Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-30
TWOM|LL|ONSSTR0NG.
Industrial Unions Largely
Increase Membership.
BENEFITS DERIV ED
FUTURE ADVANCE REGARDED AS
MATTER OF CERTAINTY.
Threatened Strike of Structural Iron
Workers the Only Cloud
on Horizon.

= With a grand total membership oI tWo
millions, organized labor in the United
States, under its various local. national and
International affiliations. comes to the 1st
of April-the opening of a new season of
activity-with all previous records broken,
it is conceded, in the matter of member
ship, achievement and future prospects.
The Industrial workers of the United States
are today working shorter hours and re-
ceiving higher pay than ever before. While
this is acknowledged to be the fact gen.
orally, the industrial sky is not without a
few clouds, and, as has been the case for
many years, many movements are in con-
temptation at the present moment to
strengthen the position all along the line,
bring reforms to crafts that claim to have
been neglected in the general advance and
make new demands where victories have
already been won to certain limits.
1t is the optimistic view of labor leaders
in general that organized labor In the
United States has reached the point where
its future advance is matter OF certain
ty, made comparatively easy by the very
momentum of it's great bulk. Organ1za-
tons can be perfected now rapidly and per-
manently simply from the assurance to be
had on every hand of the success In other
lines. The work of gaining membership is
no longer the slow and uncertain process,
calling for great moral courage on the part
of the individual
Large Increase in Charters.
Secretary Frank Morrison Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor announced to a
Star reporter today that during the present
month he had received over 200 applications
for charters from new unions throughout
the country. This Is the largest number on
record for any one month. These applica-
tons from unions which have no ma
tional or international affiliations, and rep
resent entirely new growth In the nelo Oh
organized labor.
AS still further illustration Of the
growth OF trades unionism, Mr.. morrison
states that five years ago there were but %
central bodies connected with the American
Federation Of Labor. Today there are $40
such bodies. At the former period there
were also but IS international organ1zat tons,
while today their number is Ill. In the nst
of organizations affiliated with the Amer1-
can Federation of Labor, which was issued
today, the number is given as 21,64O, with
total membership Of approximately 1,1Oo-
600. OF the organizations which are not az
f1liated with the American Federation OF
Labor may be included the brotherhoods
of railway engineers, conductors, train
men and firemen, with a total membership
Of 10000. Then there are the organiza-
lions Of the bricklayers., plasterers; sott
stone cutters, bridge and structural iron
workers, aggregating all together 10000,
making grand total Of over 2,OOOOO0 Or
ganiZed workers.
International Organizations.
President Gompers has issued call for
the formation of three additional interna-
tional unions, which will bring together, re-
specttyely, the various local organizations
of railway clerks, railway expressmen and
building laborers. The railway expressmen
are meeting today in Chicago for the per-
lection of this international organization.
The railway clerks Will meet In that city
April 49, and the building laborers, TO the
number of 100 organizations, will meet In
this city to perfect their international or
ganization April ID.
The bricklayers, soft stone cutters and
structural iron workers are voting at the
present time on the question of affiliating
with the American Federation of Labor.
The bricklayers organizations OF Massachu-
sets have by large majority decided this
question in the affirmative, and the same
result is anticipated in other sections of the
country in all of the trades mentioned.
The issue between the United States Steel
Company, or one Of it's minor corporations,
the American Bridge Company, and the iron
workers over the question Of recognition of
the union is regarded in labor circles as
perhaps the most serious OF pending labor
troubles. About 5000 men belonging to the
structural iron workers organization are on
strike in the various cities of the country,
and unless matters assume a better aspect
in the near future it is predicted that the
entire strength of the organization will be
shown, together with the affiliated organiZa-
lions dependent on the structural iron work
ers and that a strike which will practically
tie up all building operations In the country
will result.
A Fight to a Finish.
The executive committee OF the Interna-
tional Association of Bridge and Structural
Iron and Steel Workers has just concluded
a meeting in Buffalo. The announcement
was made yesterday in New York by Frank
Buchanan Of Chicago president Of that or
ganization, that there would be an attempt
on the part of the men to bring the trouble
to a head Immediately and fight the ques-
ton out to finish.
In discussing the situation Mr. Buchanan
said:
IT have been in Buffalo attending a meet
ing of our executive committee We have
made overtures to President Joshua A.
Hatfield of the American Bridge Company
of No. 100 Broadway, proposing conference,
and have written a letter to 8. p. McCon-
nell, the head of the George A. Fuller Con-
struction Company, many of whose con-
tracts are already affected by the strike
President Hatfield refused to confer with
us, but answered saying that he had dele
gated P. s. Mitchell. chief engineer Of the
bridge company, to speak for him. Mr..
Mitchell has taken the ground that he will
not deal with the organization as body,
but that the matters in dispute In each city
shall be adJudicated SeverallY by commit
tees Of employers and employees in each.
II doubt very much whether this will re-
suit in any satisfactory understanding. This
appears to be a fight that must be made,
and we may as well make it now as later.
Our organization is in splendid condition.
and even though this may mean a conflict
with the limitless resources Of the United
States Steel Corporation we are ready for
the issue and do not shirk the fight
Men to the number Of about five thou
sand are now out in New York, ST Louis
Kansas City, San Francisco. Chicago, Pitts
burg, Toledo, Cleveland, Harrisburg,
Philadelphia, Buffalo. Syracuse. AL
hanv Wheeling and Mar{otto Ohio We