The Washington herald., 1907-07-09

bearing upon the present labor situation
in the District of Columbia
The Central Labor Union voted unani-
mously to give its unqualified support to
the fight for the closed shop which is
now being carried on by the building
trades.
The Bricklayers' Union voted 70 return
TO work for one week, pending a confer
ence with the Employers Association OF
the Building Trades on the situation.
The action by the Central Labor Union
was taken at a meeting exceeding IN
spirit and interest any gathering of that
organization, or any other labor body. in
the history of the District. The decision
to carry through the fight against the
open shop was accorded the unreserved
support Of every delegate, and warning
was given to every union man tha; no
half-hearted interest would be tolerated.
Text of the Resolutions.
The resolutions are in part as follows.
Whereas organized labor IN the Dis
trict Of Columbia is to-day. we believe
confronted with a conspiracy on the part
Of the Employers Association Of the
Building Trades 10 enforce the open shop
principle. and, through its inst-umen-
tality, TO accomplish the disintegration
and destruction of the trade union move
ment of Washington.
TT would indeed be criminal II the rep
resentatiyes of labor did not give this
matter the consideration it demands. for
while the percentage of employers Is
small. yet we believe their alliances are
such as should cause grave concern
among the labor forces of the District.
We maintain that the letter this asso-
citation forwarded to the business men OF
Washington is a misstatement OF fact.
and the resolution adopted by their or
ganization unCalied for and unwarranted
They have endeavored 10 prejudice the
public mind against organized labor by
stating that Il was engaged In a cam
paign of obstruction Of building opera
tions and business in general, when the
fact is the building trades have only as
sumed that position in the economic world
as seemed 10 them 10 best protect their
interests and their homes.
VIII Fight TO Last Ditch"
organized labor cannot view the omen
shop in any other light than the disin-
tegrauon Of the workmen's organizations.
and that proposition they will combat and
fight TO the last ditch.
We maintain that the plumbers have
been eminently right in the position they
have assumed in refusing to work for any
employer who emplo' j nonunion labor
and that their fello workers in other
trades pursued the rigl course when they
refused to work with the building trades
workmen who did not carry cards in their
respective organizations. The decision Of
the tribunal that arbitrated the differ
ences between the Journeyman and master
plumbers cannot be distorted to mean that
union plumbers should work side By side
with nonunion plumbers, under varying
conditions and for varying compensation.
That decision plainly stated that those
shops that worked exclusively union men
previous to the lockout were to continue
working exclusively union men. and that
the contracts Of June g. 1902 and April Il
1902 with the shop rules adopted there
under dated November G. 1903, are held 10
be IN force. notwithstanding the depar-
lures therefrom by either of the parties
thereto
The journeyman plumbers organization
was willing to live up 10 that award. but
the master plumbers were not.
Fight on All Unions.
This is not fight upon the building
trades, but upon every Organization of
labor in Washington, and to resist the en-
croachments of capital upon our rights
we must resort to every lawful means
to protect our respective interests. The
man or the organization that does not
realize the magnitude OF the situation.
or who will sit supinely by and permit
this challeneg 20 pass unnoticed, cannot
help but merit the condemnation Of all
intelligent men, and should not request
or receive that support that is rendered
every true and tried organization.
I'VE stand ever ready to enter upon
peaceful relations with our employers
provided they respect cur organizations
and the rights we enjoy under them.
Therefore be it resolved, That the Cen
tral Labor Union in regular. session as
sembled, calls upon every constituent
local organization to refuse to permit anv
of its members to work upon any build
ing construction in the District Of Colum-
bia with any other workman who does
not carry a card indicating that he is a
member In good standing Of a recognized
bona fide organization. believing that 10
refuse would brand the organization or
the Individual member thereof with a
cruel Indifference and moral turpltude.
Gives Undivided Support.
"And be It further resolved. That in
this fight against the open shop. the
Central Labor Union pledges its undivided
support, both moral and financial and
stands ever ready 10 defend the trades
organizations TO the last ditch against
the introduction of the open shop IN the
Industrial affairs of Washington.
And, be 1t further resolved, That a
committee Of ten be appointed for the
purpose Of bringing the subject-matter
Of this resolution TO the attention Of the
various unions and perfect a plan by
which concerted action may be had
upon every phase OF the situation"
Speeches by Leaders.
Speeches were made by ex-President
Brinkmsn and Secretary De Nedrey. com
posing the committee who drafted the
resolutions and by Delegate Rodier.
There was an extraordinary attendance of
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