Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-30
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

The announcement, made exclusively in
The Star, that a local branch of the Struc-
tural Trades Alliance had been formed in
Washington and was In working order"
came as surprise to many of those who
are aflliated with the Central Labor Union
and the Council Of Allied Building Trades
I'VE knew there was a movement on foot
to form an opposition body" said one of
the most prominent labor leaders in the
District, but we did not know II had actu-
ally been organized. Now that II IL, the
next step will be for the alliance to swallow
the Council of Allied Building Trades, hair,
hoof and hide and It is my candid opinion
this will be DONE"
Another representative workingman said
1t would be impossible for building trades
council to exist and be "the real thing
when such important structural trades as
the carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers and
painters are affiliated with the rival body
the Structural Trades Alliance.
1t Ii stated that an appeal will be made
to President Samuel GOmpers of the A. +.
L., upon his return FROM San Francisco.
to take q hand In the local "imbrogIio," as
structural alliance from swallowing the al
He'd council"
A few days before President Samuel
Gompers started for San Francisco to at
tend the annual sessions of the American
Federation of Labor he was shown q clip
ping from socialist-labor paper by Star
reporter which told of a great movement
that was being engineered In certain quar-
ters by leading socialists to bring about
Mr.. Gompers' defeat for reelection to the
presidency. After scanning the article, he
smiled significantly and said:
This Is bosh."
And SO 1t turned out to be, for when
Gompers name was placed in nomination
for reelection at San Francisco last Satur-
day there was tidal wave Of applause.
and his reelection would have been unani-
nous but for the single vote cast against
him by Victor Berger, a Milwaukee So
cialist-democrat.
Frank Morrison was also reelected sec
rotary and John B. Lennon treasurer, thus
leaving the executive trinity as 1t was last
year. The vice presidents, including John
Mitchell. were also reelected and it was
decided to hold the 1865 convention In
Pittsburg, Pa.
The committee on President Gompers an
nual report at the recent convention of
the American Federation of Labor report
ed as follows on the subject of legislation:
The President reports upon the efforts
which have been made-again made-to OBJ
tain from Congress some relief against the
usurpation practfced by the judiciary
through the writ of Injunction. To so
change the writ intended to protect prop
erty rights as to cause II to be at this day
prODdDiy the mfsSt dangerous invasion of
personal rights Is surely usurpatiou. and
should be stopped. Your committee recon-
mends that the efforts to obtain the pas
sage of the anti-injunction bill be con-
tinued. and that all possible efforts to that
end be made. Your committee likewise con-
ours in the recommendations made by the
president and urges the continuation of the
efforts to obtain the passage Of the eight
hour bill. Likewise In the matter of the
convict labor bill. In the matter of the
national arbitration bill. your committee
recommends to this convention the en-
phatic Endorsement Of the stand taken and
the workers in their right to quit work.
stnSly or in unison, for any reason or for
no reason at all. In the matter Of the new
Chinese treaty your committee recommends
that the executive council stands specifically
instructed to watch every move made In the
matter. to keep the public informed, so far
as 1t can and to resist to the utmost any
so-called liberalization of the exclusion
laws.
I'm the matter OF the incorporation of
trade unions the president states, and your
committee fully agrees that 1t is but a pre-
text, not honestly offered but distinctly for
the purpose Of SO mulcting the unions In
damages as to prevent them from getting
together the necessary funds for an effec-
tive resistance to any encroachment which
the Citizens Alliance may choose to make
at any time or place: and your committee
further recommends that efforts be made to
watch Congress and the different state leg
fslatures for bills which have any such
purpose in view, with the purpose Of resist
ing their passage to the utmost.
Your committee desires to compliment
the president and the trade union move
ment upon the creditable showing made at
the st. Louis exposition. and upon the re-
ceiving Of the grand prize as a reward"
Another big strike Is ION" at Chicago,
now termed "the strike city" More than
14.0OO tailors are reported to be out The
twelve unions involved have decided that
no settlement can be made unless the en-
ployers concede an increase of % per cent in
the wages. besides granting all the condi-
tons for which the strike was called. The
Federation of Labor voted to support the
strikers
graphical Union. No. 8. and the Typothetae
of New York city, the pay of book and job
printers has been Increased for a term of
one year from $3.50 to 81 week.
Late advices from Indiana state that the
BARRIERS Union in that state has won its
fight against barber shops keeping open on
Sunday. Several proprietors of shops have
been arrested and fined. and there will be
no more "open shops on Sunday, the jour-
neymen declare
New delegates to the Central Labor
Union have been admitted as follows: In
terror Marble and Slate Cutters-Wiliiam
Swanniek, F. Brooks and D. Mcguire. Re-
tail Clerks Union 7. r. Carroll, vice san
ger. Sheet Metal Workers-Charles Marin,
vice r. G. M. Ross.
The legislative committee of the Central
Labor Union has reported on the violation
Of the eight-hour law, and stated that they
had secured evidence in the case. On mo-
ton the committee was instructed to fnsti-
tute proceedings against violators OF the
law.
In its report of the last meeting of Co.
lumbia Typographical Union. No. 1O1. the
Trades Unionist states that "a committee
from textile workers of Fall River. Mass.
who have been on strike since last July
against reduction In wages" were given
8 minutes In which to address the union.
The committee representing the textile
workers, Messrs. Rfgnof and Richardson,
were introduced and addressed the union.
asking aid for the strikers.
A motion being made to levy an assess
ment for that purpose. a point Of order was
made and sustained that 1T required notice
to membership.
On motion the chair was directed to ap-
point a committee Of twenty-five members
to take up a subscription for the textile
workers, the committee to report to the
secretary within next two weeks.
Notice was given that at the next meet
ing of the union an assessment OF SO cents
on each member would be moved to further
assist in the erection of the proposed Cum
-,,re at the Union PriuterSt