The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-17

oils in 1894, which recognized their rights.
Mr. Downey also narrated the history or
the present trouble, and said it pro-
voked by the carpenters when they in con-
ventiOn in New York in 1898 abrogated
the agreement with the woodworkers and
sought to assume control over all wood
workmen and class them as carpenters.
He said they reaffirmed this principle in the
convention held at Scranton in 1900, and re-
fused to recognize as constitutional the In
dianap0lis agreement
The decision was submitted to the MEM
bers of the committee who were in the
city. Thomas l.. Kidd, secretary of the
woodworkers, came from Chicago to hear
1t, and represented his union, with its pres
ident Dennis ID. Mulcahey, of Detroit. The
j. Bohnen. New York; j. E. Potts, Boston;
John II. Clark, Philadelphia; Robert Fuelle,
ST. Louis, and j. III. Brewer, Elgin, ILL.,, as
well as General Secretary Frank Duffy and
President William Huber, were in the city.
Secretary Kidd, who is credited by the la
boring men of the country as being the
the carpenters who seek to absorb his
union, left for Chicago last night well
pleased with the decision. Both he and
Mulcahey expected a decision in their ia
vor, and were not surprised when it was
announced.
CARPENTERS DISAPPOINTED.
The carpenters were generally disappoint-
ed. Although the committee members did
not talk much, it was insinuated that the
decision sounded much like Samuel Com
perss views. Samuel Gompers is president
of the American Federation of Labor, and
he, it is said, is active in look
ing after the individual welfare of the
carpenters, miners and Typographical
unions and the other large organizations.
II is said that he favors them when IL is
possible, because with the large labor
bodies rests the power to select national
officers. This opinion is held by many la
Dor leaders, and they cannot see the hand
| of Gompers in Downeys decision.
Secretary Duffy, of the carpenters, said
when he heard of the decision: I'VE will
go right ahead and organize the woodwork
ers and make carpenters of them. The de-
| cision does not bind US, and We will not be
| bound. We will continue to grow, and
| where it is possible will organize the wood
workers. The fight has only begun, and be-
| fore 1t Is ended Mr.. Kidd will learn some
| thing.
The American Federation of Labor sug-
gested that the conference be held and II
was held and little good will come of it
| The A. f. l.. has no power to force US tc
| accept its conditions and we do not intend
to-.
| Mr.. Butler of the Saw Makers Union
who represented the Central Labor Union
| of this city in the American Federation
convention at New Orleans three months
| ago, says ii is true that neither party tC
| the dispute must recognize Mr. Downey's
decision as binding. He said the Fedora.
| tion of Labor unions has not enough au.
| thority and although 1t suggests compro
misses and acts as mediator when called
upon, never compels the unions affiliated
| with Ii to recognize Ii as the court of las
| appeal in labor disputes.
| A FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE
| The attitude Of the carpenters, as ind
| Gated by Secretary Duffy's remarks, which
were seconded by the committee members
suggests an inconsistency in the labor
movement to many members of organized
labor. One of them said last night that Il
| the carpenters, after arbitrating a differ
| ence, do not respect the result of the arbi
tration they are putting aside one of tn,
| fundamental principles of unionism-arbi
| tration. He said the appeal of the laborin,
| class TO the people OF the country in the
| past has been for consideration of its trou
| bles and the one request of organized labo
| when Il revolted against alleged wrongs b,
| the differences. If the labor unions canno
| seemed probable because OF the quarrel be
/ tween the carpenters and joiners which
| looked to him TO be quarrel between Kid,
| and Duffy-they will furnish ammunition
| for opponents of organized labor TO figh
| with. He said that should the carpenter
/ and woodworkers continue with lockea
horns they will prove TO be strong argu
| ment against union labor and he expresse,
the wish that the carpenters would recsd
| from the position taken and bide their tim
| until the American Federation of Labo
shall effectually settle the question of juris
diction in all trades.