The Washington herald., 1909-08-25

Contrary 10 expectation, the Building
Trades Mechanics Council, at its meet
ing last night. received no command from
the American Federation Of Labor to drop
from It's membership the two locals Of
the Brotherhood OF Electrical Workers
expelled from the Central Union Monday
night upon orders from the federation.
The two locals ousted from the central
body. Nos. 26 and 14s. are also members
Of the Building Trades Mechanics Coun-
eli, and through that body under the jur-
isdiction Of the American Federation Of
Labor. If the owlocals were in bad
standing with the national organization.
a policy of consistency would demand
that they be dropped from the Building
Trades Mechanics Council as well as
from the Central Union. Therefore the
delegates were mildly surprised to be in
receipt OF no communication in the mat
ter and colud explain il only by saying
that the meetings OF the two organiza-
tons came too close together to permit
Of the formalities being completed.
W. J. Gilmore. business agent Of the
Washington building Trades Mechanics
Council. said that unquestionably such
notice would reach that body at its next
meeting. What. action would be taken
as TO supporting the American Fedora
tion Of Labor and the Central Labor
Union against the two locals OF the cleo
trical workers he would not say. but in
timated that II was a grave question for
the building trades TO settle.
Believes Peace Possible.
Il believe. however" said Mr. Gil
more that matters can be so arranged
whereby the delinquents can be shown
that It is to their advantage and the ad-
vantage Of the washington Building
Trades Mechanics Council to settle their
differences with the international broth
orhood and get in good standing with
the American Federation Of Labor and
Central Labor Union
The Building Trades Mechanics Coun-
Gil is composed OF some eighteen Of the
trades of skilled artisans whose work
enters into the construction. completion
and decoration Of buildings They num-
Der in the District something like 1900
men. IN the event that the Washington
Building Trades Mechanics Council
should take Up the cause of the local
electrical workers. which is doubtful
then the federation would have the power
20 order the Central Labor Union TO ex-
pei the eighteen unions of the building
trades from their roster. The result would
be, leaders Of the labor movement say, to
convert all that army OF workers into
nOnunion men.
Local Meeting Tonight.
At the regular meeting Of Local No.
&c tomorrow night. 10 which members
Of No. las win he invited. the matter
viii be taken Up and an effort made TO
get the locals back into good standing
until the international convention OF the
electrical workers in Chicago early next
month.
E. L. Adams. OF the International AS
sociation OF Machinists, said that II the
electrical workers were thrown out. in
his opinion. they would be nOnuniOn
workers until such time as they were
again IN good standing with their inter-
national body, and in that event organ
ized labor would have TO decline to work
with them on buildings where electrical
work had to be installed
If that view Of the matter is taken.
said another leader, then the electrical
workers cannot be too quick in getting
back to an understanding with their in
ternatonal This feature Of the case,
another said, would require a ruling of
the general executive council Of the fed
grafton.