Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-31
LABOR ROW OVER BEER
1900, 900 FOR WATER WAGON OR
TO QUIT BEVERAGE.

CHICAGO, May 31.-The last barrel OF
union beer in Chicago and the whole
country, according to an edict Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor will be manufac-
tured at midnight, the brewery workers
union will cease to exist in the eyes Of the
national labor leaders and the two million
organized working men in tie United States
will be asked to get on the water wagon
or use some other kind of beverage. The
brewery employees have rebelled against
President Gompers and the national labor
executive council, and they are to be dis
cipIined. The method adopted Is that Of
expulsion.
Secretary Kemper of the local union said
the 5000 brewery workers in Chicago Will
go on brewing beer whether the American
Federation of Labor regards it officially as
union" product or not.
The trouble has been growing for several
years. Two months ago the national labor
council met in Washington and gave the
brewery workers union until June 1 to
comply with an order to GUST all engineers,
firemen and teamsters from it's organiza-
ton. These men were under the protection
of the union, which was in conflict with
the principles of trade autonomy upheld
by the federation. The brewery employees
then took a vote and 9S per cent OF the
der, which brought about the present stu
alton.
Samuel Gompers, president of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, Is in Boston on
matters connected with the organization
and. therefore, could not be seen in refer
ence to the strained situation involving the
International Brewery Workers. 1t Is
known, however, that the jursdictional
dispute between the brewery men on one
side and the engineers, teamsters and
others, not strictly engaged in the busi-
ness of brewing beer, has been bone OF
contention in the federation for several
years, and has even threatened the disrup-
ton of several labor bodies, the officers
Of which claim that the brewery workmen
were infringing on their prerogatives by
compelling teamsters. f1remen, engineers
and others employed In and about brew
cries to join their union.
1t has been the contention of the Brew
cry Workers that every workman employed
in the breweries should be member OF
the Brewery Workers Union, whether he
carpenter, driver, engineer, fireman or what
not. To this contention the international
associations of engineers, firemen, etc, took
excecton and appealed to the American
Federation of Labor. At the last meeting
of the executive council of the federation,
held in this city, the decision was reached
to settle this jurisdictional fight once for
instructed. it is said, to Gust from their
organization all workmen except actual
brewers of beer and those who have the
handling of the beverage directly during
it's manufacture.
To carry out these Instructions. the brew
cry men say. would mean the loss Of more
than one-half Of their membership. hence
they are said to have revolted against the
edict. and will withdraw their affiliation
with the A. F. L. and operate as a separ-
ate organization, similar to the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Engineers, the brick
layers and other unaftiliated crafts