Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-21
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
Appeal for Establishment of shipbuilding
Industry and American Ownership.
The Question Referred to American
Federation of Acknowledgement
for Data.

After an absence of several week, Presi-
dent Szegedy occupied the chair at last
evenings meeting of the Central Labor
Union. Mr.. John l.. Feeney was secretary.
A communication was read from Alexan-
der r. Smith, secretary of the commerce
commission of the state of New York
which was referred to Mr.. ]. S. Squire,
delegate from the Central Labor Union to
the coming convention of the American
Federation of Labor In Detroit, next
month
The letter was, in part. as follows:
zone of the great neglected American
industries is shipping in the foreign
trade. To supply the ships needed for the
carrying Of the foreign commerce of the
United States S5o.O0O,O0O are expended
each year. but a fraction of which benefits
American workingmen. since over 80 per
cent of the ships 50 employed are built of
materials shaped in foreign mills and put
together in foreign shipyards- The ships
engaged in carrying our foreign commerce
earn each year 500, 0Up 900, only : per cent
of which ships are American and so the
great bulk of this vast sum leaves the
country. 10 the impOVerishment of the ma
ton and the lessening of opportunities for
the employment of American labor.
AT the next session of Congress an effort
will be made to restore to American ships.
by effective legislation, fair share of the
nations foreign carrying, through the
building of the needed ships in our own
snipyards. out Of our native materials, and
by the employment of our own working
men. Your personal interest in this mat
ter can he of great aid. | particularly ask
you to study the resolutions adopted, bear
ing on this subject. in inclosed literature,
Personal! Interest Requested.
LAS one of the representative men in the
ranks Of organized labor, You must feel
deep personal interest in aiding in the
Establishment of a great shipbuilding and
shipowning industry in the United States,
and the distribution among our own people
of the large part, at least. of the 100000,
900 yearly paid TO foreign shipowuers?
There is reason to fear that this may be-
come partisan question. but this the active
support Of organized labor can prevent. by
making it, as it is. wholly national one.
Il venture to ask You, therefore. should
you attend the annual convention of the
American Federation of Labor a. Detroit
Mich. next month, to advocate and sup
port the adoption by that convention of
strong resolution in favor of an American
built, American-owned and American
manned merchant marine for the foreign
carrying trade. If you DO not attend, and
know Of any one who will. may 1 ask you
10 place this letter and inclosed documents
IN his hands?''
A communication was also read from
Charles Bostian. secretary of the Interna-
tiOnal Union Of Carriage and Wagon Max
ers, requesting data relative to local union
No. l of Carriage and Wagon Makers
which was recently admitted to the Cen
trail Labor Union.
A committee Of three was appointed TO
prepare the information asked for. and
which will be forwarded through Secretary
Feeney.
Letter From Secretary Morrison.
A letter was read from Mr.. Frank Nor
rison. secretary of the American Federation
Of Labor, acknowledging the receipt of a
duplicate credenrial Of Mr.. J. L. Feeney to
represent the international Bockbinders'
Association in the next annual convention
Of The American Federation Of lie Dor.
\ letter from local brewing company
complaining Of the manner in which that
Organization has been treated by the Cen
trail Labor Union, was received and placed
ON file.
The local organizers were instructed to
organize the wood workers who are en-
pioyed In the various mills in the city
Delegates from the Machine Trade Help
erS, Bakers Drivers and Stone MasOns
were admitted and obligated.