Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-11
IN LABOR CIRCLES
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cite Square Opera House. which resulted in
their dismissal, will have the effect of
causing renewal of the warfare of the
American Federation of Musicians upon
the United States Marine Band The dis
pute at the theater grew out of the alleged
delay of Leader Victor Johnson in inform
Ing Manager Ira j. Lam0tte that the latter
would be expected by the union to ray the
musicians half salary for the week they
were deprived of their work by the pres
ence of a minstrel organization which car
ried its own orchestra and. incidentally,
the demand for an increase in wages for
work during the summer opera season
In connection with the dispute at the La
fayette Theater, 1T is charged that the
places made vacant by the dismissal of the
union musicians were in instances filled by
members of the Marine Band.
For several years the union musicians
have insisted that members of the band
have no right to accept outside engage
ments They have appealed to Congress
upon several occasions, but thus far they
have been unsuccessful in their efforts to
have the enlisted musicians disbarred from
competition with the civilian musicians
The matter was carried before President
Roosevelt, but, so far as can be learned. no
official action has been taken looking to the
relief asked by the Federation of Musi-
clans
The unpleasantness at the Lafayette
Theater, it is learned, has caused the civil
ian musicians, especially the local union
musicians, to become more embittered in
their feeling toward the government band
And, 1T is further learned, the fight to have
the privileges of the members of that or
ganization curtailed will be carried on
with greater determination than has thus
far characterized the struggle.
Although no official information can be
obtained, 1t is probable that the difficulty
at the Lafayette will occasion a visit to
this city in the near future of Secretary
Miller of the American Federation of Mu-
sfcfans, stationed in st. Louis. 1t is likely
that President Roosevelt will be requested
by the $4,000 union musicians of the coun-
try, through Secretary Miller, to give
ruling that will definitely settle the con-
troversy with the Marine Band
The new schedule of wages for the reg
ular season of the local musicians, which
becomes operative a the opening of the
next theatrical season and which. 1t was
first supposed. was responsible for the dis
pute at the Lafayette Theater, has been
the basis of much correspondence between
the officials of the union and the managers
of the local playhouses When questioned
as to their attitude toward an increase in
the pay of musicians beginning next
atrical season, several of the managers
announced that if such an increase was
proved to be just, they would be willing to
accede to the demands of the union. A
conference of the managers and the Of
fcials of the union will be held the pres
est week There is every probability that
the matter will be amicably and equitably
adjusted
Secretary Frank Morrison of the Ameri-
can Federation of La Dor has prepared
a report for the six months ending March
81. The report shows an income of $119,-
315.7S together with the balance on hand
October 1, 1903. of sS6.013.12. making a
grand total of s2o5,3SS.7S The expenses
for the six months were SOB 634. 70 leaving
balance on hand March 81 of s101, 754. 20.
The per capita tax received during the
past six months average mem
bership of S26, ia.
The following charters were issued dur
ing the past six months: International
unions six; state branches four; city
central bodies. fifty-eight; local trade and
federal unions having no international
union, 1S9; the international unions being,
the Bridge and Structural Iron Workers
International Union, the International
Union of Building Employees of America,
the International Union of Tack Makers.
the International Union of Paper Box
Makers, the International Union of Foun-
dry Employees. the International Union of
Compressed Air Workers. the state
branches being, Minnesota, Indiana. Indian
and Oklahoma territories and Arkansas.
There are now affiliated with. the American
Federation of Labor: International unions
us; state branches, thirty-one; city CEN
trail bodies, sos; local trade and federal
unions having no international unions,
1512. This does not include the charters
issued to local unions by affiliated inter
national unions, the total of these locals
being 26, 400.
In commenting upon MS Tecei1 tIIp "
Denver Col, at the time of the quarterly
meeting of the American Federation of La
bor President Gompers, in conversation
with a reporter of The Star, made refer
ences to certain actions OF PRESIDENT Craig
of the Citizens Alliance, which has figured
conspicuously in the strike of the coal
miners of Colorado.
Some time after my arrival In Denver"
Mr.. Gompers stated, President Craig OF
the Citizens Alliance came to see me. The
interview occurred in the evening. In ap-
preaching me, Mr.. Craig said he wished to
talk to me personally and privately, in
order that the newspapers might not make
too much capital of the cOnSulta ton.
TT subsequently developed that prior
to his interview with me President Craig
had presented to one of the daily news
papers a report purporting to have been
the details of the conference.
This Mr.. Gompers characterized as dis
honorable.
James O'Connell, president of the Inter
national Association of Machinists, will, in
all probability, make a personal investiga-
ton of the strike of the machinists, to-
gether with the blacksmiths and boiler
makers, on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa
Fe railroad. Mr.. OConnell left Washing
ton today for an extended western trip.
He will first go to Chicago, where he will
hold a conference with the union officials
and manufacturers there, in connection
with the formulation of working agree
ments for the ensuing fiscal year. Mr..
O'Connell will address a labor mass meet
ing in Chicago Sunday evening After a
visit to Joliet, ILL.,, Mr.. OConnell will go to
Omaha, to confer with Vice President
Buckalew, who is directing the strike OF
the machinists against the Santa Fe sys-
tenn. 1t is stated that he will receive any
overtures which the railroad officials choose
to make, and will meet them half way in
an effort to adjust the dispute.
According to Geographic adv ces from
Denver, Col. the trial of Secretary-Treas-
urer William D. Haywood of the Western
Federation of Miners, for alleged desecra-
ton of the American flag, has begun. The
outcome of the trial is awaited with much
interest in this city. 1t is maintained by
Haywood that the statute bearing upon the
alleged offense does not apply to pictures
or representation of the flag, but only to
the emblem itself. Haywood is charged
with issuing circular bearing a picture of
a flag inscribed in such. a manner as to
desecrate the national emblem
The fiftieth annual convention of the In
ternational Typographical Union will be
held in st. Louis, Mo-, beginning August y
next. Delegates and alternates must, I'M
der the provisions of the law, be elected on
Wednesday. May IS. If chosen on any other
date, delegate has no voice or vote in the
meeting until it has passed upon his creden-