Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-05
breaking the Strike at Buffalo.
Federation of Labor Will Protect In
terests of Its AMliates.

Federation of Labor VIII Protect In
terests of Its Amliates.
Referring to the great steel strike which
has been on for some weeks. Secretary
Frank Morrison Of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, today said to a Star re-
porter: Hid -
If the trust continues to oppose the
organization of wage earners the American
Federation Of Labor will use every effort to
prevent injury to the interests Of any men,
Der Of the Anlalgamated Association of
Iron. Steel and TIM Workers. Any indus
trial disturbance that may occur will be
because of the antagonism Of the trust to
the universally conceded right of wage
earners to organize for their protection
and to secure Improved conditions"
Mr.. Morrison added that the American
Federation Of Labor is not making any
guesses as to the probability of sympa-
thetic strikes. but will. he said. take up
questions as they arise and deal with them
In a businesslike manner.
President shaffer and other members of
the executive board of the Amalgamated
Association Of Iron and Steel Workers
have been sounding the American Fedora
ton Of Labor as to the extent the latter
body can be depended upon in supporting
the great steel strike now under way, and
the foregoing, so far as Mr.. Morrison Is
concerned. seems to be the answer.
President Shaffer, Secretary Williams B.
1. Davis, M. F. Tighe and John Chappell
came to Washington after the announce
ment in New York of their failure to reach
an agreement with the United States steel
officials. They reached the city late Saturday
night and registered at one of the down
town hotels, and their presence in the city
was known only to a few people. They
departed for Pittsburg about II O'Clock yes
terday. While here the committee had two
extended interviews with Mr.. Morrison, the
rrIn n fhn A ,nvsoo
ton of Labor now in the city.
The Amalagmated Association Mr. Nor
rison said, was an affiliated body with the
Federation, and as such was entitled to
the cooperation and aid of the greater body
in conducting the strike movement to an
effective and successful issue Mr.. Morri-
son expressed himself as confident of the
ultimate victory of the steel workers and
felt certain that the Federation of Labor
would give them all the aid in it's power.
He was asked specifically whether orders
would be issued for an extension of the
strike in affiliated branches of labor and
regarding the matter of financial assistance
to the steel strikers, but declined to an
sWer the questions.
The members of the general council of
the Federation of Labor are within reason
aple Instance OF washington, and if any
decisive action is to be taken by the FEEDER
alton In the matter of cooperative action
in aiding the steel strikers it is probable
a meeting of the council will be called for
G @
pected to return to Washington at an
early date.
Local Sentiment
The sentiment of a number Of the ,oca,
labor leaders is that the industrial condi-
lions here are such that in the event of q
general sympathetic strike the Amalea-
mated Association of Iron Steel and Tin
Workers could be aided very little If any
There are no members here of any ORGAN
ization which Is Immediately allied with
them. nor have they any local union TT
there should be ordered a general svrna
thetic strike it would affect some interests
to a slight extent-especially those of tba
building trades-by stopping the supply Of
iron which now so generally enters into
building construction.
1t is not likely, however that there will
be any strike In this vicinity. as the re-.
suit of the present disturbances. If every
mechanic in the City of Washington laid
down his toofs tomorrow 1t is conceded it
would not have theleast effect in setting
the auestionsf between the steel trust and
the members aftthe JAmalgamated Associa-
ton. The mefr ION Strike have the sympa-
thy OF the mem2ers OF organized labor
have throughput the United States, and
would render the strikers all possible finan-
cial aid.
The local men saDe fully aware of the
Importance Of ,thes questions in DISPUTE.
The struggle means, they say, either life
or death to organizations. the members of
which are employed by the trust and If
the trust Is Successful 1t will involve other
classes of wSrkmfn employed by other
combinations.x9 fol
1t was further said today that the Amer
lean Federation ofoLabor cannot order a
general sympathetic strike because the con-
stitution of the body guarantees s'the es-
tabIishment Of national and international
trade unions, based upon a strict recogni-
ton of the autonomy of each trade"
1t can, however. in the case of a strike
or lockout, declare through the executive
council levy of one cent per member per
week on all affiliated unions for a period
not exceeding ten weeks in any one year.
Should this course be adopted 1t would
result in giving the A. r. OF L. a strike
fund of large proportions.