Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-14

The miners relief committee of the Cen
trail Labor Union has requested the seven
ty-two organizations affiliated with that
body to cooperate with the general COM
mittee and solicit funds and supplies for
the relief of the miners.
In the letter. which was forwarded by
Secretary Winslow, he states:
Il am directed to call your attention to
the deplorabie condition of the miners OF
the anthracite coal regions, and to the
necessity of extending them every aid with
in the power of organized labor.
These men, boys and children. for It is a.
horrible fact that children are compelled to
labor in these mines to aid in the support
of their parents, have been on strike for the
past twenty weeks and are sadly in need
of not only money, but food and clothing.
Do not read this appeal and place 1t on
file, but start a donation party and you will
be surprised at the amount of money, cloth
ing and provisions that your organization
will be able to collect. Do not let the in
fiated price of coal that these robber coal
barons have inflicted upon you harden your
hearts to these poor struggling creatures
who are compelled to delve into the bowels
of the earth that you and your family may
enjoy the luxury of bright fire to welcome
you home when your days work is done.
You, who enjoy an eight-hour day, Il
fair days pay and the blessings of Gods
sunlight, remember that these miners only
ask for two of the conditions which you
now enjoy-a shorter work day at a fair
days pay the third they can never obtain,
as the nature of the work will mot. permit.
Urge the members of your union to do
nate something. no matter how small. have
them bring it to some central location and
notify the miners relief committee of the
Central Labor Union, room 10. Typogra phi
cal Temple, 423 G street northwest and
It will send for it and deliver same to that
district where 1t is most needed.
Trusting that you will call this matter
to the attention of your organization, and
that this appeal will meet with hearty
response &c.
The Central Labor Union of this city Is IN
receipt of a communication from the Fed,
Grated Trades Council of Milwaukee, Wis,
requesting the body to arrange with the
board of the council for a place and date
for an initial meeting for organization Sew
eral months ago similar request was
made, but the purposes of the Organization
were not regarded with favor, as President
Gompers had advised against utilization
with the organization and opposed the
movement as scheme to destroy the soil
darity of the American Federation of La
Dor.
The letter which is addressed to the Of
ficers and members of subordinate central
bodies affiliated with the American Fedora
ton of Labor. states that it is the purpose
to bring together delegates from the vari-
Gus local central bodies in conference 10
devise plans for bringing about better mu-
nicipal conditions for the working class.
Referring to the opposition of President
Gompers, the letter states that .explana-
ton of the objects Of the organization IS
necessary when so notable a parsonage
the president of the federation has felt
moved to issue a circular in opposition,
voicing suspicious that wholly unjust
and which place us in a wrong light Were
we engaged in effort, masked or open
to supplant or duplicate the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, the central organization
Of Milwaukee would deserve only the con-
tempt Of all true union men. We are too
loyal to the national body to even dream OF
such thing.
"Eron, other sources has come the siIspf-
cion that a new labor party was contemplate
ed On the contrary, the plan we propose
would tend to strengthen the local efficien-
CIV of the party of the workers, the social
democracy, which is the expression, of trade
unionism on the political field thus helping
to keep the workers from splitting up their
valuable voting strength between the two
parties Of capitalism.
There should be no misunderstanding as
to what we propose. We propose that year.
ly national conferences be held by regular
ly selected delegates from the various city
central labor bodies, who shall meet at
some previously determined place and dis
cuss municipal conditions from the stand
point of the working population, from such
interchange of information and opinion
gaining a better knowledge Of the prob
lens that exist and of ways to bring about
better conditions through united efforts Of
the toilers. There would be nothing oblig-.
atory in the conclusions of the conference.
merely helpful suggestion: various -Hu-
manitarian and other bodies of the coun-
trv hold such annual conferences and much
good results from them, although sucn IN
terests are in no way as important as those
of the workers. -. -.-.-