Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-15
IN LABOR CIRCLES
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ment in the District have been considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of organizing a total alb
stinence auxiliary to the Central Labor
Union among its affiliated bodies and 1t
is proposed eventually to submit the prop
osition to the officers of the central body
In this connection the temperance men
have been furnished with recent utterances
of Mr.. Samuel Gsompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor. which have
bearing on the matter. Mr.. Gompers
said
1T is not only the aim, but the trend,
OF our movement to make men more mod
crate and temperate regarding the use OF
intoxicants. Through the influence of our
movement the so-called labor bureaus, that
is, the places where unemployed workmen
| could seek employment, have been removed
from the drinking saloon, as has also the
place of the payment of wages been re-
moved from that influence.
Years ago saloon proprietors would give
their meeting rooms free, or offer bonus
to such associations of workmen as could
be induced to become tenants This rule
often applied years ago to the unions OF
labor. Gradually, but constantly, the
unions have sought meeting places in build
ings In which intoXicants are not on sale;
but despite their best efforts suftlciency
of halls and meeting places was not anu
is not available
The temperance reformers propose to call
upon President Gompers and request hlm
to indorse total abstinence proposition
which they will submit to him.
Luke Grant, a western labor writer, has
sounded a note of warning anent the rap
idly rising tide of socialism. He said re-
Gently:
Il am forced to believe there is a present
danger of socialism never before so imml-
nent in America in so dangerous form,
because never before imminent in SO wei
organized a form. The danger lies In the
obtaining control of the trades unions by
the socialists. They have been fighting for
that control for years, fighting OF late years
within the unions; fighting unsuccessfully
thus far, but with such power and zeal that
if circumstances bring about another great,
widespread struggle between employers
and employees, with its attendant loss ana
suffering, then the victory which wise lead
ers like Gompers and Mitchell have IN the
last few years won over the socialist fac
ton in the unions may be changed to de-
feat. If this happens, we shall again be
forced to endeavor to weaken the unions in
every way, and many years of struggle and
loss to both sides must pass before we can
again place ourselves and the unions in the
favorable position We are In today-a posi-
ton which enables us to handle these indus
triai questions by themselves on their mer-
it's, which would be impossible if the case
were complicated with radical political
questions and prejudces. And the danger
is not far distant in the future as to
make it less than imperative that we should
deal with it now"
Secretary Job of the Employers Associa-
ton of Chicago has written letter to Pres
ident Bcknell of the Chicago Bureau of As
ISOLATED Charities, stating that the employ
ment bureau of the Employers Association
would give employment to any Workmen
sent there by the charity bureau. Presi-
dent Bicknell Is credited with having made
the following reply to Mr.. Job: Il have
learned that you are fighting organized
labor. If the bureau sends any men to you
they will first be Informed of the situation.
we rarely have applications for relief from
union men. The unions take care of their
own people. The union men also make bet
ter wages than the non-union men, because
they do better work"
There is a possibility Of more trouble be-
tween the textile workers and the manu-
facturers Of Fall River, Mass. The execu-
tive committee Of the Manufacturers As
ISOLATION has notified TT Textile Council
that the manufacturers have declined to
enter into conference with the council at
winch general adjustment of all grtev-
anceS of the men should be made. The
manufacturers expressed a willingness to
adjust any and all specific unfarness that
might be pointed out to them. The men
claim that the manufacturers are discr1mi-
mating against the unemployment of the
settlement made by Gov. Douglas The
attitude of the operators is one of non
recognition of the union, and unless they
recede from this position more trouble is
likely to be precipitated in the cotton mills
of Fall River.
Michael Donnelly, president of the Butch
er Workmen of Chicago and leader of the
great strike of the butchers last summer,
has made statement charging the pack
ers with bad faith in discriminating against
union men at the packing houses. He
charges the packers with not only viola ting
the settlement agreement, but says that
they have made efforts to have him re-
moved from the head of the Amalgamated
Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmens
Union. President Donnelly asserts that
wages have been arbitrarily reduced and
that additional hardships have been i'm
posed on the union men. He also says that
one of the packers offered him a bride,
which assertion he is prepared to prove.
The Custom Cutters Local Union, No. r.
of Chicago has formulated rather unique
demands upon twelve wholesale tailoring
establishments Of that city. The organlZa-
ton, according to press reports, wants pay
for its members while out on strike, claim
ing that the employers broke contracts with
the union, which caused the walkout. No
tice Is said to have been served on the
firms that they must pay full wages to all
old employees from November 10 to January
Z, when the men returned to work. In case
Oh IdIuTe on the part OIL the employers 10
comply legal proceedings are threatened.
There are 700 members in the organization,
300 of whom were employed in these twelve
establishments at the time the strike was
declared. The claims, based on an average
weekly salary of $23 would amount to
$56350 1t is said the employers will ig
more the demand.
Lumber wagon drivers to the number of
900 are on strike at Chicago to enforce an
increase in wages from $13 to $14 per week.
One hundred lumber firms affected by
the strike, and they say they will not grant
the increase of 81 per week asked by the
International Brotherhood of Transfers.
President Roosevelt has been informed by
William II. Sheppard, a Presbyterian mis-
sonary in the Congo Free State, that the
natives of Central Africa have taken to
printing. Mr.. Sheppard added that when
he went to Africa TIE natives had not re-
duoed their language to an alphabet, nor
had they heard of book; today they are
printing the Bible in their native tongue
The missionary who will return to Africa
after years absence. gave the President
a handsome rug, a coVerlet of palm fiber
linep and a pipe, all made by natives of
the Congo Free State.
1t Is expected that labor temples will be
built in a dozen more cities In all Sec
lions of the country during the ensuing