Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-13
TO FORM FEDERATION
PROPOSITION BY METAL WORK
ERs-oTHER TRADES:

Trades Federation of North America has is
sued instructions. It is said for the resump-
ton of active work, to strengthen the feder-
alton. The necessity of the organization
Bow seems more apparent than when 1t was
formed two years ago. 1t is composed of
six International bodies and number of
local unions, and includes the Iron Moldets
Union of North America. Brotherhood of
Blacksmfths. International Association OF
Machinists. Pattern Makers League of
North America, Brotherhood of Boilermak-
ers and Iron Shipbuilders and Metal Polish
ers. Buffers. Platers and Brass Workers In
ternational Union.
Headquarters We're established In Wash
ington. D. c.. but were abandoned last
spring, owing to lack of interest taken by
the affiliated bodies.
1.-The success of the Metal Trades Fedora
tion.'' said Secretary Thomas yesterday
has been very gratifying. The unions trat
compose it now desire to extend the work
of organization of local metal trades coun-
ellis throughout the United States and Can
ada. The recent convention of the 1nterna-
tional Association of Machinists held in
Boston took a decided stand in approval of
the plan of alliance for mutual assistance,
which is the purpose of the federation. The
convention instructed the executive officers
to promote the influence and strength Of the
federation, and to aid in the establishment
of local councils in all localities where they
do not exist at present.
THE convention of the Pattern Makers
League of North America took action of a
similar nature, and the result has been re-
newal of activity looking to a spread of the
organization. There are at present six III
ternatfonal unions and eighteen local c Jun-
ellis of the federation. The local councils
are formed upon the lines of central unions
and are composed of delegates from local
! lodges of the various trades. They are sim
liar to the building trades councils. the 90
Jeets being the same, to bring the trades
whose interests are closely identified into
such an alliance that will result in unity of
action whereby all will be benefited, without
recourse to the much-abused sympa thetic
strikes: There will be a meeting Of the
executive council of the federation in Pitts
burg during the session of the American
Federation of Labor convention next month
! 1t is expected that at the meeting all the in
ternational unions eligible to membership
will become affiliated.
The metal working trades have singular
ly stood aloof from any alliance with kin
dred trades, each deeming the machinery of
their respective organza lions sufficient for
all purposes. AS result of this narrow
policy the employers were enabled to defeat
any movement by any one trade to Improve
existing conditions. As all the crafts we're
usually employed under one roof, the sec
tacle was furnished of one trade working
upon parts of a machine that another mad
struck against. In many instances union
workmen could be seen assembling and
SitS1iA9 P'ti - liidt fisiu DGeII Hiaue Oy nom
union men.
Recognizing the folly of such a course
the Metal Trades Federation was formed
and bids fair to bring the organization ilto
powerful offensive and defensive alliance"
Unless present plans are interrupted the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Join
efs and the Amalgamated Woodworkers
Will unite within a short time. 1t is not
generally known that the movement to
| bring these two organizations together has
been progressing fayorabiy and success now
| seems assured. In case the consoda ton is
effected the jurisdiction problem will be
| satisfactorily solved. William B. Macfar-
| lane, general organizer of the brotherhood,
| who strongly favors amalgamation, last
| week made this statement: I'VE have at
least 1--WE men to every one in the amalga-
| mated association, and as we are all wood
| workers there is no reason why we should
| be separated. In many cities we now have
| practically all the shopmen in our organize
| ton. In Grand Rapids we have nearly all
| the men. 1 organized them myself We
| have a cabinet workers local, trmmers
and packers local, machine woodworkers'
| local and an interior finishers' local. In St.
| Louis we have thirteen stair-working shops
| and in jamestown, another city noted as a
| furniture manufacturing center, we have
everything, The anna gamated however, is
! strong in Chicago If the plan for consoli-
| dation succeeds there will be difficulty
| about name, as the United Brotherhood
| of Carpenters and Joiners covers all lines,
| and, besides, many years older than
| the Amalgamated Woodworkers.'
! Although the election for officers of the
| International Association of Machinists oc-
CURED two months ago, members have ex-
| pressed surprise at not having been in
| formed of the result. a number of inquiries
| have been sent by lodges in the Pittsburg
| district to headquarters in this city, and in
| reply the following explanatory letter has
| been sent out:
| ITO the Order Everywhere, Greeting: We,
| the election committee now in session at
| Grand Lodge headquarters counting the
| ballots cast for Grand Lodge officers, deem
| it advisable owing to the fact of so much
| time having been consumed, to give the
| membership some information on the sub
| ject We find about $4,000 ballots have
| been cast, with 215 names on each ballot.
! The progress of your committee is greatly
! retarded by the seeming carelessness on the
| part of those who conducted the election in
| the local lodges.
| For example. we find that in lodge
| casting about fifty votes, there are twenty
| to thirty mistakes. all of which must be
| located and recorded properly by the COM
| mittee. Our best judgment tells US that we
| will not be in a position TO give an accu-
| rate account of the election before the lat
| ter part of October.
| 1--WE want ii understood that M inforua :