Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-16
Twenty Thousand Trade I'm
ionists Taken Into Chicago
Federation of Labor
THE MASSES ARE REPRESENTED
Workmen in Many Trades Who Are
Seeking Nine Hour Day Will Have
Support of All the Unions in Their
acknowledgements Want Help
The BARRIERS Complaint.

Chicago. March 16.-Iwenty thou
sand trade unionists joined the Chicago
Federation of Labor Mt yesterdays
Injecting. Never before in the history
of the central body, or any similar or
ganizaticn in the world, was the menu
bership increased so much at single
gathering. Concentration of forces ana
cries of the union men and women in
Chicago today, and the unions which
stood alone for years are clamoring to
be taken into the fold.
Yesterday the bricklayers and stone
masons. who have remained independ-
ent for years, applied for admission.
with $500 men. Journeymen plumbers
never before connected with the fed
Grafton sent delegates representing
1000 workmen. Seventeen local unions
iof the United Carmen. Workers OF
America, representing $4,000 men and
women. were seated, after battling for
recognition for several months. Small
er organizations swelled the member
ship rolls until the federaiio represents
10000 organized men and women.
The dissension between the factions
lof clothing-makers was nowhere ap-
parent at yesterdays meeting, and the
leaders of the factional fight shook
hands and resolved 20 work together
tor the common cause. Secret agents of
associations Of employers. who watch
the meetings Of the central body, never
before saw such spirit of solidarity as
marked the ranks of the workers yes
terday.
Judge r. S. Tuthill, who appeared be-
fore the central body to enlist its sup
port in aid of an appropriation from the
Legislature for a home for orphan boys,
remarked in his address that the sight
convinced him that the federation real
ly represents the toiling masses of the
city
The reason for this concentration OF
|labor's forces was shown in the reports
OF the delegates from the various or
CARNATIONS. Shorter hours of labor are
demanded by many OF the weaker
unions asking the support OF the
stronger organizations.
Upholsterers, tanners and curriers',
bakers, retail clerks In furniture stores,
machinists, boilermakers. ship carpen-
tiers, blacksmiths and metal workers
are seeking u nine-h hour day and will
have the support of all the unions in
their demands. Stonecutters want help
to preserve their organization. which is
one of the oldest in the city. from dis
ruption at the hands OF the Cut Stone
Contractors Association, aided by an
that craft.
Unions Threatened.
Sheet-metal workers also made the
plea that rival organization, formed
within the past two months, has entered
into combination with the employers
to disrupt the old union and cut down
wages. Both unions are seated in the
central body, and each csked that the
Other be disciplined. The matter was
referred to the grievance committee.
BARRIERS declared they are the worst
paid and hardest worked class in the
city. They want support in an effort
to cut one hour from each days daily
labor. They declared their employers
are deceiving union patrons by placing
fictitious union cards in their shop
windows.
Billposters presented unique plea
for assistance. They complained that
their business is being taken from them
by other classes of union men.
There is scarcely a union in the city
but gives ball or picnic each year"
said Delegate Murphy. They distri-
butte their handbills and put up their
posters themselves. We make living
in the bill posting and billing business.
and we should be protected"
The delegates agreed that the post
ers should be protected, and ordered
unions to bear it in mind when they
had advertising to do.
Steam engineers asked that they be
given assistance to compel the Western
Steel Car and Foundry company at
Hegewisch to live up to an agreement.
made on the settlement of the strike,
to dismiss within two weeks certain
non union men employed while the
trouble was in progress. All the unions
employed in the plant will assist the
engineers If necessary.
The heg Beer wagon DRIVERS ana
Helpers union asked for the indorse-
ment of its scale, calling for $50 a
month for drivers and peddlers. and
SIS month for drivers of three and
four horse wagons. and $50 a month
for helpers and extra drivers. The
matter was referred to the executive
board.
Not the least OF the grievances COM
planned of was that of the school
teachers. Miss Margaret Haley told
a story of the attempts being made by
district superintendent and principals
to disrupt the Chicago Teachers feder-
alton, declaring that teacher who
Joins the federation is marked as dis
loyal" The mark, she added, may mean
a reduction in salary, or perhaps out
,:;sx diSch:a at the Sllperiu tendent,S