Evening star., 1901-11-15
AN ATTACK ON GOMPERS
SIMON BURNS CHARGES FEDERA-
TIoN WITH TREACHERY.
It's Omcials, He Says, Promised Aid to
the Striking steel
Workers.

| At the national convention Of the Knights
of Labor in Pittsburg yesterday afternoon
General Master Workman Simon Burns
| submitted his annual report, which consist
| ed largely Of an attack upon the American
| Federation Of Labor The general execu-
| tive committee and Secretary-Treasuref
| Hayes also reported. Hayes recommended
| that the order secure the introduction IN
| Congress of laws to control the trusts.
| He said:
Organized labor must prepare for the
| gigantic struggle that is fast approaching,
when the very existence Of their organiza-
| tions will be at stake"
General Master Workman Burns, In his
| annual message, said:
THE first great struggle between organ
| lied labor and a great trust was between
the Amalgamated Association OF Iron and
/ Steel Workers and the United States Steel
CORPORATION. 1t matters not what errors
| and mistakes are charged to the officers
| and members of the Amalgamated Associa-
| tion the facts are that the steel companies
We're victorious. because of the treachery
| and failure Of organized labor to do it's
| duty. The Amalgamated Association ex-
| pected at least the friendship OF the officers
| and members of the American Federation
| of Labor. They received nothing but de-
| ception and opposition. 1t is a question II
| the Amalgamated organization would have
| entered the contest under the circumstances
| II II was not the promises Hdue anu re-
! lied upon from the members of the Ameri-
| can Federation of Labor to assist them in
| what they believed to be right.
During the last great strike or the coal
| miners and those affiliated with them the
| public, the knights of Labor and other in
| dependent labor organizations contributed
| more to the financial aid and success or
| the miners than the Federation, yet the
| Federation received the credit, and in re-
| turn they attempt to disrupt other organl-
| cations. In the late steel strike members
| of the American Federation of Labor, after
| their local organizations refused to contrib
| ute to the steel workers, solicited money
| from independent labor organizations to
help the Amalgamated Association, who
were affiliated with them The officers and
members of this great federation had the
| opportunity Of their lives to demonstrate
what they, with their great numbers, could
| do but through fear of their organization
or the influence brought to bear on some OF
them they failed to prove themselves
worthy of the name of organized labor.
| THE leaders of the American Federation
Of Labor did not want President Shaffer or
| his organization to win, because it might
| have given that organization and President
| Shaffer some prestige and prominence.
! The largest political organization today IS
| the Federation of Labor, using the name OF
| labor for the purpose of advancing few
| men politically to the great injury Of the
| many. Any labor organization that ad-
| vances or benefits the wage Garner should
| be encouraged, but such political organZa-
| tions, using the workingmen for a blind,
| should be known by their true name and
reputation.
"The great combinations of capital known
as trusts should receive the careful consid-
Grafton of all wage workers, the merchant,
| business man and, particularly, the voter
| The argument made that they are help
financially to the wage worker is denied by
many, and l agree with the number that
say they are injurious, and will grow more
SO as they grow older.
"If combinations or trusts were formed
for the purpose Of securing fair return on
the actual amount Of capital invested, and
not to depreciate the number Of employees,
lower wages, and oppose labor they might
be considered benefit to the wage worker.
The government that grants them fran
| chises should restrict and control them, and
| the people should control both the govern
ment and the trusts, which they do not do
at the present time. Before the election
| the voters are the people and the govern
ment; after the election the politicians are
the government people, judiciary and ALL
some argue that trusts and combinations
cheaper the product to the consumer and in
some cases pay good wages to their en-
benefit the majority of the people. 1t Is not
cheap products and cheap living the majori-
ty of the people require but high wages and
steady employment. When the mechanic
and wage worker are steadily employed at
| good wages each can afford to pay high
| prices to the farmer, storekeeper and mer-
| chant.
There is no doubt in the minds of many
of the people that money and it's influence
| change the opinions and decisions of officials
| who should be for right and Justice The
| trusts should be controlled by the govern
| ment and all facts in connection with the
| same be given publicity in the same manner
as the proceedings of Congress. Compel
| them to give the amount of capitalization
| the actual capital invested, the value of
their property the number of their en-
ployes, the average wages paid, the average
| number of working days for the total num-
| Der of employees, whether they have in
| az he hny nf
| men, increased decreased wages what
! per cent, and the number of workrnen who
| We're so affected, the number of their stock
| holders, the amount Of stock held by each
| the number of officers and the salaries of
each, the total amount of production each
| year value of same wages paid labor and