Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-01

submit to vote of the subordinate unions
the propositions of the initiative and refer
endum. The propositions. which will be
submitted to popular vote not later than
July next, will no doubt be approved by
large majority of the membership. 1t is
stated. Under the system proposed the
unions will be vested with the right to
formulate and enact measures Of general
character pertaining to the craft and also
to nominate and elect all interna tional Of
ficers. The plan. it is said. will be a radi-
cal departure from the prevailing system.
which deprives the membership at large Of
seIf-government and vests the conventions
and the officers elected thereby with ALSO
lutte control in those matters which 1t IS
now proposed shall be delegated to The
membership at large.
1t is stated that in 1898 the propoSti On
was approved by a two-third vote of the
subordinate unions, but was disregarded fy
the next convention Of the craft. which was
held at trenton, n. j., in January. 1894.
This action Of the convention was severely
censured by many of the local unions,
which, it is claimed, created a sentiment
which was expressed in the San Francisco
convention by the unanimous approval of
the proposition.
The application for a charter of affilia-
ton with the American Federation OF La
Dor, as determined at the recent conven-
ton of the National Stonema sons Union
viii. it is said, probably provoke a protest
from the Bricklayers and Masons' Inter-
iitliuldl tUIOH. ana Will suggest the pro-
priety of the federation granting the stone
masons charter. The national organiza-
lion of brickayers and masons regard the
National StonemasCns' Union as a dual
organization. and inimical to the interests
Of many of the subordinate unions of that
body which have a membership of stone-
masoDS, it is claimed.
Since the organization of the Stone
masons International Union, several years
ago, there has been a continuous war be-
tween the two rival bodies generally it Is
said. to the discontinue of the stonemasons
as 1t is reported that during the past year
eighteen unions. formerly chartered by the
StonemasonS International Union, have
become affiliated with the Bricklayers and
Masons' International Union. The with
drawals have become so frequent that Pres
ident Bowen of the Bricklayers and Ma
sons International Union in his annual re-
port states that he believes that another
year will find this rival organization a
thing of the past
The question of the character of the Stone
masons' International Union has been con-
sidered by the American Federation of La
Dor and 1t Is said that the officials have
no doubt that it is an organization dual
to the Bricklayers and Masons' Interna-
tonai Union. 1t Is stated that forty wears
ago, when that body was organized. stone
masons were included in the organization,
and that several hundred subordinate
unions are partly composed of a member
ship of that craft. 1t Is stated also that
there is quite number of unions COM
posed exclusively of stonemasons char
tered by the b. and NJ. I. L. and affiliated
with that body.
And yet. 1t Is said the officials of the
federation have not considered the stone
masons application, but because of the
character of the organization Ii is very
probable that charter will not be granted
as it is the principle and policy of the
American Federation of Labor to discount
tenance dual organizations.
At the last meeting OF the Mail Bag
Pouch Makers and Repairers' Union, No |
1928. of this city. the following officers
were elected for the ensuing term: c.
Green. president; H. Pacal, vice president:
J.. w. Karney. recording secretary: w
Gardiner. financial secretary; w. j. Har-
ris. treasurer; l.. Nugent, inside guard; ].
Dowd, outside guard.
Increased interest is being taken in the
Washington. and Mr.. Milford Spohn chair |
man of the temple committee, is receiving
many encouraging communications. Re- |
fering to the matter the Trades Unionist |
says editorially:
The action taken by the Central Labor |
Union in appointing committee to look |
into the advisability of erecting a labor
temple in this city will meet with the |
hearty approval of all progressive union |
men. 1t is to be hoped that the committee !
will get down to work on the proposition |
and be prepared to report a plan that can
be followed out to the end.
There is nothing that shows the stability |
of an organization in the business world
better than the possession Of its own build
ing. 1t places the organisation In class