The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-13
Serious Charges Made by Shipbuild-
ers, Which Were Promptly Denied
by Labor Leaders.
RESENTED BY MR.. G0MPERS
WHO SAID UNIONS DID NOT TAMPER
WITH WARSHIPS.
Judge Payson Called "CycIOnic and
ing-Cuban Reciprocity Treaty.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12-The Senate
committee on education and labor to-day
listened to arguments for and against the
eight-hour bill. James O'Connell, president
Of the International Association of Machin-
lists, referred to a statement made before
the committee yesterday by ]. H. Null, as
sstant manager at Cramps shipyard,
Philadelphia, to the effect that the men,
bers of the International Association of
Machinists had tried to destroy the ma
chinery of the battleship Alabama and the
transport Thomas while they were undergo
ing repairs in the Cramps yard. Mr.. O'Con-
nell said nothing of the kind had ever been
brought to his attention and he did not be-
lieve 1t ever occurred.
Mr.. Frank Morrison. secretary of the
American Federation of Labor, made an
argument for the bill.
Former Secretary of the Navy Herbert,
in an argument in opposition to the bill.
declared there were few men in the House
of Representatives willing to take the re-
sponsibility of opposing any labor measure,
no matter whether he approves it not.
lest he be set down as enemy to the
laboring class. THAT explains why" he
said, this bill, and preceding bills like it.
even worse than 1t is, passed the House by
large majorities."
l.. h. Payson, for the Newport News Ship
building Company, referred to the strike at
Newport News in 1901 and said that when
the battleship Illinois was about TO leave
the yard on her trial trip word had gone
forth from the labor union that she should
not leave the yard until the unions terms
were complied with. he vehemently eX-
claimed that 1t was an act which, If the
United States had been at war, would have
been misprision of treason. Men have
suffered the loss of their lives for less acts
| of culpability, said he, than were COM
mitted against our people In June year
ago."
Samuel Gompers president of the Fedora
| ton of Labor, said he had been classed as
| Judge Payson,'' but it was the agitator who
mace this country a Republic, that abol-
| ished slavery, that saved the children en-
| ployed in the cotton mills OF the Southern
| States Mr. Gompers said he wanted to
| take cognizance of statement made by
Mr.. Null yesterday and by Judge Payson
| to-day alleging that the International AS
| sociation of Machinists had attempted TO
| precipitate trouble in the Cramp shipyards
| during the Spanish war while government
warships were being fitted out and that
| some of the labor men had attempted to
| tamper with the machinery OF transport.
| He vehemently denounced the charge and
said that Major Carson, OF the Thomas,
had declared the statements as being with
| out foundation and had said that had such
| an attempt been made to tamper with the
machinery of the ship he (Carson) would
.'It is true" said Mr.. Gompers, that the
| strike in the Cramps shipyard delayed
| the departure of the Thomas for a week
| or ten days, but as matter of fact it
was not during the Spanish-American war,
! but late in the year 1899" He added that
| the chief merit in the statement was that
| there was not scintilla OF truth in ii. Con-
! tinuing and speaking with much fervor
! Mr.. Gompers said: If any was
guilty of the act charged here yesterday
| il was the duty of Mr.. Cramp as a citizen
| OF our country to make a criminal charge
against him and TO expose to the world what
| il implied The charge has not been out
| lawed by the statute OF limitation, and IL
the charge has no foundation in fact IL sim
| ply reacts on the heads of those who have
made the accusation" He declared that
| III the bill should fail to pass IL would be
| back again in the next Congress. There is
! no ending in this demand" he said, ''un-
| I'll II is accomplished.