Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20

fstence the International Association Of AL
| lied Metal Mechanics had not enjoyed the
prosperity 1t is experiencing at this time
| ACCORDING to President Mulholland. there
! mas Deen a phenomenal increase in the
| membership Of the organization during the
| last three months. Every strike ordered
by the body during the month of May was
settled In a manner highly satisfactory to
the interests of the union. This is espe-
cially true with regard to Chicago. Ill. and
ST. Louis, Mo-, where the strikers gained
| nine-hour work day and an increase of ~
| TO 10 per cent increase in pay.
The special committee of the Central La
| Dor Union, composed of Harry w. Sher-
| man. Milford Spohn and f. j. Ratigan ap-
| pointed to ascertain the disposition of the
| charges of discrimination against union
employees of the mail bag repair shops.
| filed with the Post Office Depar tment called
| upon Second Assistant Postmaster General
! Shalenberger several days ago in regard
| to the matter. After a lengthy consulta-
uon curing which the charges were thor
| oughly reviewed, Mr.. Shallenberger. it is
! SAID, assured the labor leaders that the
| matter would be probed to the bottom and
brought to the attention of the proper au-
| thorities.
District No. 8 of Chicago ILL., of the In
ternational Association of Machinists, has
entered into a new agreement with the
|
| by the terms of which the workmen are
allowed straight nine-hour work day, a
III per cent increase in pay and rules gov
erning the apprentice system
| Agreements have also been effected be-
| tween the association and Illinois Central
| Railroad Company and the ST. Louis San
francisco and Texas Railroad Company
| whereby the union machinists of both con-
Germs are to receive 10 per cent increase
| In wages.
Edward ]. Lynch, secretary of the Fed
| GRAFTON of Metal Trades Association has
| returned to the headquarters of the body
In the Corcoran building this city after an
extended organizing tour In various parts
| OF the country. Mr. Lynch reports that he
| succeeded in perfecting fifteen councils in
| as many of the principal cities.
One of the most enjoyable entertainments
| and smoke talks ever given by the mem
| bers of the Carpet Upholsterers' Union
| took place at their hall on 9th street north
west last Tuesday evening. President
| Harry Sherrer, who presided, entertained
| the members with a detailed history of the
| union and it's achievements. in which he
| spoke of the progress of the organization.
| During the evening addresses on the gen
| eral trade movements were delivered by
John L. Hammerstrom, president of the
| Central Labor Union, and Milford Spohn
| a prominent local labor leader. Business
| Agent Harry Wells of Paperhangers' Local
| oHloH NO ~, also spoke. AT the cOnc.C-
| sion of his remarks, he was rendered a
| special vote of thanks for his efforts in be-
| half of the union on various occasions.
| The other speakers of the evening We're:
Messrs F. Steele, A. ]. Smith and Watson
Miller. all of whom are connecTed with
| rious local carpet upholstering establish
ments. and Mr.. f. P. Mcguire of Boston.
| Mass
| by Messrs. Moore and Martin; a musical
sketch, by Messrs Vickmyer and Macleod.
| and musical selections by the Congressional
| quartet. Refreshments were served during
| the evening.
| President Samuel Gompers of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor returned to WASH
| ington early yesterday morning from a trip
| to Chicago. ILL.,. where he went to attend
| to some labor matters. When the time ar
| rived for the converting of the quarterly
| session of the executive council of the fed
Grafton, he was in his usual place and
| called the session to order.
| While In Chicago. Mr.. Gompers conferred
| with labor leaders relative to the epidemic
of spontaneous strikes which have char
| acterized the relations of the employers
| and employees of that city during the spring
| and which, 1t is reported. threatens 10 Gull
inmate disastrously for some of the labor
organizations. Mr. Gompers gave special
| attention to the strike of the hotel and res
taurant employees.
A conference between President Gompers
| and the labor leaders of Chicago was held
|
| the officials Of the unions involved were
| called upon for an explanation of their al
| legged overriding Of the principles of union
| ism by refusing, 1t is reported. to submit
i their grievances to arbitration, when they
permit arbitration clauses to be inserted
| into their contracts. The federation repre-
sents that 1t always strongly condemned
any violation of an agreement by the union
| workmen affiliated with 1t.
The report of Director Charles D. Wal
colt of the United States geological survey,
as to the causes of the dissatisfaction
which exists among the copper-plate en-
gravers of that office Is now in the hands
of Secretary Hitchcock of the Department
of the Interior The document, 1t is under
Stood Is quite exhaustive
Owing to pressing business 1t is said, the
Secretary has not yet been able to give
his attention to the matter, and for this
reason 1t is further learned. no action has
been taken, and none will be taken for
several days. Director Walcott was in
structed by Secretary Hitchcock to COM
pile the report upon the urgent request of
American Federation of Labor who carried
the matter to the attention of President
Roosevelt. The latter, it is stated, is
greatly interested In the matter, and has
recently held several conferences with Sec
rotary Hitchcock and Director Walcott
during which the matter was thoroughly
discussed.
When seen by a Star reporter Director
of his report, and explained that all in
formation bearing on the trouble will have
to come from Secretary Hitchcock
The matter of agreements between the
local Employing Contractors Association
and the Allied Council of Building Trades
1t is stated. has not as yet been finally de-
termined. The proposition of the employ
ers which has been submitted to the
council and the representative body of the
building trades for approval favors the
arbitration of all questions which cannot
be determined to the mutual interests of
employer and employee. Under the condi-
tons proposed. it is said, no craft will
strike or be subjected to a lockout. but
will be required to continue at work and
abide by the final decision of an umpire
chosen jointly by representa- tives of the
organization and employers directly inter-
ested
1t is said that while organized labor gen.
orally favors arbitration they regard the
proposition under the conditions stated
as tending to the segregation of organi-
cations from others having similar inter-
ests which would eventually result in de-
feating organized labor in detail.
TO OF hot fbo