Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-15
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

special committee has been appointed by
that body to ascertain If the law is being
violated, and If such is the fact 1t is said
that 1t is probable that the matter will be
brought to the attention of the legal au-
thorities.
A member of the committee states that of
the several cases reported, laborers are en-
ployed, exclusively, with the exception of
one contract. He stated also that the en-
ployes are worked in excess of eight hours,
and that in one instance they are required
to work ten hours per diem, notwithstand-
ing that the fact is known by the District
authorities.
This member of the committee. who has
given much attention to the alleged viola
ton of the eight-hour law, remarked that
although the fact is self-evident, in many
instances, that those employed at public
work are worked in excess of the statutory
limit OF eight hours, it is difficult to secure
CONVICTION for violation of the law. as the
court frequently accepts the plea of Eek
traordinary emergency" which is made in
every case of prosecution, which, pro-
vided by the statute, exempts the party
from conviction.
During this month the subordinate unions
of the Bricklayers and Masons' Interna-
ttonal Union will vote upon a proposed
amendment to the national constitution of
the organizati ton, embodying the principle
of the initiative and referendum. The plan
proposed is reported by committee which
was provided for at the national convention
of the organization, which was held at San
Francisco last January, and If adopted by
the subordinate unions will radically
change the existing form Of general gov
eminent and substitute the initiative and
referendum whereby the membership will
name and elect the international officers
and also the amendments to the general
laws governing the organization.
The plan provides that the election CT
INIT Town 1fPo e1,,1f t,Ir
the month of November, 1906, and every
two years thereafter by popular vote OF
the membership, an absolute majority of
all votes cast being necessary to an cleo
ton. 1t is provided that during August,
preceding election each subordinate union
shall nominate one candidate for each OF
the offices to be filled. Such nominees,
however, may or may not be named from
the members of the union making the NOM
nations. Unions failing to nominate shall
be fined the sum of s.. No candidate shall
be considered eligible who has not received
the nomination from not less than ten
unions. located in not less than three states,
territories or provinces of the United
States or Canada.
The proposition also provides that the
conventions of the national organization
shall be held every two years, beginning
on the second Monday In January, 1897
Amendments to the general constitution
can be made in convention or by popular
vote of the membership. but all amend
uleitS Indue III convention Slltll Ue SuD-
mitted to popular vote of the members
of the international union. Any subordl-
nate union shall have the right to pro-
pose amendments to the international con-
stitution: but no proposed amendment Will
be referred to the vote of the membership
unless it has received the Endorsement of
not less than thirty unions, located in not
Jess than three states. territories or prov
inces of the United States or Canada.
Should the plan be adopted by a ma
jority popular vote it will be in force on
and after May !, 1906.
At special meeting recently held for
the purpose of considering the proposed
plan Local Bricklayers' Union, No. !, voted
for its adoption.
President Samuel Gompers of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, in his annual
message to that body. just made public,
says:
ION the continent of America our labor
movement is expanding and extending TO
all it's beneficent influences. We have not
only our international trade unions, with
their nearly q 900 local trade unions. but
we also have our state, dominion, insular
and territorial declarations, our 601 central
labor unions, trades assemblies and local
declarations. Our limits are no longer from
Maine to California, from the lakes to the
gulf but we include the whole of the
United States. Canada, Hawaii, Cuba, Por-
to Rico, Mexico, the Philippines and Brit
ish Columbia. 1t is superf1uous here to re-
fer to the vast advantages secured by our
their respective crafts and callings-they
have been more than thrice told. They will
bear telling again and again, and 1t is
strongly urged that our international
unions as a further illustration of the
greater possibilities for good in the future
by trade union unity under the banner of
international trade unionism should gather
the lateral and data so that they may put
their achievements before the world and
demonstrate to the Indifferent and to the
scoffers and the unthinking, as well as to
friends, the vast good already accom-
plished.
You will be much gratifed to know that
during the past year there was formed an
international league for the organization Of
women into trade unions and that It's work
has been attended with considerable sue
cess. 1t has been not only my duty, but
pleasure to aid It's officers and members in
the furtherance of that work. True, many
of it's officers are not wage-earners, but are
women and men who anxious to help their
sisters of labor realize that that assistance
can best be rendered by organization where
they may be in the better position to help
themseles.
1T is additionally gratifying TO know
that the advice given has been faithfully
adhered to; that is, that this work of Or
ganizng the women tolers of our country
should be carried on, not as a mere fad, a
fancy or a within, nor to have that move
,nent diverted from its real purpose, but
that It shall be purely and truly move
ment in cooperation with the American
Federation OF Labor Tor the organization
into trade unions of the women wage-earn-
ers of America.
..If more men and women, imbued with a
desire to help the workers, men and women,
out of the mire and misery of poverty and
it's attendant evil influences and tendencies.
were to devote some of their consideration
to be helpful in the organization of the
wage-earners, both men and women, into
trade unions that in them and through
them they may materially, morally and
ctaly improve themselves and their sur
roundings, more practical and tangible re-
suits for the betterment of all would be at
tested and recorded than in the provision
for either missionaries abroad or for books
for the voorhees, or overworked workers
here.
1--WE sometimes still hear the demagogic
claim put forth by organized labors OPP
ponents that the union shop, with its agree
ment with employers, is improper and UNI
Just Our opponents pretend that they
stand for the liberty and rights of work
men. That, as q, rule open-shop' declara-
lions were accompanied or Immediately fol-
lowed by wage reductions or the imposition
of poorer conditions upon employees Is
fact patent to all who have given the sub
iect thought and investigation.
us it not a novel position for the worst
antagonists to laber's interests to assume
that they are the advocates and defenders
of the rights and the liberties of workmen?