Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-14
WILL OBEY ORDERS
CENTRAL LABOR UNION LIKELY
TO ExPEL AFFILIATE BODY.
Question Affecting Jurisdiction in
Federation Of Labor-Matters for
Consideration Tonight.

THE meeting of the Central Labor Union.
| to be held tonight at headquarters, 9th and
| q streets northwest, WILL It is anticipated,
! be one of the most important in the history
| of that organization. The action of Samuel
Gompers president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, in revoking the charter
| of the Central Labor Union has caused a
sensation In local labor circles, although to
| some of the leaders such action was not
unexpected. The revocation of the charter
was made contingent upon the central
| body expeiling from its membership the
| local union of steamfitters.
The controversy which resulted in this
demand by President Gompers Is said to be
| one of the many jurisdctional disputes with
| which the federation has had to content.
| The ultimaturc was reached at the Boston
convention Of the federation last year,
| when, after both sides had been given a
hearing the executive board decided that
| the steamfitters should amalgamate with
the national body of plumbers, gasftters,
steamfitters and their respective helpers.
| This the steamftters have declined to do,
| and the executive council Of the fedora
| ton at it's recent session in this city gave
| the Central Labor Union certain length
| of time in which to expel the steamfitters
local or have its charter revoked
The time for carrying into effect this ul-
| timatum was extended by President Com
pers, but, 1t is stated, there being seemingly
no prospects of harmonious settlement Of
the difficulty, Mr.. Gompers, who is at San
| Of the Federation of Labor, sent telegram
to Secretary Winslow of the Central Labor
Union, notifying that body that its charter
had been revoked.
The Resultant Condition.
The situation as it will be presented to
the central body at its meeting this evening
has therefore, according to a veteran labor
leader. resolved itself into the exclusion of
the steamfitters, provided that organizatio
still declines to amalgamate with the
plumbers and gasfitters, aand following such
action a request to- the federation asking
the reinstatement of the central body. or
else, upon declination to expel the steam
filters. that the latter association continue
as an independent body, which. it is stated.
is improbable. and would result in all man
ner of complications
Mr.. Milford Spohp,, of the bricklayers. a
charter member. and one of the PRINCIPAL
organizers of the Washington Central La
Dor Union, said to Star reporter TO-DAY:
"A central body that would shield ana
protect an organizatiouIcwhIch defies the
American Federation of Labor, and will not
abide by the decisions of that body. de-
serves to have its charter revoked. The
whether it win continue its Animation With
the federation or not. If the DEGREES or
the Federation Of Labor, that being the
workingmans court of Cast resort in ali
wise, are to be ignored or disobeyed by
affiliated bodies. the federation might as
well disband.
In matters of contention between bodies
under its jurisdiction, which cannot be set.
tied by the bodies themselves, the decision
of the higher body must be abided by, else
it becomes but rope of sand. OF course
such decisions cannot be expected to suit
"a
Mr. Spohn said the matter to be con-
sidered tonight is not as to whether the
plumbers or the steamfitters are right in
their contentious. The Central Labor
Union Is chartered by the American FEEDER
alton Of Labor. and the constitution of the
federation is the supreme law The cues
ton is whether the central body will or
will not ooey the decree of the higher body
and expel the offending organization.
when we secured our charter from the
4. F. Of L." concluded Mr.. Spohn, I'VE