Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-12
VOTE FOR EXPANSION
Brotherhood of Firemen to
Extend Its Lines.
ADOPTS WATCHW0RD
EIGHT-HoUR DAY FOR ALL IT'S
MEMBERS.
Conventions to Be Held Biennially
ereafter-Discussion of
Local Strike.


Local Strike.
Action looking to the extension of the
International brotherhood of Stationary
Firemen into every nook and corner or
this land" as President Healy expressed
it, was taken at the morning session OF
that body today. The decision was also
reached that the watchword of the or
ganization shall be The eight-hour day"
There was animated and general discus
sion of the report of the committee on con-
sttution and bylaws favoring the holding
of the conventions of the Brotherhood bien-
nially instead of annually in the future.
The delegates favorng the adoption of this
report argued that it would give what are
known the backwoods locals an OPP
portulity to send delegates to the interna-
tional body. which is practically denied
them now, owing to the expense involved.
Let us hold conventions every two
years instead of annually" said delegate,
"and nearly all the smaller union towns
will be represented in our law-making
body"
Those who opposed the biennial idea
claimed that such a long interim between
meets would throw almost all the business
of the international body into the hands of
the executive board, and that locals would
be deprived in many cases or being hearQ
before the international organization.
The report was adopted and another re-
port will be made increasing the terms of
the International officers to two years.
The delegates from Cincinnati. lndianap-
oils. Milwaukee and Omaha are striving to
have their respective cities selected for the
next convention. Those from the hoosier
city have nailed upon the wall, high above
the presidents pedestal banner bearing
this inscription: stand up for Indianapo-
lis for the next convention"
Considerable quiet electioneerng is being
carried on by the delegates for their favor
lite candidate for international president.
the election to take place tonight or tomor-
row. There appears TO be but two candi-
dates in the field, the present incumbent
Mr.. Timothy Healy of New York, and Mr.
Joseph w. Morton of Chicago.
The only election far that of Mr.,
John H. Hartley. delegate from this city.
to be sergeant-at-armS during the present
convention. When adjournment was taken
at 12:;0 p. m it was until p. m. this
afternoon. There will also be a night seS
sion.
A Local Strike Discussed.
The causes which led to the recent strike
o. firemen at the Heurich brewery
pretty thoroughly ventilated at the after
noon session yesterday of the international
Brotherhood of Stationary Firemen. and as
exclusively stated yesterday in The Star.
the convention by unanimous vote Endorsed
the action of Washington Local, No. 63. in
er tering upon the strike and of President
Bealy in sustaining it. The matter was
brought before the convention by motion
of Delegate John r. Hartley of this CITY,
that the action of the local union and
President Healy be Endorsed.
Several members of the Central Labor
Union were present, and the convention de-
cided to hear their statements concerning the
recent strike here and its causes. Mr.. Harry
w. Sherman. secretary of the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. was in
70 he 10 asserted
the tiremen al the Heurtch plant were right
In entering upon the strike. He deprecated
the cashing which resulted. and declared
that the action of the president of the in
ternational brotherhood while aggressive,
had been honorable in the extreme:
Mr.. Charles F.. Dietrich of Columbia
Typographical Union. No. 101, denied that
the strike was called by President Healy.
but that he. being the nearest international
officer, was sent for to come to this city
to direct the strikers.
Mr. Healy.'' said the speaker. was
willing to hear the parties to the contro-
versy but he insisted that all of them
should be present at any conference 1t was
decided to hold. and he objected to any
star-chamber proceedings Mr. Heurich
declined. he said. to attend any conference
at which members of the Brewers Asso-
citation, or so-called combine. were present.
This closed negotiations ana the strike
was ordered"
The speaker said President Healy thus
sustained the dignity of the international
body n.
IIealy did not order the strike, but local
No G3 did and the international president
sustained their action.
Mr. Healy declined to hear one side of
the case and then another concluded Mr..
Dietrich. He demanded that all parties
to the controversy should meet together
there would be no conference"
Mr.. John Pau, business agent of the re-
tail clerks. was the next speaker. He said,
In part;
zone of the noblest acts l have seen in
the labor movement when President
Healy stood before a millionaire brewer
and insisted upon the open-door conference
between all the parties interested in the
recent strike. 1t was an act any conven-
ton should feel proud of l trust this body
will sustain the action of both local No.
% and the International president"
President Healy Takes a Hand
President Timothy Healy then arose. He
said accusations had been made against
him, which. II true. should exclude him
from the floor of the convention and from
membership in the International Brother
hood. He said he had been attacked by
brewers and brewers organs. but the eff
fects OF such attacks had been like water
rolling off a ducks back"
when l first approached in New
York by member of Washingto on local. No
63. several days before the Heurch strike
was declared he said. II declined to In
dorse the proposed walk-out. few days
later l found | was wrong and No. 63 was
right. | went to Washington and listened
to all sides OF the controversy. A meeting
of all parties interested proposed. but
Mr.. Heurich declined to have any business
dealings with the Brewers Association of
Washington. After this refusal he was
given twenty-four hours notice and then
the strike ordered"
Mr.. Healy denied the truth of the state
ment made in this city after the strike had
been ordered. that "Healy had declared
beer must go up 81 per barrel"
Il don't care anything about the price
of beer" said President Healy. TT was
the welfare o. nur men [ Was looking after