Evening star., 1903-10-14
IN LABOR CIRCLES
Go

1 means dormant IL is known tnat the III
| titude of President Roosevelt on the ques-
| ton is the topic of much discussion and
correspondence between the officials of the
| administration and the labor leaders direct
| 1y involved. 1t is the prevailing opinion
| among local trade unionists that the "open
| shop controversy will be finally acted
| upon, in so far as organized labor is con-
cerned, at the annual convention of the
| American Federation of Labor, which will
| convene in Boston. Mass, the 9th of next
| month.
| The officials of the American Federation
| of Labor. like those of Local Union No.
| of the International Brotherhood of
| Pookbinders and the government, continue
| their reticence as to the reinstatement Of
| Foreman w. A. Miller at the government
| printing office. or upon any phase of the
"open shop policy of the administration
| When inquiries are made as to the latest
| developments in the controversy, the ques-
| ton Is passed up and the conversation Is
| diverted to other topics upon which those
| approached will allow themselves to be
| quoted.
The non-committal attitude of the officials
| of the Federation of Labor is due to the
| ironclad rule enforced by President Com
perS. who insists that matters of such a
| character must not be discussed lest the
| ganiZa ton might become more involved
| politically. The officials admit that the
| controversy has already entangled the fed
|
| pointed out that should the federation take
| further action in the controversy at this
| time it would be taken q declaration IN
| favor of the democratic party. This view,
! 1t is said, is taken by the officials Of the
! administration. and for that reason they
| are equally non-committal.
Within the past few days Vice President
Glocking and Secretary James w. Dough-
| erty of the International Brotherhood of
| Bookbinders held conference with Secre'
| tary Cortelyou of the Department of Labor
| and Commerce. Neither Secretary Cortel-
| you. Vice President Checking nor Secre-
| tary Dougherty gave out any information
| as to the conference. The labor represent
atives mentioned, 1t is understood will
| make a full report to President Tatum CT
| the international organization, who will
| make public any further developments in
| the Miller case. If he deems such action
| eXpedient.
The local Central Labor Union, which
| circulated the resolutions declaring Presi-
| dent Roosevelt antagonistic and unfriendly
| to the labor movement. at the same time
asking him to modify his "open shop de-
csion and order the removal of Foreman
W. A. Miller from the government service
| to promote the efficiency Of that service,
| will be represented at the annual conVen"
| ton of the federation In Boston.
Although there Is a diversity of opinion
| in the union as to whether the body has
proceeded wisely in the controversy, the
| members. as a whole, it Is stated are de-
| cdedly in favor of maintaining the posi-
| ton they have taken toward Mr.. Roosevelt.
| not as President of the United States but
| as an individual. 1t is said there will be
no attempt to hedge and that the dele-
gates will grasp the first opportunity to
| bring the matter to the attention of the CEN
| vention. No matter which one of the can
| didates for the delegateship is chosen. he
will, 1t is said, be instructed to proceed
before the convention along lines already
laid down by the local central body.
For short time following his alleged
declaration that If the open shop con-
troversy went far to leave him to
choose between his labor union and his
was considerable talk. it is stated, as to
whether Mr.. w. S. Whitmore could be
removed by impeachment from the presl-
dency of Local Union No - of the In
ternational StereotyperS' Union. Mr..
Whitmore is a Stanch republican ana
does not hesitate to say that, as the re-
publican party obtained him his appoint
ment in the government service, he Will
not desert it. Mr.. Whitmore is very pop
ular among the members of the stereo-
typers union, and has served two terms
active in the local labor movement and is
regarded by many as conservative
leader.
Secretary Charles w. Winslow of the
Central Labor Union has returned to the
city from Kansas City. where he attend
ed the annual convention of the lnterna-
tional bridge and structural fronwork-
ers as delegate of the local union of that
organization. Mr.. Winslow was lnstru-
mental in having the international union
adopt n resolution providing for afhlla-
ton with the American Federation OF
Labor He was elected delegate to rep
resent the international body at the COM
ing convention of the federation.
President Harry w. Sherman presided
at the last meeting of the Central Labor
Union for the first time in many weeks,
having been in attendance at the general
convention of the International Brother
>Iac ctrT lxar at La
City, Utah. In addition TO being re-elect-
ed secretary treasurer, he was chosen as
one of the delegates to the convention or
the federation
Vice President George B. Squiers of the
International Protective Association of
Retail Clerks, who recently resigned his
position at the headquarters OF the
American Federation of Labor to accept
the appointment as organizer or the
first named association, has left WASH
ington for Pittsburg. Pa, where he Will
enter upon his new duties
Mr. j. T. Hickey. general organizer of
the International Union of Walters and
Restaurant Employees and the Bartend-
ers' League, spent several days or last
week in Washington. for the purpose Of
taking steps looking to the organization
of a union among the local cooks, walt
erS, etc.
President James O'Connell of the In
ternational Association of Machln1sts
left washington yeSlcId ~ deeChN NV
meeting of the National Civic Federation
of Labor at Chicago. Incidentally, Mr.
O'ConneII will confer with the repre-
sentatives of the metal and machine in
dustries of that section of the country,
with a view of obtaining further agree
ments with the employers.
MIR. OConnell returned to washington
Monday from Buffalo. N: Y. whittier he
had been to effect an adjustment In the
strike of the machinists of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad Company. He was. how
ever. unsuccessful. and the strike re-
mains in force. The strikers. according
to President OConnell. went out for the
reinstatment of certain shop stewards,
who. 1t Is charged. were dismissed pc
cause of their activity In labor analrs.
The company denies this charge, and de-
clares that the stewards were lald on IN
the reduction Of the force of workmen
The officials of the system agreed to re-
irstate the strikers but refuse to give
mr. eference to suspended stewards when
the force is increased later on.
The local unions Of the International AS
sociatto of Machinists directly concerned
in the strike of the machinists at Pitts
burg Pa against the Westinghouse Elec-
trical and Machine Company are consider
ing the advisability of returning to work,
- ~ tho Same time placing the firm