Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06

The American Federation of Labor mas
several bills which it purposes to submit TO
Congress in the near future. The most I'M
portant of these documents are those pear
ing on the eight hour law and suffrage IN
the District of Columbia. The first nameo
Is now occupying the attention of the mem
bers of the committee on education anu
labor of the Senate. 1t is expected that
the committee will report the bill favoraoiy
to the Senate in the course Of the next lie"
days
II has been for years the purpose OF Or
ganized labor all over the country to Sc
cure favorable legislation on the eight-hour
measure, and it is now proposed to again
urge it upon the attention of the Senate.
The House has passed the bill several
times. but the Senate In each instance laid
1t upon the table for further considera-
tlon." Local labor leaders declare that they
have succeeded in getting the measure be-
fore the Senate committee and that they
will continue to agitate the question until
the measure gets before the Senate for It's
consideration.
Third Vice President James OConnell
and Secretary Frank Morrison Of the
American Federation of Labor appeared
before the committee on education and
labor Tuesday and Wednesday of the pres
ent week in the interest of the bill At the
conclusion of the conference Wednesday. II
Is said, they were assured that the commit
tee would report the bill TO the Senate
within at least week. The Inference Is
that the report will be favorable.
Labor leaders declare that labor union
ism has claims upon several members OF
the House who were elected to their seats
solely through the votes OF the labor
unions. and it is said that these members
will work In the interest Of the bill and en-
list the support of the members of the
Senate.
The leaders have also obtained the prom
Use of a large number of senators to vote
for the passage of the bill when it is re-
ported to the Senate. 1t was stated to
Star reporter that the outlook for the bill
Is exceedingly bright. 1t is provided In the
bill that all men employed on governmental
work whether directly or indirectly, shall
work but eight hours day.
A bill bearing on the right of franchise,
Of interest to all the residents Of Wash
ington, is being framed in accordance with
a resolution adopted at the recent conven-
ton of the American Federation of Labor,
held in New Orleans, La. The resolution
is to the effect that it is the sense Of the
American Federation of Labor that Con-
gress should re-establish in the District of
Columbia government republican in
form. and in harmony with the spirit and
institutions of our country-a government
of the people, by the people and for the
people-based on free suffrage, limited only
by reasonable educational test, under the
X,
President of the United States Is respect
fully, but very earnestly. requested to call
the attention Of Congress to the fact that
an autocratic form of government exists
In the District of Columbia. and that he
recommends to said body the re-establish-
ment of government. republican in form,
In the said District"
1t is recited in the resolution that 1.-THE
people of the District of Columbia, in 1874,
were deprived OF the rights of local self
government. and form of government I'M
der which they have neither voice nor in
nuence forced upon them without their
CONSENT; that the present form Of gov
eminent in the capital of the republic Is
contrary to the most fundamental princl-
pies of American liberty, to establish which
our revolutionary forefathers pledged their
lives. their fortunes and their sacred honor
and Waged successful seven years war;"
and that the ballot Is an effective weapon,
deprived of which the workers are power
less to peacefully redress their legislative
grievances"
Local labor leaders recognized as a
great victory for organized labor the settle
mert of the differences between the w. B.
Conkey Company of Hammond, Ind, and
the printers. bookbinders and pressmen en-
ployed by that firm. A bitter fight has been
In progress against the Conkey Company
Tor several weeks past. Press dispatches
are TO the effect that the trouble has been
establishment. Mr.. Conkey, has agreed to
allow all his employees to join their re-
spective trades union and to pay the scales
or wages demanded by the unions The
unions declare that the proprietor Of the
establishment has been heretofore what
they term an arch enemy" to organized
labor and has always been averse to his
employees joining unions The fact that Mr.
Conkey has acceded to all the demands of
the strikers is, therefore, hailed with great
satisfaction.
In consequence of the settlement 1t is
likely that the boycott placed upon all
Christmas books, produced by that COM
pany, by the American Federation of La
Dor. the International Union of Bookbinders
the International Typographical Union
and the International Pressmen's Union
VIII be lifted and the firm again placed on
the fair list.
At the regular monthly meeting of Book
binders Local Union. No. 4, held Tuesday
evening at typographical Temple, the cleo
tion OF officers for the ensuing year was
held and resulted as follows: President
Mr.. Robert d. Barrett; vice president Mr.
George Kirch; recording secretary, Mr.
James A. Stockman financial secretary,
Mr. William L. Gallagher; treasurer, Mr.
J. A. b. Espey; statistician,- Mr. John O.
We!dman; inspector. Mr.. Charles J. CASH
dy; guide, Mr.. John W.'Pyemont The in
stallatlon OF ofhcers VIII occur at the next
meeting, at which time the various commit
tees. to serve for the ensuing year will be
appointed. Mr.. j. l.. Feeney the retiring
president. was urgently requested to ac-
StPt IRE TOT reelection, but he
stated that he was obliged to decline. He
said he thought that he had held the office
or president long enough, and that some
other men should be given the opportunity
to preside.
The approaching entertainment which n
committee of the union is arranging and
which will be held New Year eve promises
to be strictly original, as all the talent Will
be selected from the ranks of the book
binders Mr.. Feeney has just completed a
new song. entitled I'm Wed For Love
Alone which will be sung for the first
time upon that occasion.
The annual election OF officers Of the Wo-
mems Bindery Union, No. AZ, will be held
the evening OF the 18th instant at Typo
graphical Temple. Miss Kate " Smoot.
the president. has declined the nomination
Tor reelection. meeting of the union
was held the early part of the week. but
no business OF public Importance was trans
acted.
The frst grand entertainment and smoker
OF Local Union. No. II. Hosting and Port
able Engineers. was held Wednesday even
Ing In the hall over the Lincoln National
Bank. at the corner OF 7th and D streets
northwest The occasion was devoted to
pleasure and good fellowship and ali who
attended went to their homes highly
pleased. Several addresses were delivered
by local labor leaders.
Mr.. Samuel Gompers president of the
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