Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-17
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

uroay from new. YORK Tor Porto RICO, IN
accordance with the instructions Of the ex-
ecutive council of the organization. He
will be absent from Washington a month
or more, during which period he will make
a thorough investigation Of the labor con-
ditions in the island. He went away with
the expectation of being busy during his
entire stay in Porto Rico, and there is
every probability that he will have but
little time for pleasure, as there is much in
the island to attract his official attention.
Immediately following his return to
Washington he will leave for Denver, Col,
to attend a quarterly session of the ex-
ecutive council, which convenes In that
city April 3. He will submit to the council
a full report of his observations in Porto
Rico and lay before 1t all matters that have
accumulated since the adjournment of the
annual convention in Boston, in December
last.
Although official information is not OBJ
tanable, 1t Is understood the executive
council will again grapple with the open
shop controversy, which is the outcome
of the w. A. Observation-Disclosures Local
Union, No. 4, tangle. 1t is known that all
documents and evidence in the Miller case,
together with a request that he reconsider
his action in the controversy, are now in
the hands Of President Roosevelt
The organization of employers like that
of the working people, is in it's ascendency.
Organization among employers Of the build
ing trades is especially animated. The En-
ployers' Association of the National Build
Ing Trades. supported by the National AS
sociatiOns of Manufacturers and bodies OF
a similar character, is attracting wide
spread attention. The association has
practically adopted the tactics and methods
of the labor organizations in that direction.
1t has employed scores OF organizers In all
,nyfc tOf f1n try ,0d urjt
from the officials of the association the or
ganizers are using their utmost endeavors
to interest the employers of the building
trades. And, if the reports received In
Washington can be accepted. they are
meeting with success almost beyond the ex.
pectation of the officials of the association
At the same time, the employers asso'
citation is paying more strict attention "a
legislation. and, as result, the bills pend
ing before Congress In which the labor or
CARNATIONS are concerned will meet with
careful scrutiny. The association is prepar-
ing to defeat the anti-injunction bill,
which they declare, If passed, would be
"class legislation" The Building Trades
Association is supported in it's fight against
that measure by practically every employ
ers organization in the United States.
Copies of the argument OF President Comp
ers in advocacy of the bill before the COM
mittee on Judiciary of the House of Rep
resentatives recently are in the hands of
the officials Of all employers organiza-
lions, and it is safe to say they viii base
their fight on President Gompers' argument
when the bill comes up for final hearing
before the judiciary committee next week.
In the opinion of Mr.. James Parsons.
chairman of the legislative committee OF
the Employers National Association of
the Building Trades the campaign OF that
organization, If successful, will not work
to the disadvantage of the labering people,
but WILL on the contrary. give them more
perfect labor unions, and insure certainty
of conditions throughout the entire year
certainty of working conditions. accord
ing to Mr.. Parsons, would make for the
benefit of employers and employees alike
The primary complaint of the employers
association against what they term the
present type of labor unions is said to be
the internal contentious in the labor move
ment, and the unexpected demands for in
creases in pay. Internal grievances, Mr..
Parsons stated, have long been a bug
bear and have caused great loss to en-
ployers. Such losses are sustained through
strikes of one union to gain supremacy over
another. These controversies take up
great portion of the time of the quarterly
sessions of the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor, which
strives to obliterate grievances Of the char
acter cited.
Again. the employers associations, when
dealing with labor unions, wish to fix
the standard rate of wages for every class
of workmen in the buildings trades from
one year to another. Under such condi-
tiors, it is pointed out the employers can
base their contracts for work with abso-
lutte certainty and thereby prevent unneces-
sary strikes or lockouts. 1t is not meant
by this principle, it is further stated, that
the employers association is opposed to
increases in the pay of wOrkmen.
In this connection 1t is stated that If
labor unions would abandon their efforts
in behalf of the eight-hour bill and the
anti-injunction bill and use their influence
for the passage of stringent immigration
10 In Ct increases would
make more progress and the conditions OF
the working people would be materially
benefited.
The board Of arbitration composed of
the representatives of the Employers
Association of the Building Trades of
Washington and the Council of Allied
Building Trades of The Central Labor Union
will hold a session this evening at its head
quarters in the Corcoran building. Several
minor violations of the arbitration agree
ment and disputes of an unimportant char
acter will be acted upon.
Arrangements are being perfected for the
first annual banquet of the Employers
Association of the Building Trades OF
Washington. The date of the event has
not yet been agreed upon. but it is expected
to occur within the next month.
Mr.. George A. Conner has been chosen
as business agent of Columbia Lodge. No.
174. and Washington Lodge. No. 1913, of the
International Association of Machinsts, to
fill the vacancy created by the resignation
of Mr. Fred Fletcher.
Columbia Lodge is making preparations
for a reception to its friends, to be held
Easter Monday, April next. musical
and literary program will be rendered by
members of the lodge an dOtherS.
Secretary-Treasurer James Duncan of the
Granite Cutters National Union left Wash
ington yesterday morning for Chicago ILL.,.
to attend to several matters in which his
organization is concerned. He is expected
to return to this city Saturday.
Information has been received in this city
to the effect that bill has been introduced
in the legislature of the state of New York
which, if passed, will make men who bride
labor leaders amenable to the law. The
measure is supported by the New York
State Federation of Labor. Copies Of the
bill have been received in this city. It
reads as follows: "a person who gives or
offers to give any money or other things of
value to any duly appointed representative
of a labor organization with intent to in
huence him in respect to any of his acts,
decisions or other duties as such repre-
sentative, or to induce him to prevent or
cause strike by the employees of any per-
son or corporation. is guilty of a felony and
punishable by Imprisonment in state
prison for a term of not more than five
years. or by fine of not more than 81 900