Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
Give Their Assent.

oIse 1HelI Assent.
The engineers and fremen assented to
the recommendation of the Boston conven-
ton. but the brewery workers submitted
the matter to a referendum vote which re-
suited in the rejection Of the proposition
Anxious to avoid the revocation of the
brewery workers charter, President Com
pers was selected by the executive council to
confer with representatives of the three
organizations and endeayor to reach a sat
isfactory agreement. At the conclusion of
conference lasting three days, a form of
agreement was accepted, to be ratified by
TIE organizations In interest. The agree
Vent provided That the engineers and
! firemen employed in breweries come under
the Jurisdiction of the International Union
or Steam Engineers and the International
brotherhood of Stationary Firelnen re-
specuvely, and all other brewery employees
not otherwise decided by the American Fed
GRAFTON OF Labor come under the iurisdic-
ton of the International Union of United
Brewery WOTkmen."
1t was also provided that all engineers
and firemen then members of the brewery
workers organiZa ton should during the
week of July 1920, inclusive 1904 be given
a clear transfer card by the local score
t&ries Of the United Brewery Workmen.
1T Is said that notwithstanding the assur-
ance of the representatives. of the brewery
workers that they would favorably recon-
mend the agreement to the membership 1t
was never submitted to 4 referendum vote.
This action Of the brewery workers was
virtually a refusal to consider any agree
ment which would divorce the engineers
end fremen employed in breweries from
their organization, and seriously engaged
the attention of the executive council of
the federation. which met in Washington
IN September, previous to the convention of
the American Federation of Labor which
was held al San Francisco in the following
November
Response Not Favorable
During the session of the council at
Washington, the Brewery Workers Inter-
national Union was IN convention at In
dianapolis. and Secretary Morrison was In
structed to request that body to inform the
council whether the brewery workers were
disposed to abide by the decision of the
Boston convention The convention,
through a committee, IN reply, after Sc
verely criticising the action of the Boston
convention in the matter, concluded with
the statement that we can way
to satisfactorily adjust the trouble along
the lines laid down by the Boston conven-
ton 1t was asserted that the resolution
Of that convention required the brewery
workers to surrender to the engineers and
firemen a part of their autonomy. TO
this they stated I'VE can under cir
cumstances submit. The very unreason-
ableness of the demand assures us that the
next convention of the American Fedora
ton of Labor will repudiate the action or
the Boston convention In relation TO TINS
matter.
In the meantime there were bitter con-
tentions between the brewery workmen ana
the engineers and firemen at Cincinnati, Co
lumbus. ST Louis and Belleville, Ill. These
were the conditions when the convention
Of the American Federation of Labor as
seInbled at San Francisco last November.
At that convention resolutions Were adopt
ed by practically a unanimous vote That
the United Brewery Workmen be compelled
to withdraw those engineers and firemen
who have taken the places of the striking
engineers and fremen in the cities of ST.
Louis, Mo-, and Belleville, H." 1t is said
piled with this resolution, but have In
volved the Transfers in this serious juris-
dictional contention by requiring drivers
employed at breweries to become members
of the brewers union.
Endorses and Concurs.
The San Francisco convention not only IN
dorsed the action of the Boston convention.
but, with only one negative vote, concurred
In the report of the committee on griev-
ances, which submitted a working agree
ment upon the following basis:
"All brewery employees now members of
the United Brewery Workers Union may
remain SUCH provided that such members
as are now employed as engineers, fire.
men Transfers may withdraw from
that organization and join their respective
unions representing these crafts without
prejudice discrimination.
Hereafter the United Brewery Workers