Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-18
VIGILANCE OF LABOR
Will Watch the Coming Ses-
sion of Congress.
LEGISLATION DESIRED
REPRESENTATIvE-ELECT LIVER
NASH ON CERTAIN MEASURES.
Tells How Resentment at the Polls
May Be Averted Cites Defeat Of
Loud-Presidential Candidates.

l
Representative-elect Edward J. Iivernash
of San Francisco. Cal. is at the Shoreham.
Mr.. Livernash was elected to a seat in Con-
| gress as representative of union labor re-
| ceiving the joint vote the union labor
| and democratic candidate His nomination
| for this office and election indicate how the
| best laid plans fail by the influence Of
| events which could not have been antici-
pated.
| How He Came to Congress.
| MI Llvernash is newspaper man. At
sixteen years of age he turned his thoughts
| 10 Journalism and became reporter. He
studied law merely to better fit himself for
| ms CHOSEN profession. Newspaper and lit
| erary work has ever since engrossed his
| ume. AS reporter and editor he always
look an active part in politics, but never
| with the idea that he would ever become a
| candidate for any political Office He was
| tnree times offered nominations for Con-
| gress, but never considered abandoning his
| CHOSEN work, believing that he could be
| more influential in that than If he should
occupy seat in Congress.
over a year ago Mr.. Livernash deter
! mlhed TO take two years vacation from
.ne newspaper held for the purpose of en-
| saglng in literary work that had been
| Planned for some time. While abroad he
rented house in Florence. where he pro-
| posed to live during the two years of his
vacation. lie had been in close touch with
| the interests of union labor in San Franz
cisco, and just at that time there was a
| demand for some one to come here to OBJ
| tain congressional action on a Chinese Inn
migration Dill that was wanted by the
| union labor interests of the Pacific coast
Mr L1VernaSh agreed to act in that ca
| paclty for these interests when asked to
| do so. believing that it would cause but a
very short delay in his departure abroad
The Dill that was finally passed was un-
| satisfactory to the labor interests of San
Francisco and in order to rebuke Congress
| they proposed to send back as a represen-
tative the very man whose appeals for
| their measure had been turned down. In
| that way Mr. Livernash was nominated on
the union labor ticket, and again the demo-
Gratis nominated Kim. The Joint vote
| elected him in a district that was strongly
| republican. Now he looks forward to the
time when he will return to his chosen
work at the end of two years.
/ When seen by a Star reporter today Mr.
Lfvernash talked briefly of the legislation
that is desired by the Pacific states from
! the viewpoint Of strong sympathizer with
| union labor.
Little Legislation Desired
1.-The people of the Pacific states" said
! Mr.. Livernash, $50 far as 1 have studied
their opinion, hope that the Fifty-eighth
Congress will legislate very little-for they
fear the sort of legislation which precedes
presidential election
Tariff changes are desired, but not rad
| ical changes and nothing that can set up
such general agitation may destroy or
even seriously disturb business certainty.
I'm the same way legislation is desired in
the matter of competition-destroying trusts;
but in the absence of further information
nothing extreme.
"OrganiZed labor there as elsewhere is
strong and aggressive in wishing the adop-
ton of the American Federation of Labors
| anti-injunction and eight-hour bills. and
such amendment of the Chinese-exclusion
act, or such independent legislation as shall
prevent the employment of Chinese seamen
In American ships. 1t will not do for Con-
gress to go on sidetracking reasonable labor
bills. If the anti-injunction bill and the
eight-hour measure are again dealt with as
by the last two Congresses, the party in
power may expect to feel the resentment
of the working classes in the presidential
election. There has been too much Jug
Cling. too much evasion. Labor is not at
all deceived. We must have the just things
we seek, or there will be rebuke in the
vote cast next year-a rebuke from work.
ingmen throughout the country.
Retirement Of Loud.
"That labor can vote in rebuke, the re-
tirement of Mr.. Eugene Loud from Con-
gress abundantly proves. Mr.. Loud's con-
gressional district had been gerryman-
dered that the self-satisfied Californian be-
lieved himself in Office for life, willy nilly.
He turned his back on organized labor
and openly sided with corporations and the
money lords. AS chairman of the House
committee on post offices and post roads he
had only favors for the powerful railway
and steamship concerns and publicly op-
posed the efforts of the letter carriers to
better their own condition.
We'll, labor grew intolerant of Mr..
Loud's active fOrgetfuness of the shoe
makers bench, whence he had risen. and
los NnXrav hoy sfniS ,ndo &c
congressional career. l fancy he will never
again represent California in the councils
of the nation, though doubtless he is a
gentleman of much ability great force Of
character and personal honesty. His sue
cessor William Wynne, comes straight
from the ranks of the workers, being a
practical machinist.
Attitude Toward the President
"You ask me about the President. He is
popular in the west and his visit this year
gave him some new strength; but a good
many of the labor people are uncertain as
to him, and watchful, SO that the future Is
by no means sure, since his hold upon the
hearts of men has at no time been so Sc
cure as was McKinleys. Much will de-
pend on his course during the long session
of the Fifty-eighth Congress.
Hearst? Well, ] have no doubt at all
that the Pacific states will send Hearst
delegates to the next democratic national
convention. Judge Parker, Senator Cor
man, former Senator Hill and Mayor Har-
rison aren't seriously considered in the
west as democratic presidential possbili-
ties. The west is for Hearst. Nobody be-
lieves the mention. of Grover Cleveland to
be in earnest out there, SO far as l know.
Mark you, I'm not of the set devoted to
disrespect of Mr.. Cleveland. On the con-
trary, l regard him the greatest demo-
crat since Jackson, and / cordially con-
denim the almost vulgar extremes to which
some anti-Cleveland have gone in
manifesting disapproval of his character
and influence. But don't believe In disre-
garding facts and the fact is that there is
no demand for Cleveland in the west" \
f Movements Of Naval Vessels
Dan e.