The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-15

SESSION OF
BUILDING
TRADESMEN

A regular sessl<h Of the local building
trades council was held last evening AMI
as usual It proved to be a large. interest
ing and enthusiastic gathering.
The controversy started los certain
members OF the Protestant clergy over
tho alleged secularizatiou of the Lords
DAY by holding tho recent labor parade
on sunday afternoon last naturally came
up for consideration. Tho trend Of the ~
formal and good natured discussion was
to indorse tho action Of chief Marshal
Thomas r. Keainey all through the con
troversy, tho conspicuous features OF
which were his appearance before the
ministers meeting last SATURDAY.. when
he explained the position Of the Labor
Day committee In the matter. and his
open letter In reply 90 that made public
by tho Rev. Henry Bassett Of the Church
OF the Epiphany.
\ set of rcsoluti'~~ Was offered show
Ing official cogniAance of the matter on
the part of the Building Trades Counci
and these resolution were referred 10 the
joint committee on Lassvr Day celebration.
such committee inclWng the Central
Trades and Labor union. This judicious
course 10 leave # TO the joint committee
was naturally based on the reasonable
argument that IL was for their considera-
ton rather than within tho province OF
either OF the two federated bodies. This
joint committee will meet Tuesday
evening to receive reports and close up
the business Of the recent successful
demonstration
COUNCIL TO TAKE \ HAND.
The labor unions OF tho city. at ieast
those connected with the Building Trades
Council. have decided 60 take pertinent
action as 10 tho stand the members OF the
board of aldermen and the council toop
on the passage ~ the S-hour work day
for tho highway laborcrs employed by
the city.
when the resolution was first intro
duced. the labor men took an active
though silent interest i'm the matter hop
ing that tho city officials would thus ne
led 10 act for tho humanity Of the en-
ployes and I'm the future the conditions of
the workingman would be gradually bet
tered.
At each time that tho resolution was
brought UP for a hearing. II was hoped
that the Justice OF the demands Of the
workingmen from other employers would
be approved by tho action Of the clty's
legislative bodies. when. after repeated
efforts on the part OF those Interested I'm
The passage or tho measure. nothing re-
suited and the measure was turned down.
the leaders OF tho movement here and the
individual members Of the several unions
got together and decided that some ac-
ton would be taken TO convince those do
feating or delaying the measure that il
was really desired nv the w"orkingmen.
Several Of the individual unions have
taken up the matter and discussed II in all
Its phases at their various meetings. Last
eveiting ~ the meeting OF the Ruilding
Trades Council after some discussion IL
was voted that a committee be appointed
IN ascertain Just the mon who were on
posed 20 the measure. whenever n came
mp for a vote. and To canvass the NOM
beers or the unions living IN the wards
where those officials resided To convince
mem before the next election that they
were not friends Of organized labor ana
hence not deserving OF their votes.
As some Of the strongest unions and
those enrolling tho largest numbers ~
men arc among tho member of the build
ing trades council the delegates 10 tho
building trades council think that fboy
can WELD no small influence whore II viii
Do mos needed and used to best advan-
tage when tho proper time comes
Tn committee is TO report AZ tho povt
meeting OF the council and then tho can
VaSs VIII he begun. Every one Of the mon
AZ the meeting OF tho council last evening I
pledged himself To- take an active mart I'm
the matter and to carry the Instructions
pNck 10 MS union To go 10 work as the If
rfclonS will be given from tho council
The members OF the committee apnolpt. !
ca 10 ascertain who opposed the passage
or the measure and who viii make the 70
port az the next meeting consists 81
Messrs. Merrewether, Hays. and Ledy.
HOPES DISCUSSION WILL DROP.
Roy. Mr.. Rassett excuses himself from
answering tho pointed letter Of Mr. Ecar.
n'y, marshal OF the labor parade bv sa,
ing:
reel that the holding Of the labor pa
rade on Sunday was an unfortunate MI.
take. and that it set "a bad example
tried To say I'm my letter what tbougbt
the occasion demanded and stand IN
what said i'm every particular. n seems
10 mo that the letter fully stated my
Vows, and can see nothing 10 be gained
by continuing the discussion"