Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-15
IN LABOR CIRCLES
O.

O.
The strained situation In the building
| trades is giving much concern to the labor
leaders in this city, and frequent consul
| tations are being held with the view OF
meeting the emergency. It il said the mat
| ter Is 80 serious that an appeal has been
taken to Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation Of Labor, for his ad-
vice aud counsel.
1t Is understood the leaders In the local
| labor movement are preparing a program
Of action, but they are secretfve as to Its
purport. They claim that as the meetings
OF the master builders and other bosses are
regarded as executive sessions they should
| meet like with like, and not divulge the re-
| suits of their conferences. Hence, the con-
| test UP to this time, except as to the results
| such as the walkout of the bricklayers and
carpenters, has been conducted beneath the
surface on both Sides
1t Is evidently the intention Of the mas
ter builders to import non-union Workmen
here to complete the work on unfinished
buildings, provided the union workmen do
not promptly come to terms.
It Is also said to be the determination
OF the journeymen Of the several building
trades to strenuously resist the open-shop
idea. The situation Is an interesting as
well as serious one. Some OF the me-
chanics regard the struggle as one on
which the life Of the local trades unions
depend.
The local knights Of Labor are said to
Labor Union Monday evening in refusing
to accept as a fraternal delegate from the
Suffrage League Mr.. Herman J. Schulteis
because he is a knight Of Labor, that order
and A. F. L. Some Of the knights are.
it is said, talking Of "reprisals" and re
taliation" because of the incident. A prom
inent knight gave 1t as his opinion that at
cations 1t is both ill-advised and foolhardy
to antagonize such an alert labor body as
the Knights Of Labor"
Great interest in Washington is centered
In the convention of the International Typo
graphical Union, now in session at Colo
RADIO Springs, Col. In his annual address
President James M. Lynch took an optt-
mistic view of the printers strike situation
while the ordinary affairs of the inter-
national body have been subordinated to a
great extent to the eight-hour-day de-
mand." he said, yet we have made sub
stantial progress nevertheless in all direc-
tons. The conditions of newspaper work
ers have been improved. and wages have
been materially increased in many in
stances. With agreements In effect with
nearly all of the important newspapers OF
the North American continent, with 4O,OOO
members now on an eight-hour basis, and
with reasonable prospect for complete VIC
tory for the eight-hour day in all instances
where strikes are now on, the outlook Tor
the future Of the International Typo
graphical Union is exceedingly bright. No
other trade union on the North American
continent has received so much advertising
as has our own. Its aims and objects are
fully understood by practically all Of the
printers who are following the art for
livelihood. He must indeed be isolated who
has not been approached by representa-
tive of the United Typothetae Of America
or an organizer or member Of the Interna-
tional Typographical Union and urged to
take a position on one side or the other OF
the great struggle through which we are
passing. Naturally. when the battle Is over,
the work Of organization will be much
easier. and I confidently predict that when
peace again reigns in our branch Of the
printing industry, shortly thereafter the In
ternational typographical Union will num-
Der many thousands more than at any
previous period. OF surety, peace will
reign in the book and job branch. for the
opinion is justified that before the employ
ers in the commercial field again deliberate
ly seek warfare with the International
Union they will exhaust every remedy that
gives promise of satisfactory adjustment
without forcing the workers to resort to the
strike. s.-
The contest has truly been a fight for
peace. The newspaper workers struggled
for years before obtaining a position that
brings with 1t the consideration they now
receive from the publishers of the great
newspapers Of the country. The book and
job members have concentrated within a
few months a struggle that for the news
paper members extended over the earlier
life of the International body. With har-
mony in both branches and with conditions
such as our members have a right to de-
mand and expect. we can then turn our en-
ergies into other fields and devote time and
r%,,Ix Hok% hay
associated with working conditions. In
short, the opportunity will present itself to
make the International Typograp hical Union
the model and ideal trade organization, fur
nishing for its members full and complete
protection. both in the industrial and social
field.
It has been asserted. in some cases proved,
that many Of the English strike breakers
were induced to cross the line into the states
and act as strike breakers in American
cities. It is therefore of supreme import
ance that this convention, representing the
printers of the United States and Canada,
should give Endorsement to the recommends
ton made by the deputy minister Of labor,
so that effective LEGISLATION in Great Britain
may be enacted. and in the future protect
both Canadian and United States toilers
ticed by employers in their desire to defeat
strikes and prevent the retaliation Of the
aspirations of the organized wage-earners
on the North American continent
Secretary Bramwood in concluding his re-
port summed up as follows:
Twelve months ago the book and Job
membership Of locals having the eight-hour
day for all book and job employees approx
mated 5000. At this writing at least 10000
book and job employees are enjoying the
eight-hour day, while over $500 are on
strike and approximately $500 are working
under unexpired nine-hour contracts. This
| means that 1900 book and Job employees
have gained the eight-hour day since the
conflict began last summer and that seven
eighths OF the total membership Of the Or
ganization is working on an eight hour ba,-
sis. These figures speak for themselves.
The eight-hour day IL established.
There has been a decrease in the average
paying membership, but this has been caus-
ed by failure to meet the assessments lev
led, and Is not due to assertions. According
to reports filed at headquarters the traitors
to our cause have been remarkably few in
number. The membership dropped, through
cancellation Of charters. can be readily re-
organized at any time Taken as a whole.
the record for the year is one to cause ev-
cry member to swell with pride. The con-
test has brought the rank and file in closer
touch with each other, and resulted in q
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