab writes President Jas.
l.. Feeney of the local bookbind-
ers' union, who is in London as delegate
to the British trades union congress, In an
article to the local official labor organ.
Il had the pleasure of attending several
sessions of the British trades union con-
gress, which was held in this city. l in
terViewed several of the delegates regarding
the scale of wages of their unions, and,
compared with the scale paid in the United
states, 1t Is very low, 40 shillings (S10)
week, being considered high pay, and very
few mechanics receive that much. The av-
efage Workingman cannot afford meat on
his table more than twice a week. 1 have
been in several manufacturing establish
ments, and, judging from the way the men
work, l now believe that one American
MOI ~, nf,ylt
than an Englishman can do in twelve.
There is considerable complaint here
account of the trade America is taking
away from England, and a very wealthy
diamond merchant has invited twenty trade
un1onists, each representing a different
trade, to accompany him to the United
States and visit the manufacturing centers,
and on the return of the expedition. to re-
port their views and recommendations for
publication in book form. The commission
of inquiry. as it is called will leave for the
United States the latter part of October Mr..
G. w. Bowerman, chief secretary of the
London CompoSitors' Society and Mr. w.
Coffey, general secretary of the London
Bookbinders, will be members of the COM
mission, and both gentlemen informed me
that it is their intention to go to Washing
ton and visit the government printing Of
fee.
THE printing trades are in a thoroughly
organized condition and very few nom
union men are in the city. The forty-eight-
hour week Is in force in all shops, and all
manufacturing establishments observe Sat
urday alf-holiday. Most of the newspapers
have the Mergenthaler machines. Ameri-
can goods are sold in the stores, and what
Is surprising to ME is the large number of
American flags that can be seen floating
from buildings that deal in American
goods
Under date of September 20, Mr.. Samuel
Gompers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor has issued a call to all
affiliated unions, in which it is stated that
the twenty-second annual convention Of the
American Federation of Labor will be held
at Odd Fellows Hall, in the city of New
Orleans. La, beginning 10 o'clock Thursday
morning, November 13, 1902, and will con-
tnue in session from day to day until the
business of the convention has been con-
cluded.
President Gompers sets forth in his call
that at the last convention the members
of the executive council were so over
whelmcd with the consideration of question
of jurisdiction, grievances, adjustments and
innumerable other matters that the mem
bers close attention to business of the con-
vention proper was interfered with. The
executive council has therefore decided to
meet a the headquarters of the American
Federation of Labor, Monday, OCTOBER o.
and several days after, to hear all authoriz-
ed parties in interest upon any matters
properly coming within the province of the
executive cOunc1I TO COnSlueT. Arrange
ments have been made with the railroads
for special rates and hotel accommoda-
lions have been engaged.
The painters employed on the old F'ord's
Theater building, a part of the record ana
pension division, War Department, who
went on a strike about two weeks ago. re-
turned to work last Monday morning, the
question over which the trouble arose nav
ing been settled.
Five plasterers went on strike at the
White House on Monday because they were
taken from one part of the structure and
put to work on another. Their places We're
filled Tuesday by other union Workmen.
The newspaper reporters of Grand Rapids,
Mich, have formed themselves into union.
1t is said that they will undertake to or
ganize all newspaper writer's.
Spain has ordered the eight hour day for
government work.
The National Associa ton of Post Office
Clerks recently held its annual convention
in Kansas City Mo. The associate again
declined to affiliate with the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, but declares Its sympathy
with the organizations purposes.
foot in Indiana to have the legislature of
that state enact a strict law against child
labor.
The factory girls, who have been on
strike for several months at Kewanee, ILL.,,
have started an establishment in opposition
to their former employers, to be known as
the Union Girls Manufacturing Company.
The girls will produce mittens, gloves and
oVerallS.
Already Used to It.
From the New York Weekly.
Manager-"That young woman whom
placed at this counter a year ago already
knows more about the business than you
do, and 1 find that 1 shall have to put her
at the head Of the department, though ]
fear 1t will be rather unpleasant for you to
be under her ORDERS"
Clerk-"Oh. no, am getting used to that.
We were married last spring.
RAILROADS.
Chesapeake Beach Railway
Effective September %, 1902.
Trains leave District Line Station Preached by