Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-20
THEPOWDERLY NOMINATION
Central Labor Union Does Not Regard It as
Calamity.
Proceedings of Union mt Last Even
ing's Meetfng-Arrangeme Com
plete for Mass Meeting.

At the weekly meeting of the Central
Labor Union, held last evening at Typo
graphical Temple, delegates from twenty
of the allied organizations were present.
President Milford Spohn presided and J.
j. Crowley served as secretary.
The nomination Of Terrence V. Powderly
for commissioner of immigration, which
has been regarded unfavorably by organic
ed labor, was not specially considered at
the meeting. AS labor bodies elsewhere
have expressed a decided disapproval of
the nomination, and will vigorously protest
against the appointment it was expected
that one of the most prominent labor
bodies at the national capital would ex-
Press the sentiment of local organized
labor relative to the matter.
The delegates. with but a few exceptions,
were not disposed to have the body go on
record as officially opposing the appoint
ment, though there was a general senti-
ment of disapproval. Several prominent
members expressed regret that represent
tative labor man was not chosen by the
President.
Voiced the Sentiments.
Milford Spohn, president OF the Central
Labor Union, seems to have voiced the sen-
timents Of that body when he remarked
to Star reporter that 1.-The nomination of
Powderly should not be regarded as a
calamity or even as an insult to organized
labor. No ore doubts his competency, and
the fact of his favoring the election of Mr..
Mckinley should not prejudice any one.
During the last campaign he did not pose
as a labor leader. He had been retired from
leadership of the Knights of Labor, and
was not even a humble private in the rear
rank.
I'VE may question his motives: he may
have expected the reward of political pre-
ferment. His motives may have been the
same as those of Mr.. Sovereign, who, dur
ing the last campaign, established political
headquarters at Chicago, and devoted him
self to the running of the machine in the
interest of the candidate of another party.
Possibly Mr.. Sovereign expected a plum
in the event of the election of his candidate,
and it is possible that somewhere along
the line there is a large cluster of sour
grapes
Others Kept Him Company.
'If Powderly is not given credit for what
he did when grand master workman of the
knights of Labor he should not be con-
demned for leaving the order. Hundreds
of thousands of good men have done the
same. His right to hold office cannot be
questioned, for it is the privilege of every
American citizen, without regard to race,
creed, previous conditions or methods, to
get any office if he has the pull
1T is evident that Mr.. Powderly has the
pull and if Mr.. Mckinley is disposed to
reward him for political services he neither
violates law nor imposes upon the right of
others"
communication was read from Secrc-
tary Bessman of the Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers, which stated that nom
union electricians were employed by a sub
contractor on a building which is being
constructed under a verbal agreement that
union workmen should be exclusively en-
ployed. The grievance of the electrical
workers was referred to a special commit
tee, which will bring the matter to the at
tention of the owner, and an effort will be
made to have union Workmen employed.
Sympathy for Cuba.
Delegate Shandley of the committee to ar
range for a labor Cuban mass meeting re-
ported that final arrangements had been
made, and the necessary funds were APP
propriated to defray the expense. A num-
Der of vice presidents who will represent
the Central Labor Union on that occasion
were selected.
Delegate Gompers of the committee to
whom was referred the subject of imni
grafton, which was submitted to the CELL
trail body by the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor, reported
that the committee had held several meet
ings and fully considered those questions
which relate to the restriction of immi-
grafton. The committee is preparing a
report. he said. which will be submitted at
the next meeting of the Central Labor
Union.
The Label Trades.
Delegate Weber spoke in the interest of
the label trades. and the delegates were di-
rected to urge upon their organizations the
purchase only of products bearing the
union label.
1t being reported that the Galvanized Iron
and Cornice Workers Union had disband-
ed the secretary was directed to strike the
name of the organization from the list of
unions.
The chair stated that he would announce
the standing committees at the next meet
ing OF the union.
Delegates from the Amalgamated Society
OF Carpenters and Engineers Association
were admitted.