The Washington times., 1908-02-16
BUILDING ALLIANCE
CHOOSES OFFICERS
New Labor Organization
Will Be Subordinate
to Federation.
Constitution Gives Local
Councils Charge of
Strikes.

The delegates who were in session
here last week organizing the building
trades affiliated Eitn the American Fed
Grafton of Labor into a national asso-
citation. closed their la5ols last night
by ratifying a constitution nd eIecting
officers for the first year. The head
quarters Of the new national organiza-
ton are to be In Washington, occupy
ing Offices at Typograp hieal Temple. The
first annual convention IS 10 meet In
Denver, November next, the definite
date 10 be announced later.
James Kirby, OF Chicago. representing
the Brotherhood Of Carpenters. was
unanimously elected president ". J.
Spencer. OF Dayton, Ohio, Of the plumb
ers was named as secretary These
officers draw salaries Of 200 and 5000,
respectively. ana are 10 be permanently
stationed IL Washington. The i've vice
presidents IN their order are as fol-
low: G. F. Hetrick. Of the painters.
Albany, \. Y; J. G. Harnahan, repre-
sen ling the engineers, Chicago Frank
Ryan, OF the structural iron workers,
Chicago; ". J. Afcsorley, representing
the association Of fathers, Cleveland;
Charles II. Leps, OF the tile layers,
Philadelphia.
To Ask Federation Charter.
The Officers form what viii be known
as the executive council OF the organi-
cation and held a preliminary session
NJ the Ebbitt House last night 10 at
tend TO routine matters and prepare
the request for a charter, which is 70
be presented TO the American Fedora
tion or Labor.
There is already one organization in
existence which conflicts with the pur-
poses OF the general organization lust
Formed inasmuch as It embraces many
| Of the trades who have Just formed
the new alliance. This is the Alliance
Of Structural Trades. with headauar-
| ters at Dayton. President Kirby. OF the
new organization, is also president OF
| the alliance and to smalgamate the
TWO, or rather supersede the alliance.
has called meeting OF all alliance del
egates now in this city for Monday
next. At this time it is expected that
the action OF the convention lust closed
will be ratified and there will only re-
main TO remove the headquarters OF
the old organization to WASHINGTON.
The new organization, which reDre-
sents thousands Of employees in nine
| teen building trades. il to DO known as
the Building Trades Department OF the
American Federation OF Labor and il
subsidiary 10 the latter named body.
Provisions Of Constitution.
Several days debate was devoted IN
| discussion Of the constitution. the ar
| gument becoming heated at times. es-
| peciaiiy as regards the rights Of 5uriz-
/ diction- The principal provisions OF
the constitution as ratified are thar
! three local unions may form building
| trades councils 10 adjust local differ
enees. that no strikes shall be called
without the consent OF the general local
codneh; that requests for increased
wages must come through it and that
/ All these subsidiary bodies are under
| the jurisdiction of the department.
which in turn is TO be subsidiary TO the
American Federation of Labor.
| The rules Of representation. CONVEX
| ton procedure, dues and general main
/ tepance are similar to those Of the
larger Federation. Many OF the dele
gates will leave for their homes tonor-
row, while others will remain over
for the Monday amalgamation meet
ing o. the alliance members, numbers OF
whom were also delegates to this con-
vention.