Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-09

| at South Side Turner Hall, Milwaukee
Wis, Monday last with delegates repre-
| senting every affiliated body in attendance
AFTER calling the vast assemblage to order
annual report. which he prefaced by brfei
| synopsis OF the condition of the craft ant
| reference to the growth Of the association
| III the last two years. President OConnel
| also stated that despite the opposition Of
| the National Metal Trades Association the
( union has succeeded in reducing the hours
| OF labor of over 100000 machinists, and In
addition 100000 other metal working
tradesmen are now enjoying the shorter
work day.
Anent the project Of joint organizing move
ments president O'Connell, in his report
says:
During the past year / came to the con-
cluslon that in certain cities it was almost
hopeless task to bring about reduc-
ton IN the hours Of labor and better con-
dltions OF employment unless we could in
duce other metal working trades organiza-
tons to cooperate with us In joint Or
ganizing movement. With this end in view
l took up correspondence with the officers
of several metal trades organizations and
| induced them to join In the movement.
we started to work in Pfttsburg and
vicinity Several organizations sent or
! ganizers into the field. The A. F. of L..
upon my request, sent three organizers, the
result of which has been the basis of a
splendid organization among the several
metal trades.
Il followed this up by requesting the
various metal trades organizations to join
with me in bringing about more thorough
organization of our several trades in CleVe-
land in order that we might be in a posi-
ton this spring to join in movement to
1naugurate the shorter work day In that
city. L had at one time three organizers in
the field. The other metal trades to some
extent Joined with me. The membership
of our local unions in Cleveland was large
ly increased through this effort, and at
this writing movement is on foot to take
up certain lines of industry in Cleveland
with view to bringing about the nine
hour workday
Il am convinced that if number of
Woodworking trades will join with me in
a movement of this kind we will be able
to handle a number of cities where it is
almost impossible for individual trade
to bring about the shortening of the work
day
Statements are constantly being made"
! says the report touching on discipline, by
the employers of labor that the unions
will not keep agreements. 1 desire to say
that the general executive board and my
self have insisted at all times that agree
ments made by our members should be
strictly adhered to- and in no case have
our members violated any contracts when
the Grand Lodge officers decided that they
must be kept"
''Injunctions,' says President O'Connell
In dealing with that topic in his report. ARE
upon the most ridiculous and frivolous
pretexts. Judges enjoin men from doing
things that were never dreamed of. the OBJ
Ject. of course. being to intimidate working
men, and scare them into compliance with
the wishes of their employers.
Judges issue injunctons with such
rap1dity and cheerfulness that they do not
even take time for consideration or refec-
ton. In some cases after injunctions are
issued the judge himself is so ashamed
that he will dissolve his own order, as was
done in the case of the injunction against
the railroad brokfIerhoods on the Wabash
'Injunctions are issued by those who have
no knowledge of the true facts, nor do they
make any effort to ascertain whether the
charges made by the applicants are true or
otherwise, but the word of the employer
who applies for the injunction Is always a c.
cepted without question and the writ
issued. In some cases the judge imme-
diately starts a fishing expedition, or a
trip for his health, and we are bound to
obey his orders until he is pleased to hear
our appeal.
Government by injunction is, In my opin-
ION, clear violation of the rights of trial
by jury, for the judge who issues the in
junction, deciding whether his order has
been violated, also administers the penalty
from which there is no appeal"
The report also referred to the shorter
workday in the railway service as follows:
Il believe the time is opportune for the
" H.
way service, but 1t would in my opinion. be
suicidal for one organization or one craft
to attempt to inaugprate the shorter work
day In the railway shops without the CO.
operation of at least the bolermakers and
blacksmiths
Il recommend, therefore, that this con-
vention set date not later than May l.
1904, when a general demand shall be
made upon all railway companies, or Sc
lecting a number of roads running through
a certain section of the country for a
reduction in the hours of labor. I suggest
further that the incoming executive officers
of the boilmakers, blacksmiths and such
other organizations as may have members
employed in the mechanical departments
of railway service, with a view to bringing
about joint action
With a view to increasing their member
ship the officials of Federal Labor Union
No. S193 which Is composed of the female
employees Of the bureau of engraving and
printing, are making arrangements to hold
an open meeting during the coming month
tentative program which has been form
ulated embraces addresses by President
Samuel Gompers of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and several personages iden-
titled with the local labor movement and
interesting musical and literary numbers
The ACCESSIBILITY of establishing home
for it's invalid and incapacitated members
is being earnestly considered by Bartenders,
League, Local No. 10. Under the terms of
the preliminary plans a bartender must be
affiliated with the league certain number
Of years before he is eligible to admission
to the proposed home.
Messrs. J. F. Mccarthy. H D. Hayden
and Joseph McGilton, delegates of the local
league to the annual convention of the In
ternatonal Union of Hotel and Restaurant
Employees which convenes at PHILADELPHIA
Pa Monday morning, will leave for that
city tomorrow evening.
An earnest effort, is, being made by the
officials and the membership of the local
branch of the National Journeymen Stone
and Marble Cutters t'nion to have cut by
local labor all stone used in the construc-
ton of all authorized District and govern