258 A Book of Precious Stones
besides
Europeans other than Hollanders in the ranks, there are a few natives
of the United States. Most of the diamond workers are employed in New
York City, the rest being with few exceptions in the cities of Boston,
Chicago, and Cincinnati.
There
is but little of the unfortunate politics that so often characterises
labour unions in the United States with regard to the control of the
diamond workers' organisation through the election of officers, and
there have been but few changes. Andrew Meyer, a 'Hollander, is the
president and Theodore Quetz, a Belgian, is the secretary. The members
have a salutary regard for the constitution and by-laws of their
organisation, and any objection to the rulings of their Executive
Board, which is composed of representatives of every shop of more than
seven employees, is a rare occurrence. No member of the union will
accept employment without the consent of the officers.
On
November 15, 1903, was organised the Universal Diamond Workers'
Alliance, with a membership of fifteen thousand, by representatives of
the trade delegated from local unions in Amsterdam, Holland; Antwerp,
Belgium; Paris, St. Claude, Divonne, Thoiry, and Ne-
