Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-28

fore returning to washington President
O'Connell will visit Poughkeepsie, N T.,
with view to adjust several difficulties In
that city.
Vice President Peter ]. Conion Of the In
ternational Association of Machinists has
tration to adjust the controversy between
the union machinists and a manufacturing
firm in York. Pa.
Secretary Owen Miller of the American
Federation of Musicians Is in the city on
several missions. In addition to assisting
in auditing the books of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor he will make a thorough
investigation of the local controversy be-
tween the members Of his organization and
the Marine Band. Mr.. Miller stated to
reporter of The Star that his organisation
Is determined to eradicate the competition
with which the union musicians are con-
tending. If Congress or the Secretary Of
the Navy fails to take cognizance of the
light against the Marine Band every mem men,
Der of the federation will refuse to partfct-
pate in any function where the members OF
the Marine Band appear.
There is a possibility that the number of
international labor organizations to main
tain headquarters in this city will be ma
terially increased within the next twelve
months. A referendum vote is being taken
among the union iron molders upon the adj
visibility of removing the general offices
of the craft from Cincinnati, Ohio, to
Washington The question of locating the
international headquarters Is also before q
large number of the other crafts. Wash
ington has always been considered favor
ably city for such headquarters, in
view of the fact that it is the seat OF the
national government and contains tho cen
trail moving power of organized labor OF
the country, the American Federation OF
Labor. By establishing headquarters here
the officials of the various trades would be
in close touch with the federation, and at
the same time all labor matters brought
before Congress could be attended to with
more facility and care:
According to recent ruling of the SUI
preme court of Pennsylvania it is unlaw-
full for the Allied Building Trades Council
of Philadelphia TO inaugurate a strike on
any building operation with view to COM
polling non union workmen to affiliate with
labor organization. This ruling is the
result of controversy between the
Plumbers League of Philadelphia and the
Allied Building Trades Council.
Indianapolis. Ind. has been selected as
the headuuar ters of the Bricklay ers and
Stonemasons' International Union. The Sc
lection made by the executive officers,
and vote will be taken among the MEM
bers to ratify the choice.
Inrorma ton has been received in this
city of the suspension from the New York
Central Federation Union of the Rack
smiths ard Blacksmiths' Helpers Unions
for alleged failure to obey an order Of the
central body to repudiate an agreement
which was signed with the New York
Metal Trades Association. This action,
it is claimed. WIS taken under Justiiiable
circumstances, the agreement having been
framed while the strike was on among
other workmen in the same shops in which
the bIacksmths and their helpers are en-
ployed. The official of the central body, it
is said. ruled that the framing of an agree
ment under such circumstances was moth
ing short of ''scabbing,'' and for that rea-
son asked that the document be disre-
garded.
The American Federation of Labor has
granted a charter to the American Broth
erhood of Cement Workers. which was
perfected at a convention of the craft in
San Francisco recently.
The temperance question is factor in an
agreement now being made between the
New York Longshoremens Union and the
employers. In one clause of the document
it is set forth that mo beer, whisky or
other intoxicating liquor shall be brought
upon the premises where the men are at
work and it is distinctly understood that
no worker or boss shall be permitted to
work while in an intoxicated condition.
1t is reported that the Western Fedora
ton of Miners and the United Mine Work
about the consolidation of the two organi
cations Should these efforts prove to be
successful one million mine workers of the
country will be under one organization.
An effort is being made in the Pennsyl-
vania building trades to organize a state
federation to prevent the builders and con-
tractors from forming like organization
1t is said to be the aim of the employers
to put stop to increases in the pay of
employees
First Vice President P. j. Conlon of the
International Association of Machinists
left last evening for Cleveland. Ohio, to
appear before the Allied Central Trades
Council. with a view to having expelled
from representation in that organization
the delegates of the Amalgamated Society
of Engineers. a dual organization to the
ma chinists' association. The charter of the
engineers revoked by the American
Federation of Labor some time ago.
The agreement approved by the Allied
Council of Building Trades and the Employ
ers' Association of the Building Trades,
which provides for the establishment of a
Joint Cancellation committee and board of
arbitrat ton. has. it is said. failed to accom-
plish the results anticipated. This is due
largely to the fact that the agreement has
not been indorsed by Il majority of the local
building trades organizations to whom it
was submitted several months ago by the
Allied Council of Building Trades. 1t is
also stated that the employment of nom
union and non-affiliated wOrkmen by men,
bers of the Master Builders Association
has, to a large extent hindered the opera
ton of the agreement. which provides:
I'm carrying out this agreement the par
ties hereto agree to give preference to and
for each other in work and employment, as
follows: The party of the second part
will endeavor a all times to supply the par
ty of the first part and It's individual
members with the number of competent
workmen desired by them. and in the event
of failure or inability so to do will not OBJ
ject to working with men not affiliated with
the associations Of the party of the
second part, and the party of the first
part and its individual members will give
preference in employment to the individual
members affiliated with the association of
the party of the second part, to the
extent of the ability or willingness of the
party of the second part to supply a
sufficient number of satisfactory work.
men. Provided said affiliated men are
eligible and willing to become members of
the party of the second part
AS the Master Builders Association is not
a party to the agreement and subject to Lhe
provision quoted. it is stated that fourteen
firms of the twenty composing the associa-
ton employ wOrkmen or sublet contracts
regardless of the question of trade affila-
ton. This has resulted in frequent diff
cultieS which cannot be arbitrated because,
as stated, the general contractor Is not
party to the arbitration agreement 1t is
the desire of those connected with the