Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-21
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

The troubled conditions continue in both
the local and general labor fields, and in
teresting developments are expected The
contest between the building trades Of
Washington and the employers association
has apparently settled down to a stubborn
test of endurance for supremacy Both
sides claim they will eventually win. The
employers say they are getting all the nom
union mechanics they need to continue
building operations. while the organized
workingmen claim they will have an am
pie defense fund.
Added to the local strike and the walk
out of the commercial telegraphers were
the injunction proceedings against officers
of the American Federation Of Labor
which have added fuel to the flame" and
made the outlook more enigmatic
In this connection the New York Labor
Bulletin publishes the following on Trades
Unions and the Law
THE courts of this state have repeatedly
ruled that union may be sued whether
it is Incorporated not and when the
union rules do not provide for a review, by
the higher officials of the organization. of
disciplinary votes of suspension or expul-
sion. the courts themselves will protect the
rights of any member disciplined contrary
to the rules of the union. The appellate
division last month gave careful interpre-
tation of the law of eXtortion as applied to
| union officials. in a decision. unanimously
sustaining the conviction of a labor leader
who eXtorted 81. 100 from contractor by a
threat of calling the members of his union
out strike. The court says: All con-
troverses between capital and labor re-
sulting in a strike injuriously affect more
or less the entire community. They are
sufficiently disastrous and deplorabe when
they result from an honest difference of
opinion between the employer and the en-
protracted long after all grievances have
been adjusted by officer of a labor
union who betrays his trust to the fellow
members of his union. and in effect de-
prives them of their rights to work until
he has unlawfully eXtorted money from
their employer for his own ends, the crime
is intoerable from any point Of view, and
should be speedily and severely punished "
Again the New York Labor Bulletin says
this anent labor disputes:
with the growth of prosperity has come
an increased number of strikes on the part
Of workmen to secure a larger share of
prosperity. In the last three months of
1906 the bureau of media ton and arbitra-
ton recorded forty-three new trade dis
putes. as against twenty-six in the corre-
spending period of 1905 and eleven in 1904.
Fourteen of the disputes were due to de-
mands for higher wages. and six were for
shorter hours Of work. while twelve related to
methods of bargaining some other fea-
ture of trade unionism. From the point of
view of numbers involved the last-men-
toned variety of disputes was the most i'm
pOrtant, including, as IL dl0, the leading
conflicts of the quarter-the strike of 1900
electrical apparatus makers OF Schenectady,
in December, over the question of member
ship of three employees in rival unions and
the lockout of 200 chandelier makers In
New York city. November 20 to December
II. to establish the principle of the non
union shop. Since the last previous report
the bureau of mediation and arbitration has
adjusted several disputes in New York city
including two among the silver workers
and one of the umbrella handle makers 1t
also terminated within three days "A strike
of switchmen, which threatened to tie up
the railroad yards of Buffalo, and assisted
in preventing similar suspension of opera
lions in the railroad yards about New York
harbor on account of disagreement
gardng a proposed advance in wages
which was finally submitted to arbitration
A delegation of bookbinders recently ex-
tended hearty congratulations to Mr. Harry
F.. Ashton, recently promoted to be super
intendent of supplies of the government
printing Office. A commendatOry commu-
ncation addressed to him spoke of his
loyalty to his friends, his executive ability
as submitted to the severest tests. and his
years of arduous service in the interest of
trades unionism and its principles
Word comes from New York city that
delegates from a number of manufacturers
and employers associations met there yes
terday and considered the proposal to form
a national federation, which shall have for
its purpose the furtherance of peace in the
industrial world by combining the efforts of
all the employing interests.
The meeting, which held behind
closed doors at the Waldorf Astoria. was
presided over by James w. Van Cleave of
St Louis. president of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers. After a general
discussion it decided to adjourn in
order to permit the delegates to return to
their homes and consult with the organiza-
tons which they represent regarding the
projected national federation.
Nation II
Association of Manufacturers, which met
in New York last May Mr.. Van Cleave
said yesterdays meeting was called to form
an organization which would endeavor to
institute an educational campaign. which
should promote Industrial peace and mutual
good will between employers and en-