Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-04
IN LABOR CIRCLES

CD
The American Federation of Musicians
has requested the cooperation of orgs nized
labor throughout the country ito stamp
out the growing evil of the importation OF
Italian musicians by SPECTATORS" In q
communication addressed to labor organi-
Nations reference is made to the numerous
royal Italian bands In the country, stat
Ing that 'in most cases these bands are
brought over from italy under conditions
that no self-respectfng American musician
could accept The spectators that are re-
sponsible for these importations have found
II profitable field. It Is said and that
accounts for so many of them. They hu
the summer resorts. gardens, ocean piers
and. in some cases, the city public parks.
Why? Because they can underbId the
American musician. and the managers OF
these enterprises are always looking for
the cheapest labor, musical or other When
these musicians refuse to continue in that
service they are at once dumped upon the
streets of some American city, and the
Spectator HES him to Italy and picks up
another lot
Three years ago." 1t Is stated 1.-THE
American Federation OF Musicians made
determined fight these aggregations
Most OF them expressed a willingness 10
Join the federation but as they were con-
tirualiy on the road 1t was difficult ques-
ton. and finally a system Of conditional
membership was devised. by which such
could JOIN the federation through the gen
eral secretary and number awaited them
serves or this opportunity, which placed
them under control OF the organization"
An Instance Is cited of the disba nding OF
band in New York at the close of the
season OF 1905. when the leader was no.I-
ned that any attempt to import musicians
from Italy would be resisted by the Ameri-
lon, nf
however, that he paid attention TO the
notice. He went TO Europe and returned
for the season of 1906 with an entire new
lot of artists as he calls them
The communication states: There is alb
sointely no excuse for this as there are
In the city of New York alone more than
sufnclent excellent material of native-born
Italians to make a dozen bands and every
one would be the superior OF those freshly
imported inexperienced. so-caled artists
IS pam that the only reason for these
importations is financial one and not an
artlStlc one, as these spectators claim We
cannot get at them through a VIOLA ton
or the alien contract labor law. because
the courts have always decided that mu-
sicians are exempt from the provisions OF
the act We. therefore. appeal to organ
azed labor to help us expose these frauds
and their methods"
A matter OF much Importance to the local
organized stonecutters and stonemasors
mas been under consideration for several
weeks by a joint committee of several of
the building trades. 1t is stated that the
tToupie mas It's genesis In the employment
or stonecutters Of an organization known
as National Stonecutters. No. 2" bv the
flrm OF B. A. & G. N. Williams. on the
construction of the Office building of the
building
The local stonecutters. who are members
OF the Journeymen Marble and Stonecutters'
association. complain that, through dis
"a On ND
Ing made to force them to withdraw from
their union and join the No Q" This or
ganiZation, 1t Is alleged. Is a dual one.
1ormed for the purpose of antagonIzng,
and. II possible. destroying the older asso-
citation. 1t Is said the dual organization
was formed about a year ago and has
branches In New York city. Chicago and
Bedford. Ind. 1t is said the Organized
building craftsmen In these localities are
not In sympathy with the new organization
and that the local workmen are opposed
to the formation of a branch In this city
AS stated, there has been several con-
ferences of committees of building trades
to determine ways and means to sustain the
local stonecutters in the contention with
the dual organization, but as yet, so far
as known. no definite action has been taken
the matter still being under consideration
1t is stated that the committee of the
Central Labor Union which is inspecting
the local slaughter houses and plants where
for several weeks the result of their obser-
vations. The committee last Thursday Wis
tied the abattoir at Benning and closely
observed the conditions there, but no report
made at the meeting of the central
body last Monday evening. as, it is stated
II Is the intention of the committee to in
clude all concerns in the report. Local or
ganized labor, 1t Is said, is much interested
in the forthcoming report, as the committee
was appointed particularly to ascertain the
conditions under which the local concerns
are operated for the information of the or
ganized workmen, who. with their depend
ents, constitute. approximately, $4,000 OF the
consumers in the District.
For several weeks before the adjourn
ment OF Congress, Secretary Wlnslow of
the Central Labor Union received numer-
Gus replies to the request of that body
that the labor organizations throughout the
country send representatives TO Washing
ton to look after labor legislation, and
urge the enactment of the bills pending
In Congress, particularly the measures gen.
orally known as the anti-njunction and
eight-hOur bills.
The responses, generally were not favor
able to the proposition, while others stated
that they were unable to comply with the
request because of the expense necessary.
A number Of organizations favored the
labor political policy advised by the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and very emphat-
ically expressed their disapproval OF further
petitioning Congress. A communication
Conn.,. is quoted expressing the senti-
ment of many Of the organizations. The
letter. which is signed by James G.. Bacon,
secretary, states: las for myself l believe
the idea is all right. Practically 1t will
work out as all games do where your OPP
ponent uses marked cards or loaded dice.
l believe Congress to be composed of
lot of jelly-ish who do not consider any
proposition i'll any other light than that
of expediency. AS long as the working
man does not protest with his ballot he
will always get his in the neck The
labor lobbyists will not be in it with the
Parrys, the Davenports and the endless
string of attorneys whose fees are paid
out of the sweat and CRIME of the toIler."
Mr.. Samuel DeNedry. the legislative
agent OF the Central Labor Union, will sub
NIT full and final report at the meet
ing of that body next Monday evening. AS
the several bills in which organized labor
is interested failed to pass Congress 1t is
anticipated that Mr.. DeNedry's report will
be largely devoted to a detail of the record
Of m al OF