Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-12
IN LABOR CIRCLES
Co.

| The matter of the entry of labor unions
into the field of politics is occupying much
| attention just now among men of learning,
and many prophecies, some direful and
| others hopeful, are being made. Richard
Olney, in an article in the Information for
| the current month, asks the question:
Shall labor unions enter politics?" Then
| he proceeds to reply to his own query in
] this vein:
The answer Is suggested by what labor
| has found itself compelled to do in order
| to secure just consideration from capita
; in respect to wages, hours of work and the
other conditions of employment. 1t Is nee
essary to bear in mind the general II not
practically universal attitude assumed by
| capital toward labor. Economically 1t is in
substance that the capitalist not only man
ages but absolutely owns his business: may
carry 1t on or not as he pleases, and IL he
| carries it on may employ whom he will at
such wages as he chooses to pay Polit-
| ically his attitude is practically the same.
Regarding certain policies and certain men
| in office important to his business, he
resents any action by an employee which Is
antagonistic to those policies or those men,
onsm sufficient cause for depriving the
| employee of work. In so doing he is strictly
within his legal rights and exercises a
power which for obvious reasons is not to
be abridged without urgent necessity. The
| helplessness of an employe under these
| conditions is obvious. Single handed he is
absolutely remediless. however unwarrant-
| ed or oppressive the course of the capitalist
may be. Only by combining with other
employees for their mutual defense and pro-
| lection can he hope to deal with capital on
anything like even terms. The recognition
and appreciation of this situation bv the
wage-earners has led them from very early
times to combine with more or less thor
-oughness and effectiveness for the conserva-
inn nf INN int "a
unions of modern times only adopt and act
upon the same principle, though with an
| elaborateness of organization and of meth
| DDS which adds immensely to their power.
| The result has been a radical and benefi-
| cial change in the lot of the wage-earner,
who has been released from the bonds of
| industrial vassalage. who must now be con-
suited as to the terms upon which he shall
work and who is thus enabled to secure liv
| ing conditions consistent with the reason
| able wants and aspirations of a human
being"
Just how the arbitrator in the contention
between the local master plumbers and the
| journeymen's union are going to reconcile
| the proposition to be presented by the third
| side of the controversy is a matter of much
| moment to labor leaders and labor follow
| ers alike The third side, it will be pre-
sented to the board of arbitra ton, will be
| the demand for recognition of the former
non-unon plumbers who filled the places
of the lOcked-Out members of the union.
These men are said to have formed local
assembly of the knights of Labor, and as
such they claim to have rights in the
premises equal to those who members
of the union. 1t is said they will claim
through the attorney that will represent
them before the arbitrator that they are
members of a national labor body, the
members of which are entitled to equal
consideration with the members of the
unions that are affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor.
On the other hand it is said the union
members will maintain that the forming of
an assembly by the former non-unionists
was solely matter of expediency; that it
was scheme coIcooted whereby they
could hold their jobs, and that they are
not, therefore. bona fide organized work
ingmen in the accepted sense of the term
and should not be given serious considera-
ton under their claim.
This matter is not the only problem the
board of arbitration will be called upon to
solve. There will be "other nuts to crack"
and the workingmen of Washington are
waiting expectantly to see what will be the
outcome.
The local BARRIERS and some of their bosses
have locked horns over the Thanksgiving
opening episode. and it is said that about
twenty >ef the employers have been declared
to run open shops This because they dis
obeyed the edict of the baroers' union,
which declared that the shops should not be
opened Thanksgiving day. In the mean
time. the union BARRIERS are said to be al
lowed to work in the open shops for the
time being until they can find employment
in union establishments. There is said to
be much friction among the razor manipu-
lators and those who employ them, and
some sides there is talk of a BARRIERS
strike.
In this connection it is said the union bar
bers of the country are agtating the es-
tablishment of a home for aged. sick and
INDECENT BARRIERS. Springfield, Mo-, Local
191 has taken the initiative in the matter,
with a motion. that was carried by acca-
nation, for donation by the local of 50
per member. to be drawn at any time that
1t was adopted by a referendum vote, and
50 per member per year ever afterward, to
build home for old, decrepit and sick bar
berS, who are not able to provide for them
selves. and to allow a pension of $40 to the
wife of each member who is a married man.
such pension to take effect upon the member
entering the home, and to remain In force
while he is an inmate of the home. In case Of
his death his widow Is to draw said pension
as long as she remains his widow, or until
her death; and any journeyman to be ELI
gfble to said home who Is not physically
able to perform manual labor at his trade.
or is unable to support himself. provided
he can show paid-up union card book to
show that he is in good standing. Then he
shall enjoy the benefits of the home, being
provided with meals. clothes, shelter and
medical attention and all of his needs min
istered to.
1t has been figured out that with the 81
members OF the JOuTDeymen BARRIERS
International Union. the average cost per
member would not exceed lib cents
week. Counting on the entire membership
approving the plan, there would be a yearly
income of $43, 200. According to the calcu-
lations of the financiers of the union, who
have set aside 5000 for grounds, in
locality where ample room could be OBJ
tanned for this sum, $4,000 should be am
pie for building and $1,000 for furniture
and $1,000 for incidental expenses. This
would leave a balance of $4,000 for an en-
dowment fund.
The long-pending Danbury, Conn.,, boy
colt case, involving allegations of con-
spiracy, brought by Dietrich E. Loewe and
Martin Fuchs against Martin Lawlor and
others, has been settled, Judge Plat of the
United States circuit court dismissing the
complaint. The decision is on demurrer
of the defendants. The plaintiffs allege that
the defendants were illegally using their
label. and that a combination had been
formed to limit the plaintiffs trade. 1t was
also alleged that the defendants endeav-
ored to "unionize" the plaintiffs factory,
and. falling to do SO, declared a boycott
upon hats made by the plaintiff, which
were found in the hands of plaintiffs Gus
toners in ,other states than Connecticut,
notably California and Virginia.
Judge Platt's opinion declares that while
it is obvious that the defendants sought to