Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-16
IN LABOR CIRCLES
CO

The revocation of the charter of the Cen
trail Labor Union by the executive council
Of the American Federation of Labor is
the absorbing topic In local labor circles.
The action of the central body in refusing
to unseat the steamfitters and thus re-
naming charterless body has developed a
peculiar local situation, which many of the
experienced, observant and conservative
tradesmen regard tending to serious To-
cal troubles in the near future.
Those who desire united and harmonious
conditions are apprehensive that as the re-
suit of factional differences three or four
local dual central bodies will be formed
each being antagonistic to the other. The
factions when aligned will be composed
Of those building trades which are allied.
or will be allied with the local building
council, in the event of it's reorganization,
those Of the other organizations who will
remain steadfast and loyal to the American
Federation of Labor, and those of the or
ganZa tons composing the local Building
Trades Alliance. The latter named faction,
1t Is stated. anticipating the action OF the
Central Labor Union. in the matter Of the
steamfitters are endeavoring to form CEN
trail body which will be allied with the
American Federation Of Labor. 1t is con-
sidered that present conditions are favor
able to the scheme, as since the revocation
of the charter of the Central Labor Union
there is no local representative body Of the
federation and that If the local central
union persists in maintaining it's present In
dependent attitude no serious difficulty will
be experienced In obtaining charter from
the American Federation of Labor for an
other central organization.
An analysis of the situation, 1t IS stated.
demonstrates that the six organizations
which have been expelled from the council
of building trades and Central Labor Union,
and two others which recently withdrew
from the council, is a sufficient number to
obtain charter as required by the con-
Stitution of the American Federation of
Labor All these organizations are nation
ally affiliated with the federation, and Ia
the event of obtaining charter would be
a substantial nucleus for the alliance of
six other local organizations whose nation
al bodies are represented in the executive
council of the American Federation of La
Dor and who compose two-thirds of that
body. These organizations are now atfiliat-
"a with the Central Labor Union, and 1t Is
very probable that II federated, chartered
central body is formed, these organizations,
as required by the constitution of the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor, would withdra W
from the Central Labor Union and become
affiliated with the new organization. Should
this result the sum or the situation would
be: The Central Labor Union, as an indie
pendent body, with building council as
|. an adjunct. and a central body aff1liated
with the American Federation Of Labor,
and a local branch OF the Structural Build
It is stated that these conditions would
be far worse than the complete disorgani-
zation Of local labor, as the inevitable re-
suit would be ceas s fractional conten-
lions and the engendering Of personal III
feeling. which would result in the serious
injury to all concerned
All reports from San Francisco. where
the twenty-fourth annual convention Of
the American Federation of Labor is be
ingmen. Their expectation is that impor-
tant matters will be considered by that
body and equally important conclusions
reached.
The Federation Of Labor has been term
ed .America's labor congress-" and its
proceedings will be of especial interest
to Washington residents. as the head
quarters Of the organization ARE located
here, and several matters to be consfd-
cred are of local Importance.
Jurisdiction disputes and the annual
contest between the trade autonomists
and the industrialists will. 1t is believed,
be features of the sessions. There Is some
talk of the possible retirement of Sam
ueI Gompers from the presidency of the
great labor body. but unless he has
changed his mind quite recently, he has