Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-05

solidation will be effected between the
Brotherhood Of Carpenters and Joiners ana
the Amalgamated Society Of Carpenters
and Joiners upon the 18th instant, thereby
bringing to an end controversy which has
aroused an unusual degree of interest. not
only among trades unionists OF the United
States, but of the entire organized labor
world. Upon the day named representa-
tives Of the two great carpenters organiza-
tons will meet in conference at Cleveland.
Ohio. in an effort to bring about that status
Of affairs. 1t was intended that this con-
ference should be held at the Offices OF the
American Federation OF Labor on the 9th
ultimo but by mutual agreement and per.
mission Of President Samuel Gompers OF
the American Federation of Labor, VINO
has been working with view to securing
harmony and peace In this craft, II was
postponed until the 18th instant.
For some years past these two carpen-
ters' organizations have been waging
relentless war upon each other whenever
the opportunity presented itself. This war
has, 1t Is declared, not only affected the
carpenters trade, but its influence in the
building trades generally has been exceed
ingly detrimental to the labor movement
causing employers and employees In many
cities to resort to stringent measures The
most noteworthy Of these struggles oc-
CURED in Greater New York and Washing
ton.
The Amalgamated Society Of Carpenters
and Joiners is considered a foreign organi-
ration, as it originated In England. where
the general Offices are located. THIS ract
has furnished more or less fighting ma.
terial. and 1t has been urged that all
American craftsmen should be patriotic
and affiliate with an organization OF Amer
leans and for Americans. To this Senti.
ment can be attributed many of the unfor-
tunate disagreements which have arisen.
In New York. when an issue. was raised
many thousands of workmen OF all callngs,
So nv NIT IA
hood laid down their tools in support OF It's
policy. The most important of the dis
putes Of this nature, which have charac-
terfzed the labor movement In the Dfstrict
of Columbia. was that involving the new
annex Of the New Willard Hotel and the
new District pumping station several
months ago. 1t is obvious that the Broth
erhood Is the superior organization In the
United States when 1t il known that 1t has
a membership Of more than 10000 while
the Amalgamated Society has but put
about 5000 American workmen enrolled
on its roster. The latter, however, Is
strong in England and Australia, and.
therefore, the consolidation OF the two or
Plantations will place the carpenters OF the
entire world in an almost tmpregnable pO-
sition in the labor movement.
1t Is only q question of short time, in
the opinion Of the local labor leaders. when
all the existing contentious between capt.
tai and labor in Greater New York will
be classed as events gone and forgotten.
This result Is looked for through the me-
dunn Of arbitration between employe and
employer, and to this end the civic fedora
ton the employers association and the
more level headed labor leaders Of Greater
New York are assiduously working. 1t
is recognized by all three that only through
arbitration boards. upon which labor and
capital shall have equal representation.
can Industrial peace and perpetual harmony
be attained.
The events of the last few months in
<arN oxx nrlx Ia yAn{u tad hp va
demonstrated conclusively that employer
and employe must have consideration for
each other. AS a result of this conclusion.
which was arrived at by both parties in
volved after much pain and an enormous
expenditure Of money. an attempt is now
being made to have employers and en-
ployes enter into arbitration agreements.
About one-third of the labor bodies of
Greater New York have become a party to
such documents and 1t is believed that
the remainder Of the organizations which
are, 1t Is said at present. making a Stren-
uous fight against them. will soon fall in
hna.
Article No of the general arbitration
agreement stipulates. that:
Where an agreement exists between
employers and employees all disputes in re-
lation thereto shall be settled by a board
of arbitration with an umpire. II necessary.
The decision Of said board or umpire shall
be flnal Should either side to the dispute
fall to select an umpire. or fail to abide
by the decision of the umpire. the dispute
in question shall be referred to the gen.
eral board Of arbitration within twenty-four
hours after such failure or refusal The
question Of sympathetic strikes or lockouts
and all questions as to the Jurisdiction OF
trades must be referred to the general
board OF arbitration. 1t being agreed and
understood that such kinds of work as
have been heretofore recognized as being
in the possession of q trade are not SUBJ
jects for arbitration"
Under the agreement. 'the unions as
whole or as single union shall not order
any strike against q member Of the Build
ing Trades Employers Association collec-
lively or individually. nor shall any number
of union men leave the works of a member
Of the Building Trades Employers Associa-
ton, nor shall any member of the Build
ing Trades Employers Association lock out
his employees before the matter in dispute
has been brought before the general ar
bitration board and settled
The article Of the agreement, in which
the wOrkingmen are more than ordinarily
interested relates to the employment of
union men. 1t reads in part. as follows:
THE members of this association agree
to employ members of the trade unions
only, directly or Indirectly. when parties
to this agreement. 1t Is understood, how
ever. that In any case where a trade union
Ia unable to provide sufficient workmen the
employer or employees in that trade may
hire workmen. not members. who shall
become members of the union II compe-
tent. That after the date of the signing Of
u
party to this agreement without the con-
sent OF the executive committee
Mr.. John Fernau, master workman OF
District Assembly. No. 8, of knights of
Labor. Of Pittsburg. Pa. is the possessor
of very interesting and valuable paper
on strikes. The paper. which follows, Ia
self-expianatory. and will enlighten many
as to the origin of organized labor's great
est weapon:
1.-The first great strike on record was that
OF 20,000 workmen of Athens who went
out OF the mines and shops and went over
to the enemy of their country at a time
whom It was in greatest peril. That was
during the Peioponnesian war. In the year
A13 B. G. The next strike OF note was
some seventy years before the coming of
Christ. when Spartacus succeeded in caus-
ing the giadiators to organize against the
practice of compelling men to kill each
other for the mere qualification of the lords
and ladies' of that age. With such q leader
as Spartacus the workingmen took hope
and made a most desperate effort to crush
the powers that had SO ruthlessiy trampIed
upon the rights OF humanity for 30 many
ages.
'It is said that organizations OF labor
existed at the time Of the erection of Solo
mons Temple. The craftsmen employed
upon that structure were banded together
in something akin to a trades union and
were enabled to make themselves under