Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-17

j. d. R1ggleS.
to prevent strikes as organizations Of
workers
Il do not believe any man has tried hard
er to avert strikes than / have he con-
tmued We trades unionists shun strikes,
but we never will surrender our right
to strike when our God-siven privileges
are denied us. when manhood is insulted
and when we have no other redress for our
grievances. Organized labor, without re-
sorting 10 strikes. has won much for itself
which labor never would have won without
organization. The telegraphers did not
strike to get the recent increase of wages,
the first they have had for forty years. but
there is no doubt the strong front MAIN
tanned by the unions of Chicago and other
western cities had influence in bringing
about the better conditions.
rs there any loyal American who would
advocate in the peace congress that this
nation disarm without being assured the
other nations would do the same? If this
country should disarm and the others re-
tain their armament it would not be long
until We We're wiped OIL the face of the
earth. The same principle applies to labor
and organization is its armament
Another speaker was Mrs Harriet STAN
ton Blatch, president of the Equality
League of Sef-sGpporting Women. Two
thousand teieSraphers, inc ding about 800
women, were in the L.. They were jubi-
liant not only because of tie increase in
wages. but because 500 local Western Union
operators have come into the union within
the last three weeks. The organization now
in New York city and vicinity. Many
gratulatory kilograms were read by Joseph
f. Ahearn, president of the union. One was
from John Mitchell, head of the United
Mine Workers.
The Eight Hour League Of America has
been organized for The universal eight
hour day says Alexander Law, the presi-
dent The time has arrived when it must
be made effective. The fact that the presi-
dent of the American Federation of Labor
a Ca0T On mott, l,n toe
executive on account of his neglect to en-
force the eight-hour law, and because OF
the hostility of the republicans in Congress
to that measure he proposed to use the
power and influence of the federation to
defeat all the candidates on their ticket
inimical to that measure. which he at
tempted to do last fall, commits the labor
movement of the country to the eght-hour
day as political issue, and in all prob
ability 1t will be the decisive factor in
the presidential election in 1903.
"A remarkable thing abnnt the league
is that 1t is the only organization, far as
known, that has complied with the Com
pers recommendation for Workingmen to
organize outside trade-union lines to adj
vance their labor and political interests
With the attempts now being made to de-
clare the eight-hour law unconstitutional by
the government contractors and others OPP
posed to labor. it presents the only feasible
plan by which all labor. organized and I'M
organized, can act as q unit on issue
they thoroughly understand and will vote
Tor IN preference to any other. The de-
mand for the universal eight-hOur day is
the line of least resistance TO accomplish
all that labor is striving for. The American
Federation of Labor is officially committed
to 1t, railroad men of the nation are practi-
caly a unit in favor of it. and with the
organization of the railroad system, now in
evitahle. it can be put III operation through
that agency without any friction the same
day the next President is inaugurated. All
business will then soon work to that level.
The employees of the trolley and electric
system. from now on the political back
bone of the nation preparing to de-
mand 1t In the near future. This fact
makes it the greatest political, social and
industrial issue now before the american
people
Charging that many of the employers
who were parties to the arbitration agree
ment in the building trades have violated 1t
by employing nOn-uniOn men in the places
of striking members of the Brotherhood of
Painters, and in other ways, the Central
Federated Union Of New York has taken
steps toward bringing about strike of
the trades affiliated with the painters
against the offending employers. The plan
is to obtain evidence that non-union men
being employed and then 10 ask the
arbitration board to raise the ban which
prevents affiliated trades from striking.
\ resolution was passed at recent meet
ing providing that delegates from six of
the building trades assemble in New York
to start a tour of evidence hunting.
The six unions to be represented are
the marble workers, tile layers. plumb
ers, plaStererS, carpenters and engineers.
1t was alleged that strikebreaking painters
We're employed on the Plaza contract by
the Fuller Construction Company and that
the men were being housed in bull pens
on or near the premises. After an investi-.|
cation of conditions there the committee
will visit other places
Although, as set forth in a recent man
date from the American Federation of
Labor, the c. F. L. has no authority to
order a strike. the executive committee,
which had been considering what attitude
the afflliated unions should assume toward
the painters, sent in a recommendation.
which was adopted, that the painters re-
ceive the support of the other building
trades unions.
The employers were accused of having
violated the arbitration agreement $50
times before the painters violated it by
striking before arbitration had been
tried. Many bitter expressions have been
uttered against the arbitration agree
ment.
Samuel Gompers president of the
American Federation of Labor who is
in New York to take part in the peace
congress, had a conference with George
Balhorn, national president of the Broth
erhood of Painters. relative to the posi-
bility of a sympathetic strike. Gompers
was not familiar with the local stua-
ton and had nothing to say regarding
his talk. He will hold another confer
ence with Balhorn' and other representa-
tiVes of the painters shortly.
Is. SchleSSinger, secretary of the New
York Cloakmakers' Union, whose mem
bers are on strike against fifty East Side
shops, complained that the police were
siding with the employers against the
unions pfckets, and that the bluecoats on
several occasions had used their clubs
without provocation. protest will be
sent to Police Commissioner Bingham AL
bert Abrahams of the Franklin Press
Association said the American Book
Company had obtained a $5,000,0OO con-
| tract to print books for the city public
schools. and that the company compelled
its employees to work nine hours a day
Abrahams contended that as the books
were being printed for the city it was
a municipal contract, and that the eight
hour law should be enforced COM
| munication will be sent to the mayor
asking him to make this requirement
TIE Iowa state Federation of Labor and
the Amalgamated Association of Street and
Electric Railway Employees joine in secur
ing the enactment of a vestibu.e law at
the recent session of the Iowa legislature,
The supreme court of New Zealand re-
| Gently decided that the slaughtermen on
strike had refused to pay the fines imposed
| by the arbitration court they had to go to
| prison. The strikers accordingly accepted
| the award and returned to work.