Evening star., 1909-02-25
IN LABOR CIRCLES

Monday evening. IN adopting the reSolu-
ton Of John H. Brinkman providing for
open-door sessions of the central body
hereafter is considered by the intelligent
element Of organized labor In the District
as a wise move One Of the most jealous
and observant Of the local workingmen
said there Is nothing to be gained by star
chamber methods, which, instead of bring
ing about accomplishments. breed sus-
picion and result in garbIed and mislead-
ing reports being published.
"Of course" he added, there are times
when certain matters must be kept quiet
for obvious reasons, but when those times
arrive the central body can hold executive
sessions Just as the United States Senate
and other legislative bodies do"
Another wise move, according to the
observant one, was the determination to
give labor demonstration or parade next
spring under the auspices of the label
trades. Those who witnessed the splendid
street pageant OF the Washington unions
just after the close Of the Norfolk con-
vention Of the American Federation of
Labor, are boosting the proposed parade
In April or May.
"It will accomplish a world OF good"
said carpenter. "and will let the people
of the District see and understand that
we have not gone to sleep over the open
shop proposition
An open meeting Of the Retail Clerks
Protective Association Is scheduled for
next Monday evening. Several prominent
speakers have promised to address the
clerks and their friends.
The editorial sanctum of the Trades
Unionist has been removed to COS 9Th
street, and from his gilded perch in his
new cage Editor Sam De Nedrey says
this:
"The withdrawal by President Kidd of
Columbia Typographical Union OF the
resolution presented to the Chamber of
Commerce relative e the census printing
commended for it. The question involved
was not whether local printing firms. or
even those out OF town. had right to
any part of the printing. but rather the
larger proposition that the government
printing Office should have the printing.
and thus benefit the merchants and others
Of Washington by the reason OF the dis
bursement of a million or more dollars In
wages here. President ktdds tactful
withdrawal Of the resolutions now puts
the whole matter up to Congress and
citizens of Washington who desire to
benefit through dealings with Uncle
Sans army Of employees in the big print
shop.
Word comes from Chicago that about
$500 employees of Swift & Co. recently
have been elevated to the dignity Of
stockholders and profit sharers In the
business In which they are employed
through plan conceived by Louis F,
Swift. Under this plan stenographers and
superintendents teamsters and telephone
girls alike, have purchased stock on an
easy payment system, their holdings
ranging from one to fifty shares. While
per cent dividends which Swift stock rs
paying annually are turned over to the
employe stockholders.
All the factories of the members OF the
National Hat Manufacturers Associa-
tion have reopened on the open-shop
plan. There are sixty-1ve firms which
were affected by the strike Of the hatters
in the states OF New York. New Jersey,
PENNSYLVANIA and Connecticut.
On the ground that American union
miners are prevented from making liv-
ing in coal mines in Ohio because foreign.
ers who have no experience have been
permitted to work for less wages, having
been admitted to the union at SO a
head. the organization in convention at
Toledo recently increased initiation fee
of inexperienced men from SO to $50.
men will be admitted at the
former fee of $40.
A communication from Baltimore
says the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company announced the closing of the
contracts and placing of orders for 81
600 tons of steel rails of 80 and 100
pounds weight; also for 10000 kegs OF
spikes. 5000 kegs of bolts, as well as
large quantities of angle bars and other
track fixings. The rail orders were di-
vided among the Maryland, Bethlehem,
Carnegie. Cambria and Illinois steel
with delivery in thirty days.
days
A novel decision affecting labor
unions was handed down by Justice
Mills in the supreme court in White
Plains. N. Y, who holds that labor
which picket a factory |
and thereby put the owner to expense
or guards for his property and EN-.
oloyes must pay for such expense.
Justice Mills further finds that, the |
unions involved and the men directly
concerned by giving and taking Pc
cuniary support aided and abetted the
unlawful acts of the pickets.
Organized labor is intensely inter-
ested in the railway employees depart
ment. which has been formed by the
American Federation Of Labor. Among
the organizations interested in the de-
partment are the Order of Railway
Brotherhood Of Boiler
Makers and Iron Ship Builders. Inter-
national Association of Car Workers. |
International Brotherhood of Black |
smiths. Brotherhood of Maintenance OF !
Way Employees, International Assocla-
ton of Steamfltters, Brotherhood of |
Clerks and the Switchmen's |
Union of North America.
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