Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-12-06

silated by the larger unions all at once.
The elevator constructor for instance.
is not in basic trade according to the
new classification, but u skyscrHpef
would be Of little use without elev:
tors. 1t would hardly be conplete
without roof either, but the roofcr is
left out in the cold He has no place
in the new combination
There is no doubt that it is a good
idea to have such an alliance if it is
started out right, but If it is intended
to increase the power of q few individ
uas and force industrialiSm before the
unions are ready for it It is dangerous
1t is just possible that this may have
something to do with the project. too
for somc of the unions pushing the Il!
liancc are having trouble with what
they term dual organizations
The platform of principles of the new
alliance is as follows:
First.-The establishment of local ant
International boards of arbitration to SET
tie disputes as they occur without resort
ing to strikes
Seeona-Whcn necessary. to give inter
national sympathetic support to all trades
Gt!lIit leu NIlGIt lON'ul DOiTGS rail- IN Their
efforts to adjust differences.
Third.-To safeguard, protect and watch
over the interests Of members of the or
gs}iZ2 Ions affiliated.
Fourth.-lo =. otcct the autonomy Of the
seEcra! trades represented.
fifth.-To keep agreements with EN-
ployers inViolablc.
SiXth.-To avoid aud discourage strikes
if possible and to prevent internal strife,
aud friction in the building trades indus
try.
Se9enth.-To oppose the formation Of
dual and rival bodies, demand their COM
plete annihiiation and assist only such
unions as are affiliated with their respec-
tiV" national or international unions cou-
forming to this declaration of principles.
Eghth.-To encourage and maintain fra
tcrnal relations with existing recognized
central bodies and to empha size the Ne
cessity for a Capitalization of organize..
wage earners,
1t will lie seen that section No.
demands the complete annihilatiOn of
du,ll OF rival bodies. 1t follows that if
4 few unions go out and claim the
earth these ,llat refuse to recognize the
cl;siHa are rival bodies and must be an
niAi.ated. The plumbers are now
fighting the steamftters; the United
brotherhood of Carpenters is lighting
the ;gmalgamated carpenters, wood
workers. Milwrig.!ts. pianoWorkers,
be, .,iers and, in fact. claiming every
worker in wood except the match,
makers.
s1pe is another point in the plat
fern af principles that is in need OF
eXif!a!sa ton. Section provides for
"syHlpathetic support. while section :
declares that agreements must be kept
invio!uble. How can the two be recon
lied: Sympathetic support means
sympathetic strikes and nothing else.
aHl how can men in Chicago hold their
agreements with employers inyiolable
if they are subject to strike orders
from Pitts6urg:
The new alliance announces that it
is in perfect harmony With the Amer
lean Fedora ton of Labor and must
not be considered as a dual body. 1t
is to be hoped that the statement is
true. although it looks somewhat SuS-
picious. and there, again, the promoters
are ON dangerous ground. Three of the
nine unions in the combination are
not now affiliated with the \. F. of L..
and protestations of loyalty must there
fore be tax N with grain of salt.
The trades are the bricklayerS. plaster
er.s and structural iron workers, al.
though the latter trade has voted to
affiliate.
There IS some doubt, however,
whether the ironworkers will be grant.
&c i 0llario. if they insist in the same
csIlus of jurisdiction as they did in
seeking at.iiation With the National
Building Trades Council. La that case
tl.ey claimed jurisdiction over all me.
tHliiG work used III the erection and
construction OF bindings. which, OF
and Wire IaJ!trts.
The hrt.s..,,y yers recently voted
against ai.tti:liion with the y F. of L.
althoG-tl tic GHeS,t5n IS 10 be again
sUhn.t,",, II tn" tleuhprS for ii vote
The pi;t;ter"r' have always held them
selves aiooi tron other organizations
although it is said they are tired of the
policy Of isolation. and that. in order
to be in the new combination, they viii
seek ;tfili;tion with the national fed
Grafton.
Whatever the success of the new al.
lance uay he, il is certainly an indica
tion of the tendency of the times tn
broaden out and get away from the
narrow policy of a few years ago As
the building contractors throughout
the country are now preparing to form
a national organization on the sara.
lines. it is quite possible aud reason
able that national trade agreements
will take the place of local contracts
which would prove a decided advan