The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-14
DECLARES IT A LIE
Charge by the Cramps Against
Union Labor.
Gompers Aroused by Statements R,hecing or
Workmen Who Built TIE Battlssh'ps--sight
Hour Bill Hearing,
(By the Associated Press }


Washington, D. c., Dec. 12-The Sem
ate Committee on Education aud Labor
today listened to arguments for and
against the Eight-hour bill James
o'Connell, president of the International
Association of Machinists. referred to a
Statement made before the committee
yesterday by ]. H. Null, assistant mana
ger at Cramps Shipyard. Philadelphia, to
the effect that members of the Interna-
tional Association of Machinsts had tried
to destroy the machinery of the battle
ship Alabama and the transport Thomas
while they were undergoing repairs in
the Cramps yard. Mr.. OConnell said that
nothing of the kind ever had been brought
to his attention and he did not believe
that it ever occurred.
Former Secretary of the Navy Herbert,
in the course of his argument in OPPOSE
tion to the bill, declared that there We're
few men in the House willing to take the
responsibility of opposing any labor
measure, no matter whether he approves
it or not, lest he be set down as an
enemy to the laboring class. THAT ex-
plains why he said, ''this bill and pre-
eeding bills like it, even worse than it is,
passed the House by large majorities.
l.. E. Payson, for the Newport News
Shipbuilding 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 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 exclaimed that it was an act
which. If the United States had been at
war, would nave been misprision of trea
son. Men have suffered the loss of their
lives for less acts Of culpability," he
said. than were committed against our
people in June a year ago."
James Duncan, national secretary of
the Granite Cutters Association, denied
cx-Secretary Herbert's assertion that
members of the House would not oppose
legislation in order not to appear as
enemies of labor. He also denied the
truth of Mr.. Payson's statement regard
ing the battleship Illinois.
Samuel Gompers, president of the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor rehearsed the efforts
which have been made to secure the
adoption of an eight-hour law. He had,
he said, been classed as an agitator by
the "cyclonic and vehement Judge Pay
son. but he said it was the agitator who
made this country a republic, that abol-
ishcd slavery and that saved the children
employed in the cotton mills in the
Southern States.
Mr.. Gompers said he wanted to take
cognizance of the statement made by Mr..
Null yesterday, and by Judge Payson to-
day, regarding the battleship Alabama,
the transport Thomas and the battleship
Illinois. He vehemently denounced the
charge and said that Major Carson, of the
Thomas. had declared the statements as
being without foundation. and that had
such an ATTEMPT been made to tamper
with the machinery of the ship he Gear
SOM would have known it.
at is true" said Mr.. Gompers chat
the strike in the Cramps Shipyard de-
layed the departure of the Thomas for
q week or ten days, but as a 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 scin-
tilla of truth in it.
Continuing and speaking with much
fervor, Mr.. Gompers said
eff any man was guilty of the act
charged here yesterday. it was the duty
of Mr.. Cramp, as a citizen of our coun-
try, to make a criminal charge against
him and expose to the world what it i'm
piled. The charge has not been outlawed
by the statute of limitation and If the
charge has no foundation, in fact it sim
ply reacts on the heads of those who have
rnnde the accusation
He declared if the bill failed to pass it
would be back in the next Congress.
There is no ending this demand he
said until it is accomplished.