The San Francisco call., 1906-11-22
EDITED BY O. NJ. BOYLE


One OF the difficulties tnat face labor
organizations is the vacillating and un-
certain procedure Of the conventions,
executive council and officers Of the
American Federation Of Lab on juris-
dictional disputes. There has been a
series OF straddles by the executive
council on numerous questions of mo-
ment regarding Jurisdiction of unions,
both local and international. The Min
neapolis convention has just referred
the steam filters case to the executive
council, which means another long de-
lay after a tedious walt.
In this city the steam filters are or
ganized and chartered by the inter
national. but are placed at a serious
disadvantage because of constant con-
iicts with the plumbers organization,
equally well authorized, which, in ad
dition. has the Building Trades Council
behind il. The question OF the segre-
cation OF trades employed in breweries
as against the present Brewery Work
mems Union, which embraces nearly all
the men employed in breweries in the
one Organiza ton, is another serious
question which is scheduled to come up
in the Minneapolis convention. If the
usual procedure is followed there viii
be continued friction between the
brewery workmen and other organiza-
tions claiming Jurisdiction over crafts
men at present affiliated with the
brewers.
The experience of many San Fran
cisco unions has been one Of continued
and seemingly unnecessary strife be-
cause Of a woeful lack of backbone on
the part Of the American Federation
of Labor convention and the executive
council Frequently letters and tele-
grams upon most important questions
would become ancient history before
recognition or reply would be vouch-
ssfed.
The law and legislative committee of
the Labor Council will meet this even
ing 10 draft a factory inspection law to
be presented to the coming Legislature.
II viii be framed on lines laid down in
factory laws in Eastern States.
The approach of the expiration of
the agreement between the United Ty-
pothetae and the International Print
ing Pressmen and Assistants Union is
giving the union printers and other
branches of the allied printing trades
some concern, as the pressmen are very
important factors in the eight-hour day
which IL is hoped to inaugurate next
year II possible in every branch of the
the board OF directors of the Pressmen' S
Union and the Typothetae committee
held in Chicago with a view TO a re-
newal Of the present agreement with
the United Typothetae, and also to
include the eight-hour day and the
abrogation of the open shop. President
Martin Higgins of the former organiza-
tion reported that the eight-hour prop
osition seemed to be within the scope
OF settlement, though the date of its
inauguration was question upon
which the contracting parties had
as yet failed to arrive at satisfactory
conclusion.
The membership of the organization
has. however. been urged to prepare
FOR any emergency that may arise al
the termination Of the present agree
ment on May l next A hope is ex-
pressed that an agreement may be
reached without friction An agree
ment between the newspapers and the
pressmen has already been negotiated,
the question of submitting the matter
70 the membership for ratification
being the only obstacle to conclusion
at this time.
The membership of the Amalgamated
Society Of Carpenters and Joiners is
growing very rapidly in Oakland Only
IN that city and it now numbers 500.
Another branch viii be launched next
Monday, to be known as Branch No. ,,
which starts with the most encourag-
ing conditions. Already 100 names
have been secured for this new branch.
The event Will be celebrated by a
smoker and entertainment, at which
the best talent in Oakland and this
city viii appear.
The following officers viii preside
over, the new local: President. C NJ
Waddell: vice president, l. c. Carpen-
ter; secretary, c. X. Demeesc; busi-
ness agent J. NJ Pointon-
Final arrangements have been made
TO dedicate the Labor Council Temple
Thanksgiving eve. Speeches viii be
made by Richard Cornelius, ". G.
Hagerty and several others. The
speaking viii be interspersed with
songs and musical numbers. Later in
the evening there will be dancing.
II has transpired that emissaries OF
the steel trust in Chicago are engaging
hundreds of nOn-union men for labor
at Gary, Ind, next spring. It is re-
ported that contractors have been Of
fered 10 cents a head for all laborers
furnished. Evidently a battle royal is
TO be fought out between organized
labor and its enemies in this new In
diana town.
Rev. Owen r. Lovejoy, assistant Sec
retary OF the National Child Labor
Committee, viii appear before the Los