The San Francisco call., 1906-09-03
Reviews thew ork
of Building
Craftsmen.
BY O. a. Tveitr11oe,

The Building Trades Council of San
Francisco was organized February G,
1905. with membership consisting OF
of five small unions.
The early history of the council
records no important events The
limited number of delegates repre-
senting its few affiliated unions, which
were all numerically weak, met week
ly in q little rear hall in the old Turk
street Temple, where they indulged in
long discussions and arguments, but
without getting down to any plan of
action or concentrated effort. There
were, however, forces at work which
gave promise of life.
Over year passed in this way, and
the youthful organization did not
seem to grow or gain perceptibly in
strength. 1t needed a leader-a real
organizer general. Such a man was
found in the person of P. H. Mccarthy
who was elected president of the Coun-
ell in July, 1897, and who has held that
position continuously ever since.
From that time the history of the
Building Trades Council of San Fran
cisco is one series of chapters replete
with unparalleled success and brilliant
achievements. Every day, week,
month and year passed has added to
of this body, which today stands at
the head of the labor movement OF
the United States. the peer of any or
ganization in the world
The Building Trades Council of San
Francisco is composed of a proper
tional representation of delegates from
each affiliated union, and comprises
every trade engaged in the building
industry. 1t controls the building
business of San Francisco, as TAR as
the artisans, mechanics and laborers
are concerned, absolutely.
FEATURES OF THE. SYSTEM.
The main features of it's system Of
organization are concentration and
solidarity. Careful and conservative
yet aggressive and positive, when the
Council acts there is 1000 per cent en-
ergy behind its decisions.
It's business methods and union
ethics are fast permeating the labor
movement of America. and its consti-
tutions and laws are being adopted
by other trades and craft organizations
in the great industrial centers in the
Middle West and on the Atlantic sea-
board.
The constitution of the Building
Trades Council provides that unions
in the building industry must be or
ganized and guided solely by the
Building Trades, Council, because ex-
perience has demonstrated that the
building business cannot be properly
protected and safeguarded when the
responsibility is divided with an
other central body made up of diver
trades and callings.
The objects for which the Buildin
Trades Council has been organize
are: ITO organize all branches OF
labor engaged in the construction oi
buildings or in the preparation of ma
terial therefor; to form such building
trades into compact and practical
working central bodies known as
building trades councils, to preserve
the building industry inviolate IRON
the disastrous results of foreign in
terference and entangling alliances
to assist in cooperating with all bona
fide labor organizations in order tha'
we may present a solid phalanx
against the misuse of capital; to asst.
In having the hours of labor short
ened according to displacements caused
| ods in our system of production and
| distribution: to urge the passage and
| enforcement of laws beneficial to the
people; to effect an amicable adjust
ment of all disputes between employers
| and employed TO more thoroughly in
culate the principles of trades
unionism."
| Article of the Councils constitu
| tion contains the following wise pro
4 visions, which may be taken as a key
| to its secret of success:
/ Sec. I-Should a craft affiliate
| with the Council have grievance
with an employer or employers. 1T shall
| use every honorable means to brins
about satisfactory adjustment of thu
| same, and failing to do So II maY- n