The times., 1897-07-19

| V Powderly 30 lie Commissioners uehei"i
of Imnligrat ION Mr.. Powderiy VIII EoU III
that responsible office He win encounter
I'M. actual opposition of the knights of
l.abor and the American Federation OF
I.ai.or ana probably inaU of other orgahl-
zadons.
rfrs4dent Gompers, Of the American fed-
/ era foI OF Laoor mas alre;tdy besuna battle
TO defeal the nomination., ana tie nfst
shot he fired a6 Mr. Poweeriy was ID make
public the following letter, which is copy
OF one be sent To President Mckinley:
washington, ID. c., June 23-
'.Dear Sir: was very deeply m
pressed with the cordial and interesting
interview had with yon this afternoon
and, after leaving, l considered Iufohe'
Ethe matter we discussed with regafd 10
the appointment of Mr.. T. V. Powderiy
as superintendent of innaigration' ana
prE 20 assure you that the more though1
Given to it, tile more absolutely am
of the opinion that the appointment
| would he a grave mistake
There is no organization IN the couh-
try so intensely interested in, and SO
/ closely allied with the immigration ques-
ton as the unions OF the United states
affiliated with the American Federation
OF Labor The immigration officers VIII
all bear out my statement that witho2t
mutual confidence and respect eXistinS
between them and the OFFICERS or our
various urions, their efforts to enforce
the most beneficial features OF the law
must prove ab0rtive, and at the inter
view. which our executive council had
with YOU two moths ago, we endeaVored
TO make it clearly manifest that such
mutual confidence did not exist between
Nv PowGerly and the labor unions.
Permit me TO add that our executive
council were satisfied that we had con-
vimced YOU OF the inadvisahility of TIE ap-
pointrncnt of Mr. Powderly. Should you
doubt oar estimate OF the situation and de-
sire proof OF this feeling on the part OF or
CaniZcd labor, am su'. that such express
sions of opinion could reach you IN two
weeks as TO set at rest all doubts you may
hayein the matter. We have refrained, and
viii refrain. from having such eXpressiocs
reach you, believing that there exists no
necessity for It.
1--WE have not word to say should you
deem 1t advisable to appoint Mr. Powderly
TO any other position within your gift, but
we respectfully submit that his appoint
mcnt to the position Of superintendent of
immigration would not he regarded either
as a compliment to or recognition of, but
rather as an afrront TO latnr. Very re-
spectfully, SAMUEL GoMPERs,
.'Preadent A mercan Federation OF
Labor
Wien SPOKEN to yesterday concerning
the nomination of Mr. Powderly, Mr.. Comp
ers said:
Il have about stated the attitude Of
the American Federation of Labor on this
appointment in the letter W hch you
have in yCur possession. I can only add
that Mr. Powdr~ly is not a man who is
in touch with the labor organizations of
this country, or who can be trusted in a
position Of such responsibility
A prominent member OF the Knights of
Labor last night said to Times re.
porter that Fowderly will not be con
firmed.
II expect he said, ''that Master Work.
man Sovereign viii come to Washington
and conduct in person a fight against
. Mr.. Powdcrly's confirmation. If the
Senate VIII delay action on the matter
for three or four days organized Iahol
VIII file protests representing 1900 ,00o
people against the confirmation Pow
derly's only chance is the immediate actor
Of the Senate The Knights of Labor
; Federation of Labor, Central Labor Unions
and others are to a man opposed to thi,
selection or Powderly to be Coinmissione
General OF Immigration, and they vii
so inform Congress
ITO give you an idea of the una
! nimity OF labor organizations in opposing
Powdcrly I win quote you the following
expressions OF opinion of leading labor
people:
: Mr. Brown. secretary Cigarmakers' Unior
Mr.. PowdeTly, in his campaign speeches
: represented mis- own opinions, not those OF
organized labor. This nomination is mad,
in spite OF the protest of wage-workers al
over the country They are bitterly on
K posed 10 Mr.. Powderly. He is receiving
his political reward
George Warner national secretary %
y Machinists Mr.. Powderly has no con
= nection With organized labor, and his
Z appointment could not be construed as an,
J. compliment TO it. While he was failur.
as labor leader, ani inclined to iud o.
: him lenicntly- 1 think he would try I,
n enforce the laws
y Samuel elDonhelly, pre- sident Typogra phics
Union No 6: Mr.. Powderly's nominatio
Is not IN any sense a recognition of ol
y ganized l1bpr The members of the trad.
, unions 10 not 20 into politics and as
for patronage The organization of whic
he was the leader was failure, and wa
opposed to the trade union idea: still
think Mr. Powderly would try to enforc
the law.
stephen Glenn, national organizer Ii
ternational Association of Machinists:
do not approve the nomina ton at all
!, is simply the payment of a political del
y and not in any sense a recognition
- organized labor Working people want Il
immigration laws strictly enforced I d
= not think Mr. Powderly would make
- satisfactory commissioner
n "Henr, White, National Secretary of th
. Garment Workers-Our trade is particr
larry interested in the rigid enforcement /,
:. the immigration laws The labor union
n officially protested against Mr.. Powde
= ty's appointment He does not reprasen
~ the trade union sentiment. and 1 do DC
think he will have the backbone to o,
n force the immigration laws
=. Daniel Harris. President New Yor
4 State Feceration OF abor-Thatnominatic
simply shows how little President McKinle
" cares fer the wishes of organized labor.
= John ]. Pallas, Secretary of the Ce,
m trail Labor Union--I know the America
of Federation OF Labor strongly opposed ii
NJ minat'on OF Mr.. Powderly, but he
an old friend of mine, and I should not lii
st to express any opinion in relation to h