Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10
TALKING OF UNION
Workingmen's Organizations and
the Newspapers.
REMARKS at A LABOR MEETING
Addresses Made Last Evening to
the Electrical Workers.
D AN G ROUS ADER S

~ "A IN i "a "A - IL III .
There are men today in this city at
| tempting to appear as labor leaders who
| had they lived three centuries earlier
would have carried the fagots, lighted tine
| fire and gladly Joined in the bowls of the
| mob around the burning Victims" said Mr..
Milford Spohn of the Bricklayers' Union
| in a speech last night at an open meeting
of Local Union No. &c, Electrical Workers
The statement was applauded to the echo,
| as were many other of the most striking
| portions of Mr.. Spohn's effective address
The subject Of Mr.. Spohn's speech was
| 1.-The Advantage of Thorough and Har-
| mcnious Urion.''
He warned his hearers against so-called
labor leaders who ally themselves to labor
| organization from selfish motives, who
| lend themselves to others outside for re-
ward. and who by that means create dis
sension within the ranks of labor and de-
| feat the great object for which organiza-
| tons should be ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
honest, business-like relations.
''They presume to tell you," M. Spohn
| said, where you shall purchase: what
paper you shall read; what kind of litera-
| turs you shall favor; what they dislike you
| must dislike; what they approve you must
approve"
| Labor Organizations and Newspapers.
| After the applause which followed Mr..
| Spohn's address had subs.ded, President
| John NJ. Berger introduced Mr.. E. N. Blake
of the Typographical Union.
| Mr. Blake spoke on "Organized Labor in
| the District" He talked at some length
| of what has bean accomplished in the past
| by cohesion and cooperation Of the various
| societies of organized labor in the District.
especially in the matter of legislation, but
| also in other directions.
But lately" said Mr.. Blake, some of
our members seem to have lost their heads,
| judging from the position they have taken
| in regard to the Washington press. for it
| must be apparent to every one who exer-
| course of organized labor lies in the direc-
ton of diplomatic dealing with those forces
which, to a greater or less extent, control
public sentiment and public acton.
Principal among the powers by which
| the mankind of today is swayed is the
newspaper press. and in this city The Star
is unquestionably the most influential
journal. Among some of us there has ex-
| was opposed to organized labor. but not
until recently has there been much of
utterance to that effect. If We want to be
fair We must bear in mind the solid SUD-
port given US by The Star extending back
for many years. Let us remember that it
was the journal that aided us in securing
| important legislation. 1t was with us en-
phatically and persistently while we fought
for the eight-hour law; it was just as fire.
! quently and as strongly in evidence when
we demanded free text books in the public
schools; its support never wavered when
we called upon Congress to give us increas-
ed school facilities; it has never ceased to
argue in favor of free public circulating
| library. Other Washington papers, too
have been our friends on occasions when we
needed every friend we could get, SO that
1t is not too much to say that We owe a
great deal to the Washington press gener-
ally:
press has declined to publish statements
given 1t by Officers of labor organizations,
and these refusals have aroused great
deal OF luminosity. Investigation has salts
fed me that there was behind those refus-
els a business policy to which we could not
righteously offer any objection. Acting
ur der the advice CT their attorneys, the
press has refused and doubtless will contin-
ue to refuse to publish any matter which is
libelous. and 1t does so for the good and
sufficient reason that a judgment against
it would certainly be collected. Many a
man who knows nothing of the law of libel
writes a staten ,nt for a newspaper and
then wonders why the newspaper will not
print it without alteration. When we are
indignant because of the injustice of an
employer and express ourselves in terms
personal and libelous, we must not expect
carefully conducted newspaper to take
precisely our view Of the matter and give
result in bringing the editor of that news
paper into court. The editor has to look
at both sides of the question. I hold, then,
that 1t is impolitic to antagonize the press,
because the press has been, and believe,
may be in the near future, of great service
to us In assisting to secure increased
school facilities; text books for higher
grades; investigations of the violations Of
the eight-hour law and it's rigid enforce
ment; adjustment of contract system on
public works; wiping off the statutes of
now governs the Commissioners in the let
ting out of contracts, said law compelling
them, in estimates of s., 600 and over, to ad-
vertise for bids In at least three cities out
side the District, thus importing labor into
the District at the expense of the home
mechanics and laborers; protecting life and
limb of mecnalics in the construction of
proper scaffolding; and a great many need
ed reforms can be secured If We have the
influence of the press behind u.s."
In conclusion Mr. Blake said: HE con-
sldered the most important matter of leg
1Slation of interest to the District was the
abolition of the present contract system"
Like the speech of Mr.. Spohn, that of
Mr.. Blake was punctuated with applause
and after Mr.. Blake had concluded his
vigorous and pointed remarks, several of
the members of the union made speeches
iHdorsiag what had been said by both
speakers, and upon motion the latter were
given rising vote of thanks.
Some Business Transacted,
The business of the union transacted last
night was large in volume. but mostly of
an executive character. Mr.. George Posey
was elected an honorary member, and Mr.
John c. Rau was elected and initiated as
an active member
A letter was read from Grand President
of the National Brotherhood H. w. Sher-
an of Rochester, N. Y, congratulating
Local Union, No. 26, of Washington on hav-
inc <ho
of the order
1t was announced that the vote cast at
its last meeting by Local Union, No 3d. of
Cleveland was the first that passed the
number necessary to secure the coveted
prize for Washington, and letter will
probably be sent to the Cleveland union
thanking them for having been the means
of breaking western combination, which
waa irving n aecure the convention