Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-20
IN LABOR CIRCLES
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The example OF Columbia Typographical
Union In adopting at it's last meeting strong
resolutions expressing sympathy for the
striking minors in Colorado and condemn
Ing those who are trying to stamp out
their unions as published by The Star last
Monday. will be followed, 1t Is said. by
the other labor organizations in Washing
ton which have not already expressed by
vote their sympathy and condemnation.
The local workingmen believe there is much
danger to trades unionism in the forma-
ton in Colorado and other western locali-
ties Of the so-called citizens alliances es-
pecially those in Colorado whose shibboleth
Is the open shop and the disntegration of
all trades unions
Inc reason neither of the great political
parties inserted planks in their platforms
favorable to the organized millions of toll
eIs' SAID local labor leader yesterday
was because the lobbies at the Chicago
ana st. Louis conventions representing the
dig corporations and trusts were fortified
by other Hobbies representing the citizens
alliances. l have it on good authority that
men claiming to represent certain of the
alliances busted themselves among the dele
gates at both political conventions and
masnihed the Importance of the alliances
by stating that they formed the nucleus
Va q 6iSett poIitlC<tl element Wnlcn WOuIO
make itself felt in the future national cleo
ions against the anarchistic tendencies of
labor unions. And how well they sue
ceeded can be seen by a perusal of the
democratic and republican platforms"
1t was the opinion of this representative
Worklngman that the citizens alliance
movement would have to be met and con-
tended with in no uncertain manner by or
ganlzed labor before it becomes too formid-
able. He hoped and believed that the
false movement" which has for its main
purpose the undoing of trades unionism
VIII Wither into nothingness under the
Searchllsht of justice and truth"
In addition to the conditions in Colorado
the great strike of the employees of the
meat-packing establishments in Chicago
and elsewhere is demanding the attention
or the organized workingmen here as well
as in the industrial centers of the country
One of the fundamental principles of trades
unlon1Sm is the restoration to work at the
close OF strike of those men who were
actively engaged strikers. Prominent
workingmen have declared that the very
life OF unionism depends upon such resto-
ration to duty, else strikes as a means Of
bringing about better conditions for the
Worklngmen would be things Of the past,
as aggressive leaders could not be found
who would be willing to place upon the
sacrificial altar their right to return to
their daily tasks when the strike ended
successfully to their side or not
The employers-in the present case the
meat packers-reply to this by the state
ment that 1t became necessary during the
strike to employ men, sometimes desig
mated as "scabs" and strike breakers, in or
der that the public might be supplied with
modicum of the products Of their estab-
lishments. To discharge these men when
the strikers see fit to come back to work,
the employers contend, is unfair and
wrong. This is the point on which the
deadlock seems to have fastened itself in
the great strike which has placed meat and
meat products beyond the reach of the
m rh1rpl Stna 70
those of the middle stratum, financially
speaking.
Some of the more radical of the local
workingmen declare they are perfectly will
ing to become vegetarians for the time
beng If, by so doing, it will promote the
cause of their brethren in Chicago, who
are battling with the wealthy meat packers.
1t seems that the situation has resolved it
self into a test of endurance between en-
ployers and former employees. In the mean
time agents of the big packing houses are
securing the country for men who are will
ing to take quick lessons in butchering,
skinnng, quartering and otherwise prepar-
ing for the market bovine, swine and sheep.
and then filing the places of the men who
are out on the strike. The packers say in
this move they meeting with success
and that hundreds of men are seeking m
pioyment in their establishments.
On the other hand, the strikers, backed
by organized labor from Maine to Califor-
mia. and southwark to Florida, declare that
1t is to be a test of endurance, and they
will win after a national boycott has been
put upon all meats placed on the market
by non-union establishments. A mammoth
sympathetic strike of the employees of the
carrying traffic and other industries IS
threatened by some a last resort. Pres
ent conditions present serious outlook and
in some quarters it is believed the tangled
skein will not be unraveled until the strong
arm of the national government is inter
posed as 1t was in the great anthracite coal
strike. when an arbitration commission was
appointed.
An International strike the first in the
history Of labor unionism, was inaugurated
several days ago by the employees of the
Otis Elevator Company. The strike in
wolves eight cities in this country, and it
Is said President Gompers will order the
cessation of all work in progress by the
company in England and Germany. Two
hundred men are involved in Chicago alone.
Certified credentials have been received by
the Central Labor Union of the District for
the following delegates thereto:
Bottlers' Union, No. 251-Edward Thorn
as. w. H. Ryan, G. l. Bateman, John
Schwartzman and Allan Henderson.
Rartenders' League. j. Burns, J. T
Fitzgerald, ]. F. Mccarthy. P. White and
J. H. Howard.
Cigarmakers' Union-John F. Bradengey-
er. Charles A. Hall. John H. Brahler and
E. Carr.
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and
Joiners, Branch No. I'D. H. Coon. w. w.
Smith, NJ F. Mcnamara. w. S. Mcdonald
and N. Harrington.
Columbia Lodge. No. ia. I. A. NV. r.
Adams, H. T. LIE Clair. E. L. Adams, w.
]. O'Brien and A Holder.
Washington Lodge. No 193 I. A. MI
A. Sheetz. j. H. Rice. John Hamerstrom,
" A. Clark and w. K. Wood.
Bakers Union, No. 11S-J. G. Schmidt, L.
Merkel, John Weber, E. H. Meyer and F.
R. Stocks.
Brewery Workers Union, No. 234-A d.
Manager, William Roberts, H. NJ Sears, w.
H. Schaefer and D. P. Mahoney.
Carriage Workers Union, No. 72-R. F.
Jonscher, ]. H. Brinkman, c. B. Wandel
Henry c. Stein and ]. w. Baker.
Grocery Clerks Union, No. 533-J. D.
Schamel, A. A. Swing, ]. F. Smith, Philip
G. Beckman and G. F. Joachim.
Carpenters Union, No. HOE. L. Kolb,
M E. Kahoe, John Muckenhaupt, c. A.
Bladen and ]. A. Barley.
Sheet Metal Workers, No. 1O2-R. G. NJ.
Ross, j. A. DAILY D. M. Desmond, d. c.
Childress and ]. Coign.
Electrical workers, No. 26-W. H. sher-
man, G. A. Malone, E. Nothnagel, G. A
Neal and E. NOsh.
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and
Joiners' Branch No Wv. F. Gilmore, L. II.
Odell l. C. Piper, ]. w. Leedy and +. l..
Hoisting Engineers Union, No: 77-John
Norton. Charles Stenge and William Wise
iii, ~, ,oout;ya committee of the Bricklay-