The St. Louis Republic., 1903-09-25
Executive Committee of Ameri-
can Federation Refers Miller
Controversy.
FAvORs MODERATE POLICY.
Members Believe That Organized
Labor Should Take Less Ag.
gressive Position on "Open
Shop" Question.

Washington. Sept. 2i-Indorsement of
the protest which the Central Labor
Union of Washington has sent to Presi-
dent Roosevelt on account of his attitude
toward trade unions in the Miller con-
troversy. will be withheld by the Execu-
tive Council of the American Federation
of Labor and a less aggressive position
will be suggested to the Federation Con-
vention when 1t meets in Boston in No
vember.
Confirmation OF this decision was OBJ
tanned tonight from two members OF the
council.
While the refusal Of the American
Federation to indorse the resolutions of
August "a may be taken as a concession
on the part OF organized labor. members
of the local unions declare such is not the
case. The central bodies. in the strong
holds of labor organizations. continue to
adopt resolutions disappearing the Presi-
dents attitude on the subject of "open
shop and the result cannot be known un-
til the administration meets the question
at the polls.
II Is said by members that the unions
will not ask the adoption of any resolu-
tions pledging nonsupport OF Roosevelt
but the interests OF union labor as 1t Is
concerned with national politics will be
clearly defined before the election Mem
bers of the local committee OF bookbind-
ers, which has had charge of the cam
paign against Miller. have received an In
TINA ton of the action which Is to be
taken by the Executive Council. but no
one of them was willing to discuss it. It
Is declared. however. that they are salts
fiee with the programme.
MAY REQUEST A HEARING.
This il construed to mean that the con-
troyersy has been placed absolutely with
the American Federation. and 1t Is be-
lieyed that the outcome will be request
on the part of the federation for con-
ference with the President.
The President, 1t was said tonight, had
not asked for a conference on the ques-
ton, but had given labor leader, pre-
sumably John Mitchell. to understand that
he would grant a meeting If they should
request It.
James W. Daugherty Of New York. sec
retary of the International Union of Book
binders. who laid the matter before the
Executive Council yesterday, has waited
at his hotel ali day for some response,
but was not called into conference 1t Is
understood that ne will meet with the
council tomorrow forenoon and will then
return to New York.
Mr.. Daugherty was seen tonight and
asked for his views as to the outcome OF
the controversy. He declared that the at
tention attracted to the case was far be-
yond the anticipation Of any members Of
his union, and that the notoriety had
Prejudiced the cause of labor In a manner
he depIored. The question Mr. Daughetty
desired to make clear was that the inter
national Union has always frowned upon
suggestions of strikes among Government
employees.
LABOR MISREPRESENTED.
The International Unien," he said. has
refused from the first to sanction strikes
In Government offices. That would not
be allowed. no matter what the outcome
OF the controversy. Neither have threats
been made against the administration.
FROM the first, our position has been mis-
understood.
1T is true that We disapprove of the at.
titude Of President Roosevelt on the ques-
lion Of organized labor as shown by his
letter reinstatins Millet. but we have been
done an injustice In the comments made
as to our plans of defeating the Presi-
dents purpose.
i cannot say what percentage or organ
lied labor will express disapproval at the
polls. but would suggest that every man
map out his own course In this matter,
whether he Is member of q union or not
That Is the dignified way of meeting the
situation. and Is the course which would
be followed by bodies other than labor
The only public announcement made by
the Federation officials was statement
given out late tonight that the Executive
Council has appointed a subcommittee to
which the case Of the President and the
unions was referred for further considera-
tion. The makeup of the committee
;ould not be learned. but IL Is thought
they will make their final report to the |
convention in Boston.
Now, IL any conference is held with |
President Roosevelt, it Is thought that |
President Gompers and John Mitchell will |
be among those representing the unions. |
Resolutions indorsing President Roose- |
velt as a friend of labor and eondemning |
The protest which Is now pending before |
the Executive Council of the American |
Federation have been adopted by fac
ton of the Knights of Labor. as reported |
IN Pittsburg dispatches. The meeting at
which the resolutions were adopted was
attended BY four officers OF one of the fac
lions in the knights OF Labor. Simon
Burns of Pittsburg. Henry A. Hicks.
Thomas A. Canning and John Ferneau.
The men mentioned obtained an injunc-
ion some time ago against the other fac
ion of the order. but this was dissolved
IN September 16. and officers here say the
men adopting the resolutions have no
;tanding with the Knights of Labor.
Members Of this organization said tonight
hat the Miller controversy Is not their
lght and they will take no part in It,