Evening star., 1903-09-30
IN. LABOR CIRCLES

g.
The Miller controversy continues to be
the topic Of discussion. nor uffy among the
ranks Of the workingmen, but In political
circles. The executive council Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. which adjourned
last Friday afternoon, took the case under
consideration for a few days and then
placed 1t in the hands OF q subcommittee
Of the council.
It is not known when the subcommittee
will submit its report to President Com
pers. but in view Of the fact that the case Is
one of importance and has a delicate rela-
tionship of politics. 1t Is not thought prob
able that Mr.. Gompers will act in the mat
ter, but instead will turn 1t over to the
annual convention OF the federation. to be
held in Boston beginning November next.
Such action. it is pointed out, will relieve
Mr.. Gompers of the responsibility of disap-
proving or indorsing the action of Book
binders Local Union No. In expelling
Foreman w. A. Miller from membership.
President Gompers refuses to become In
any way involved in the controversy He
Is regarded as an extremely conservative
leader, and 1t is said realizes that only
through the greatest care can the matter
be kept from assuming what might be
termed a serious political aspect Since
the adjournment of the quarterly session
of the executive council of the federation
the newspaper correspondents have been
frequent callers at the headquarters OF
the federation in this city and have impor-
tuned him for information as to the Mill
Ter case. He steadfastly maintains his reti-
cence and to all queries says the matter
Is in the hands Of the subcommittee. When
asked today by reporter Of The star
whether the report of the committee could
be expected in the next few days, MI
Gompers replied that he did not know.
The members of the subcommittee main
tain like attitude with regard to the Mil
Ter controversy. and say all Information on
| the subject must be promulgated by Pres.
| ident Gompers. Second Vice President
John Mitchell, who Is also president of the
United Mine Workers of America. left
Washington this morning for Indianapolis
| Ind. When seen by reporter OF the star.
| Mr.. Mitchell declined to divulge the nature
| of the conversation he had with President
! Roosevelt at luncheon yesterday at the
White House. He also refused to commit
himself as to the Miller case.
| Up to this time the International Asso-
| citation of Machinists has failed in its many
attempts to get into direct communication
with President George Westinghouse or the
| Westinghouse Machine and Electrical Com
| pany of Pittsburg. Several weeks ago Presl-
1 dent James OConnell, supported by Presi-
| dent Samuel Gompers OF the American Fed
| Grafton of Labor, addressed letter to
| President Westinghouse, calling attention
! to the fact that a strike Is on at the West
| inghOuse plant, and to the fact that his
company was one of the few firms OF Pitts
| burg and vicinity that had failed to enter
| into an agreement with the International
| Association of Machinists for the ensuing
| year. Under the terms Of these agreements
| the machiniStS received substantial in
crease in pay from all employers who are
| members of the Manufacturers Association
| of Pittsburg.
| AS the Westinghouse company Is now af-
| filiated with the Manufacturers ASsOcia-
| ton it became necessary to make an eff
| fort to have an individual agreement drawn
| up between 1t and the Machinists Associa-
| ton. The company, it Is alleged, refused
| to become a party to an agreement giving
| the machinists an increase in wages. and,
as result, strike was declared. Since
| then the International Association of Ma
| chinists, through it's national and local Of
/ ficers, has been outlining plan to bring
| pressure to bear upon the company.
AS far as is known all work on the build
! ings of the ST. Louis exposition is being
| performed by union labor. In accordance
| with the wishes of President E. r. Francis
| and other officials of the exposition. Their
| attention, it is understood, has been
| brought to the fact that the Westinghouse
| company which has a contract with the
| exposition management, is involved in a
! controversy with the Machinists' Associa-
ton. and it is further understood that they
1 will be asked to use their influence to bring
| about a settlement. Should this prove fu-
tile and the Westinghouse company con-
| tinue to refuse to accede to the demands of
| the strikers at Pittsburg, 1t IS said to be
| likely that the machinstS employed at the
exposition will be called upon to quit work,
despite the fact that they are receiving the
prevailing rate of wages. 1t is also learned
| that the other union workmen at the expo
| siton will be called out on a sympathetic
| strike. Such action will mean great de-
lay in the work of erecting the various
buildings of the exposition. The labor lead
| ers, it is learned. disclaim any purpose to
Louis. but emphatically declare that heavy
| pressure will be brought to bear on the
| Westinghouse company unless an amicable
| adjustment is reached In the strike at Pitts
! burg.
Columbia Typographical Union. No. 1O1,
| at its last meeting adopted resolution
placing a fine of s. on all members failing
to secure a union label on clothing, and
the secretary was instructed to- issue a no.
| tice calling attention to this matter and
also to enforce the non-union cigar fine.
Secretary-Treasurer Harry w. Sherman
of the International Brotherhood of Elec-
| trfcal Workers. who Is also president OF
ed an unusual honor during the recent con-
vention at Salt Lake City. Utah. of the
| first named organization. Until the con-
vention the constitution of the organization
urer could not be held by the same person
after certain term Of years. AS Mr..
| Shermans administration of the affairs OF
the organization had been highly satisfac-
| tory and as 1t was the unanimous desire
| that he continue in the Office of secretary
| treasurer. the constitution. by the vote OF
the convention. was modified so as to per-
nit of Mr.. Sherman's reelection.
President James O'Connell of the Interna.
tional Association Of Machinists returned
to the headquarters of the organization In
this city Monday from New York. where
during the latter part Of last week he with
Mr. M. ]. Ford. represented the association
| at conference with President Burke and
Treasurer Cornish of the Union Pacific
railroad to adjust the final details of the
settlement of the machinists' strike on that
railroad. The strike came to a close sew
eral months ago as a result OF confer
ence in Omaha, Neb At that time several
points Of the agreement between the asso-
citation and the railroad were left open for
further consideration. These matters were
taken up and disposed Of at the recent con.
ference. The new agreement will go into
effect the 9Th of next month.
President O'Connell and Mr.. Ford also