Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-15
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
Protest Against Expulsion of Union Miners
From Indian Territory.
Paper for Presentation to Secretary
Hitchcock - Wagon and Car
rage Makers Union.

Mr. John l.. Feeney was secretary.
A communication was read from the Ma
tional Union of the United Brewery Work
men of the United States. in which the re-
quest was made that the Central Labor
Union shall aid the former in bringing
their union label more into use by electing
a committee whose object it shall be to
visit the different union breweries of this
city and ask them to use the label referred
to on their cooperage.
The matter was referred to the Brewery
Workers Union
The committee appointed to prepare a
protest against the removal of union
miners from the Indian territory. for pre-
sentatlon to the Secretary of the Interior,
reported having performed that duty ana
that the committee expected to visit Mr.
Hitchcock at 10 o'clock this morning with
that end In view.
The Protest.
The protest prepared is as follows:
March 1, 1899, the members of the
United Mine Workers of America in Ar
kansas and Indian territory were COM
PEELED to inaugurate a strike to secure llv-
ing wages and humane conditions for the
miners employed in the above named state
and territory, the actions of the operators
being such as to make it impossible for
men to work and maintain the rights guar
anteed them under the Constitution. Since
that time, 1T is alleged by the officers OF
the United Mine Workers of America. the
mine owners have left no stone unturned
to compel the miners to return to work, but
have faiied-faiied even to secure nom
union workmen to take their places.
AS you know. sir. the Indian territory
is governed by federal law. and is under
the direct control of the Interior Depart
ment. 1t is necessary for white residents
to obtain permit from the chief of the
Choetaw nation. said permit to be approved
hIyt bn Tr1i IN faflnr a
tive), in order to remain in that territory
Since the strike has been in progress many
of the people concerned have been unable
to procure permits, by reason of lack OF
funds. and in many instances, 1t is alleged
the Indian authorities have refused 10
grant such permits where application had
been made for them.
Some time ago the mine owners. in con-
junction with the Indian authorities. made
application to the Interior Department TO
have sixty-four leading members of the
United Mine Workers of America expelled
from the Indian territory. The depart
ment a few days ago sent an agent, MI.
Zerelt. into the territory with instructions
to investigate and report to the Secretary
of the Interior.
The Central Labor Union of Washing
ton D. c., affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, through its repre-
sentatives, hereby protests. Respectfully
but emphatically. against such hlgh-hahded
and un-Amercan actions as those OF the
mine owners and request that you. Mr..
Secretary. in the mama of fairness. equity
and justice, give this document, "A brlel MS
tory of the conditions there. due consldera-
ton and DENY the application for expulsion
of citizens from the Indian territory by the
mine owners, simply because they will not
re-enter the employ of corporations whose
treatment of its employees makes it I'M
possible to do so and retain manhood
The committee was composed of Messrs.
Milford Spohn II. W. Szegedy. James D.
McKennon. Charles H. Squier, n. c.
Sprague and Samuel De Nedrey.
Early Closing of Stores.
The committee which was appointed to
call on the merchants of the city in refer
ence to the closing of their stores at . I'm.
Saturday, the year round. reported that the
following merchants were favorably dis
posed toward the movement: Saks & Co,
Samuel Friedlander & Co. T. Il. Reinhart,
I,ansburgh & Bro, Bon Marche S. kann.
Sons & Co, Heilbrun & Co, Family Shoe
Store. Eiseman Bros, Hecht d Co. ana NJ;
The committee vas continued
and the members will visit other merchants
for the purpose of asking them to agree to
the proposition
York Sun was brought to the attention of
the body by a delegates from Columbia
Union. No. 101, and after
discussion that paper was
placed on the unfair list.
Pronosed New Organization.
was referred the matter of the organiza-
ton of a wagon and carriage makers
union, under charter of the Carriage
Makers International Union, submitted
report which will be forwarded to the gen.
eral secretary of the international body.
The report was Endorsed by the Central
Labor Union. In brief, the report states
that after full inquiry the organizers as
certained that a majority of the most eff
.;. q
in the largest shops in the city, have be-
come dissatisfied with Carriage and Wagon
Makers Assembly No. 1856, X. of L., and
desire to be organized as a union of the in
terna tional body. The difficulty seems to
be that the K. of l.. assembly, several
years ago, secured a national union charter,
but it IS alleged that the local organiZa-
ton has never regarded 1t and has conduct
ed its business as a X. of l.. assembly.
Several weeks ago the dissatisfied mem
bership of the assembly withdrew from
that body, organized d union and elected a
full complement of officers.
Some weeks previous to this the Central
Labor Union was asked to indorse the APP
pication for a national charter, and the
matter was referred to the local organizers
who, in their report last night, recommend
ed that the charter asked for be granted.
Committee Gets Hearing.
The committee named in the foregoing
was heard this morning by Acting Secre-
tary Ryan, who received the members in
his private office.
Mr.. Milford Spohn recited briefly how the
Kansas and Texas Coal Company's miners
operating in the Indian territory, had gone
on strike and how the company was
doing everything in It's power to eject the
sixty-four prominent strikers. These miners
lived in the territory under the same
ditions that the coal company operated
and he was satisfied the Choctaw Nation
would have interposed no objection had not
the coal company interfered. There had
been no disorder, and consequently no rea-
son why these men should be run out of
the country
Acting Secretary Ryan told the commit
tee that no action had been taken by the
department beyond sending special agent
to investigate the trouble, and before his
report was finally acted upon ample oppor-
tunity would be given the representatives
Of organized labor to be heard.
Money to lend at 4. and per cent on
real estate. Frank T.1Rawlings, 1905 Pa ave.
advertisement.