Evening star., 1899-01-03
Delegate Moo0rmaiok's Stewardship
Rehearsed Before the G. L. o.
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR
Action on Qglestipn of Suffrage in
the District.
- n
UNION ELECTS OFFICERS

| lle StlIll-dHuudl eleCIlOn OF OIlcerS IOr
the Central Labor Union held last
| evening and resulted in the reelection of
| President Szegedy, Secretary Feeny and
| Treasurer Mckay, and the choice of R. H.
| Lewis for vice president, John H Larch
| financial secretary; Charles Harnold, ser
| geant-at-arms; John Stanley, delegate to
| Building Trades Council; c. 7. Smith n.
| c. Sprague and Milford Spohn, members of
| the auditing committee.
| The resolutions passed at the recent con-
| venton OF the American Federation of La
| Dor (Which were printed in The STAR call
| ing for the removal of Claude NJ. Johnson
| chief OF the bureau of engraving and print
| ing, were Endorsed by the Central Labor
| Union. and a special committee of five was
| appointed to collect all the data possible in
reference to Mr.. Johnson's administration
| of the bureau, and submit the same to the
executive council of the A. f. of l.. at its
next meeting.
The consideration of several amendments
| to the constitution, intended to define the
status of non-aitiliating local organizations
led to long discussion. and it was finally
| decided to add a bylaw, THAT this body
recognize no organization that is aggres-
| slVeiy opposed to this body or any alfiliated
body
| Delegates from the local Granite Cutters
| Branch. Amalgamated Society of Carpen-
| ters and Joiners, Brotherhood of Carpen-
| ters No. 1910, and Association of Steam En-
| gineers, No. II, We're admitted.
| Mr.. j. F. Mccormick. delegate to the re-
| cent convention of the American Federation
| of Labor, made AN extended report in
! which he reviewed President Gompers' ad-
| dress at length. The A. F. of L.. he said
| now has 0.50o local Unions attached; 81 ma
| tCnal and international unions; 10 state
| federations; 50 city central labor unions and
| trade assemblies; 315 local trade unions
| (having no nationals), and 100 federal labor
| unions.
Attempt at Rivalry.
The attempt made by some western or
| ganizations he said, to form a rival feder-
| alton of labor was a complete failure. In
| accordance with the presidents recon-
| mendation an amendment adopted to
| the constitution creating a defense fund
| and requiring a contribution of ) cents
| from each member of the \. F. of L. to-
| ward the same.
| quarters for the organization in Washing
| ton. he said the wisdom of the movement
| had been fully demonstrated in many ways,
| among which might be instanced:
! 'HundredS of thou&andS of dollars We're
| saved in the wages of machinists and other
workers at the Rock Island arsenal; the en-
! forcement for the first time of the eight
| hour Workday in the navy yards of the
| country; the constant and persistent eff
| forts to bring the attention of the Presi-
| dent of the United tSates and the members
| OF MS cabinet, as well as Congress, the queS-
| ton of the rights of the workers and the
| wrongs which they have too long endured
| must unquesuonably have a potent infiu-
| ence for greater consideration of the
| rights OF the wage-earners of America
| For long time The printers employed
! by the weather bureau in the Department
OF Agriculture were receiving a much lower
| wage lhan were the printers in the govern
| ment printing Office at Washington OW-
| ing to constant efforts an order was issued
| WstOf at rlriIg ter tl..
/ ptoS OF the btreah,no matter where Ia
| Gated We're based upon the wages paid in
the government printing office and the
| minimum of $1,000 per annum esta abIished -
| Question of District Suffrage
| in referring to the report of the executive
| council, MI Mccormick quoted as follows;
| Inc last convention had under considera-
! tlon a resolution indorsing a bill pending
| before Congress to grant suffrage to the
residents of the District of Columbia. or
| rather bill referring to the residents of
the District of Columbia the uuestion
| whether suffrage shall be granted The
convention referred the matter to the exec
| udVe council, with instructions to report
| TO you. The executive council directed the
| president to undertake an Investigate
| ne with the assistance of Secretary Nor
flSon, reports that two hearings were had
lor winch general invitations were sent ont
| ana puplic announcement made that all
| would be heard. Only those who favored
| the proposition appeared at the first meet
| lhs' and, as a consequence, thirty letters
| We're sent to known opponents requesting
| them TO appear. No one accepted the ipyi-
| tauon, only one deigning to acknowledge
| receipt OF the letter. One member of a
union appeared to protest. not against the
| measure, but against the A. f. of LIS TAX
| ing the matter up. The testimony elected
| was submitted to the executive council
and tn following is submitted to you as
| our judgment upon the question:
! Fhar fftn
| OF Columbia. They denied the right of
| self-government. They have no voice no
vote. A large majority of the bona fide
residents nave protested against their dis
| reimbursement The government consists of
a commission of three members appoint ed
| by the President, with an appointive judi
clary, none of whom are responsible to the
| people The lives and liberties of the resi-
| dents are subject to the absolute control
! OF those who exercise authority without
d mandate from the people. The objectors
| 10 the franchise are that class of residents
VINO exercise their franchise in the states
| 1he diSfranchised residents of the District
| nave no power influence to change To-
| cal or general conditions.
| The Central Labor Union, and all previ-
Gus central bodies in the District, have in
| sisted upon he right of franchise, and
| demand that the question be submitted to
| the vote of the bona fide residents to de-
| termine whether the sentiment is in favor
| Of or against their claim.
| 1t mas been claimed that owing "to the
| large preponderance of negroes the white
| residents would be Outvoted." This, even
| II true, is unjustiliable but investigation
i proves that 1t is not founded on fact; that
| IN truth a large majority of the residents
| OF the District are of the Caucasian race
| 1t is held that the right of suffrage is an
| inherent right in the manhood and citi-
zenship of our people, matter where
| they may be loeatedT 1t is true that in the
| early history of our country the Congress
| was practically driven from Philadelphia
! to take its place in Washington; but that
| was during a period when our government
| could scarcely be considered stable one
For nearly century the people of the Dis
| trict exercised the franchise, and only by
! POLITICAL Jugglery was it taken from them
| There have been some claims that the
| seat OF government should be absolutely
sate from localopolitical influence; but at
| tehtion is called to- the fact that among
| the european nations the capitals are To-
| Gated In their principal and most populous
| cites, where the people exercise equal
| rights with the people of any city in
| their respectiveocouutries: and the British
| parliament within secent years: conceded
| larger latitude dor Ideal self-goveinrnent of
| LONDON by establishing the London county
counen. which. has been demonstrated to
De not only an act of political wisdom.
l economic nd ia1 oI,-a,,