Evening star., 1903-09-24
Federation Takes No Action
in Miller Case.
HELD IN ABEYAN CE
LABOR LEADERS DECLINE TO DIS
CUSS THE MATTER.
No Response Received by Central Labor
Union From President Roosevelt
Business Routine.


Ter controversy at the session this fore
noon Of the executive council of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. The appearance
before the council late yesterday afternoon
of Secretary James w. Dougherty OF Inc
International brotherhood of BookbindeTs
was somewhat of a surprise, In view OF the
fact that 1t was generally understood 'hat
the Miller case was to have been taken up
later in the session. if at all.
Secretary Dougherty came to Washington
unheralded, arriving here about 2 O'Clock
yesterday afternoon
Mr. Dougherty registered at Reuter- $
Hotel at 2;3o and about an hour later, ac-
conpanied by delegation from Bookbind-
ers' Local Union. No. 4, from which IL IS
stated Foreman Miller was expelled. ap-
peared at the headquarters of the fedora
ton. The party was ushered into the coun-
ell room immedia tely.
After formal introduction Secretary
Dougherty apprsed the council of the pur-
pose of his visit, and the controversy was
discussed for about an hour. Although it is
not known exactly what action Secretary
Dougherty asked the council to take. it is
understood the International Brotherhood
of Bookbnders is deSirous of having the
American Federation of Labor indorSe the
action of the local union in expelling Fore
man Miller. Secretary Dougherty present
ed the council with a number of documents.
which were read. and also left a copy of the
evidence in the case. Action in the matter
deferred
The usual statement, issued just before
the close of the session last evening. includ-
ed reference to Secretary Dougherty's
presence before the council, which follows:
James w. Dougherty, secretary of the
international Bookbinders Union. accom-
panied by committee of that organiza tion
appeared before the executive council III
the William A. Miller case. The matter
was thoroughly gone into. documents read
and copy of the evidence submitted. Fur
nf fha ia
ferred until later in the present session"
Refuse to Talk.
President Gompers and his colleagues OF
the council were besieged by correspondents
for details of the visit of Secretary Dough-
erty, but they refused to talk on the sub
ject Nothing further in the controversy
could be obtained today from the members
of the council
In view of the fact that the local union
of bookbinders is not directly affiliated with
the federation it Is recited that the appear
ance before the council of Secretary Dough-
erty was the result of the local unions re-
quest to the international union. The lat
ter body has been keeping in touch with all
the developments in the controversy, hav-
ing taken hold of the case when it first be-
came public
Some significance is attached to the fact
that the council deferred action in the con-
troversy and ii gave rise to the belief that
a split had occurred among the members
Some fear was expressed in local labor cir
cleS that the action might be postpOned
until the annual convention of the fedora
ton in Boston, In November Should the
council contemplate any such action il in
said, the local Central Labor Union will
hoId special meeting and take steps to CO.
operate with the International Brotherhood
or Bookbinders, in order that the gravity of
the situation may be more forcibIy i'm
pressed upon the members of the council
President Has Not Replied.
1t is officially known that the Central La
Dor Union has not yet received from Presi-
dent Roosevelt any acknowledgment of the
receipt of the supplemental resolutions,
which were adopted last Monday evening.
requesting the President to reconsider his
open shop order and dihmiss Foreman
Miller from the service of the government
President John A Moffutt of the United
states Hatters of America, accompanied by
Secretary r. H Connolly of the Danbury,
Conn, local union. appeared before the
council this morning. for conference in
connection with the suit at-law which was
instituted against the hatters union and
the federation by a hat firm in Connecticut
Business Transacted Yesterday.
The council disposed of a great mass of
business at the sessions yesterday. I'm
mediately upon reconyening in the morning
President Gompers and Vice President
Duncan were appointed a committee to
dispute of New York city. A number of
applications for charters, which, for sew
eral reasons. were not issued by President
Gompers, were submitted to the executive
council for advice, and in that of the stone
renovators and pointers of New York fur
ther correspondence ordered The
stamp makers and allied unions of Chicago
were issued charters under the name of the
Stamp and Seal Workers Union. The ap-
plication of the sandstone planers of San
rafp tn tha 1tr.,I
Labor Union of that city for investigation
and report thereon as to the advisability Of
the issuance of the charter. The appllca-
ton for the Colored Trackmen'S Union of
New Orleans was deferred for the purpose
of correspondence with the officers of the
Brotherhood of Railway Maintenance of
Way to whether the charter should be
issued by that body or by the A. f. of l..
charter was denied to the National Die
Cutters and Makers. various branches of
that organization already come under the
jurisdiction of existing international unions
10 which they are to be transferred
The application for a charter from The
Federal Labor Union of Birmingham. Ala.
was also refused, as was the application of
the Theatrical and Scenic Artists Asso-
citation of Chicago.
The Steel and Iron Clippers and Helpers
application referred to Organizer
Flynn, and he was authorized to proceed to
St. Louis and make investigation and
report his findings.
Application for the Blue Stone Cutters
that of the International Union of Sign
Painters, the latter coming under the juris-
dction of the Brotherhood of Painters,
DECORATORS and PaperhangerS
The Submarine Divers made application
for change of name to Submarine Divers
and Tenders. which granted.
Protest Considered
In the protest of President F.. ]. Lynch
of the Metal Polishers Buffers. etc. against
the United Association of Plumbers, Gas
Filters. etc, relative to the chandelier
workers. it was ordered that the latter or
ganiza,ion be made acquainted with the
cause of the complaint, and action thereon
deferred until answer was received.
1t was decided that the Central Labor
Union of Indianapolis. Ind. be advised that
the local union of plumbers should be ac-
corded full recognition and representation
In accordance with the laws of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. This course was
also pursued in regard to the Omaha Cen
trail Labor Union relative to the local union
of musicians.
The application of the Flour and Cereal
Intn Trpfnp fnr