Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-19
IN LABOR CIRCLES
c.

held and the problem of the Steamftters
Union will come up for final consideration.
1t is said. President Gompers has demand
ed in no uncertain language. that the local
steamfitters must merge their organization
into that Of the plumbers and gasfitters or
else their body must be expelled from the
central body. Failing to bring about one
or another Of these conditions. the Central
Labor Union will come under the ban of
the American Federation Of Labor to the
extent of having its Hlarter revoked and
thus being put out of business" so far as
the federation is concerned. The situation
is an interesting one, and a prominent lead
er said, I'VE are anxiously waiting to see
which way the cat is going to jump"
The letter of Samuel Gompers. president
of the American Federation of Labor, to
the Central Labor Union of this city fol-
lows:
Among other matters receiving the at
tention of the executive council at it's meet
ing. held in this city last week. was the
complaint made by the United Association
OF Plumbers, Gas Filters, Steam Filters and
steam Filters Helpers, against your Cen
trail Labor Union. by reason of your having
seated delegates from the Steam Filters
Local Union, which has refused to comply
with the decision of the Boston convention
of the American Federation of Labor to
become part of the United Association.
The executive council directed that your
attention be called to the fact that YOU are
recognizing an antagonistic organization,
In violation of the constitution of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor.
Under date of June II, 1904, a circular
was sent to the central bodies throughout
the country, yours included in which at
1entlon was called to the danger which men
aces the trade union movement of the coun-
try by aiding and encouraging antagonis-
TIC action on the part of central bodies
toward the laws, principles and policy of
the American Federation a
that disintegration was threatened where
unity should be the watchword
me executive council expected compii-
ance with the latter, and earnestly request
ed same. 1t finds itself confronted with the
alternative of now asking the central bodies
TO comply with the decision of the Boston
convention, and that the constitution of the
American Federation of Labor be enforced
that unless the same is enforced by the
Central Labor Union on or before November
1, 1904, the charter of the central body
must be revoked.
Earnestly hoping that there will be no
necessity for resorting to such extreme
measures. but that your Central Labor
Union will recognize the ACCESSIBILITY of con-
forming to the requirements of the consti-
tuition of the American Federation of Labor
and asking you to advise me in regard
thereto
Bookbinders Union. No. 4. of this city,
by its recent referendum vote. defea ted
by large majority the proposition to
body salaried officer, The proposition to
increase the salary of the international
secretary was also defeated
Delegates have been seated by the Cen
trail Labor Union of this city as follows:
Bartenders' League, No. 75-J F. Nc
earthly, John H. Howard. B. v Walz ]
T. Lewis and H. Leimbach.
Pressfeeders' Union, No 42-Mrs. Alice
Iook Mrs Annie M. Mills. Jonathan
Barnes. c. w. Haffie and j. J. Driscoll.
building Laborers' Union, No. 46-Daniel
Lahey, Nathan Walker, B. F. Deakins,
John Lightfoot and A L. Murphy.
Steamfitters HELPERS Union. No. .2S-Rer-
tram L. Harris, Thomas F. Flanagan. Ed
ward Hart. John Boyd and Charles J..
Franklin.
Thad. Slentz we'll known to the old
employees of the government printing Office
Saia the Trades Unionist. died at the
torer D. where he had been an inmate for
several years. He was a member of Co.
luh1bia Typographical Union The remains
were taken to Gettysburg Pa for inter
ment.
The workmen in the armor plate denart-
ment of the Homestead PaD steel uorlrs
are SAID 10 be taking more than a passing
interest IN the war between japan and
Russia on the sea. 1t was in the Home
stead mills that much of the steel mail for
the cars ships made, and the fest il
is receiving in warfare has much to do
with future orders from Russia. and conse-
quently with the prosperity of the Home
stead workmen OF the Russian ships in
the Fort Arthur squadron which We're en-
gagged with Togo's fleet none of the vessels
bullt and armored in America has been
seriously damaged
The announcement that Russia wou1d
build another powerful navy and would
award immense contracts for armor is en-
couraglng the men at Homestead If the
homestead plate proves invulnerable to
1N<. ~
monial in favor of American armor Leo
Bowman of the Cernegie mills at Home
stead made several trips to Russia while
the cars fleets in the docks were receiving
their armor. The following ships were ar
mored from Homestead:
RetviZan, first-class battle ship was dis
abled at Port Arthur by a torpedo but re-
turned to commission; Emperor Alexandra
Orel, BOrodino. Prince Sauvoroff and Os
liaveo in the Baltic fleet; Rossia. a cruiser
which has had severe baptism of fire and
Is at Vladivostok, and Peresviet, a battle
ship at Port Arthur.
Mr. Edward J. Roche who is resnonsihIe
1t is said for the complimentary sobriouet
OF godfather of the government printing
office being bestowed on Mr.. Loeb secre-
tary to the President, by the appreciatiye
printers bookbinders and other employees
OF the big printery, is a bookbnder by
trade. He is native of New York city and
has been employed at the government print
ing once since lS92 He is member of
highly honored several times by that or
ganization Four four years he was presi-
dent of the Allied Printing Trades Council
and now represents the bookbinders in the
Central Labor Union of this CITY being
chairman of the legislative committee of the
latter body.
One of the latest forms of railroad tics
is from leather. Scraps of leather from
various sources are ground and nodded
They can be made so hard that a spike
cannot be driven into them
the Semi-annual report of the Brother
hood of Painters, Decorators and Paper-
hangers has just been sent out to the local
unions from headquarters at LAFAYETTE
Ind. While the decreased activity in the
building industry during the year has re-
suited in loss of membership of building
trades organizations, the brot herhood is an
exception. In the six months covered Inv
the report t,4l2 new members were added
to the roll and 4,244 were reinstated a total
increase of II, 656. During this period how
ever, 1854 members were suspended max
ing the net Increase in membership 51r,
CHARTERS were issued to 81 new local unions
According to the financial statement the
balance on hand January /, 1904 was Sis
30o4, and the receipts for the six months
amounted to $75, 1852 and the expenditures
to ISL 5000, leaving balance in the
treasury of 81, 3O53O. The death and disa
b1llty claims paid for the sly months q -