Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-08

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days after the signing Of the agreement in
the District of Columbia a similar agree
ment was made in New York, which puts
an end to labor troubles of the past two
months in that city
we wish the public to understand that
the TWO associations to the agreement In
tend to work along the lines of peacefully
settling all labor disputes, and stand ready
at all times to take up the dispute Of mat
tiers whether the parties thereto are affil-
lated with these associations or not.
There is much unrest among the en-
ployes of the Washington navy yard over
the recent awards in pay made by the naval
board of the Navy Department, and there
is likelihood that the matter will not be
allowed to rest. 1t is pointed out that the
increase of 5 per cent granted several of
the crafts of the navy yard does not bring
the rate of pay up to that paid in outside
esta blishments. 1t is also declared that the
reason the Navy Department does not re-
ceive any applications in reply to adver-
tiSements for machinists, ETC., for the navy
is because of the low rate of pay.
OF late there have been many consulta-
tons among the labor officials interested,
and plan of action has, it is said, been
laid out. Within the near future, it is I'M
derstood. President James OConnell of the
International Association of Machinists will
call on Mr.. Moody, Secretary Of the Navy.
with reference to the decision of the naval
wage board. Should no redress be found
In that quarter 1t is proposed that every
craft represented in the local navy yard
Shall elect representative, who will be in
structed to proceed to Oyster Bay. N. Y,
and lay the matter before President Roose-
welt. In case 1t is found that the President
can do nothing to better conditions the in
ternational unions of each representative
Will become a unit and carry the matter be-
fore Congress. as soon as that body recon-
venes.
1t is urged that it is unjust to the work
men to have naval officers, who are not in
any way connected with the navy yard.
preside on a board which fixes the rate of
pay Of every craftsman employed there.
Such naval officers, it is averred do not
understand the work performed and,
through lack of knowledge. are not compe-
tent to decide the maximum or minimum
of fair rate of pay. 1t Is the purpose of
the labor officials to make an attempt to
have the naval officers attached to the yard
sit as members of the naval wage board in
the future, as they alone understand and
know what the workmen there should re-
ceive for their labor.
So far as can be learned nothing further
has been accomplished by the labor officials
In the matter of procuring an increase in
the pay of the copper plate engravers of
the United States geological survey. The
report of Director Walcott relative to the
dissatisfaction among the plate engravers,
which was called for by Secretary Hitch
cock, at the instance of President RoOse-
welt, was submitted to the Interior Depart
ment several weeks ago.
When seen by a Star reporter Director
WalcOtt declined to divulge the result of
his investigation, and said that anything
bearing upon the matter would have to
come from Secretary Hitchcock. Up to this
time Secretary Hitchcock. however has not
deemed it proper to make public the report.
Reports received In this city are to the
erect that the Employers Association OF
I,pe t,.., 80
to have all city ordinances which are par
tial to organized labor repealed. 1t Is re-
cited that one OF the laws which Is appar-
emily thorn in the side Of the employers
placed on printed matter paid for by the
city and the letting of printing contracts
only to firms employing union labor exclu-
sively. The employers also object to the
eight-hour law now enforced by the city
administration. and also desire that the
law requiring engineers to pass an exami-
nation before a board composed of union
men before they can receive a license be
revoked.
The recent structures alleged to have been
made by Mr.. Clarence 8. Darrow. who fig
ured prominently as counsel for the United
Mine Workers before the recent anthracite
arbitration commission. upon trades unions,
is causing some concern among the labor
leaders of the country. President Samuel
Gompers of the American Federation Of
Labor was one of the first to take cogni-
zance of Mr.. Darrows remarks. Some lead
ers state that the remarks of Mr. Darrow
have precipitated a controversy. and with
this view they are awaiting developments.
Referring to the address of Mr.. Darrow.
President Gompers said Mr.. barrow made
some very strong, but unjustifable, stric-
lures upon trades unions, and. coming from
him. the press conspicuously published his
statement and the article he wrote in elab-
grafton Of the opinions he first expressed.
I'VE have no quarrel with Mr.. Darrow,"
continued Mr.. Gompers. 'On the contrary.
we entertain high regard for him and
great appreciation OF his attainments: but
we must emphatically protest against the
newspapers taking his statement coming
from one qualified to speak in the name Of
the trade union movement. We have no
hesitancy in believing that Mr.. Darrow's
sympathies lie with labor; that as an at
torney he Is learned, profound and elo-
quent: that his conduct of the investigation
before the anthracite coal strike commits
sion in defense OF the miners contention
and his closing arguments were both ex-
cellent and eloquent; but we must insist
that Mr.. Darrow can in no wise be regard
ed as a spokesman for the labor move
ment or that he Is f. member thereof
1t may be interesting for Mr.. barrow to
know that in the prize debate held at the
Columbian University. at Washington. D.
C., within the last few weeks, the debaters
Labor is Correct in Principle approvingly
quoted him in opposition to the arguments
advanced by the affirmative. Mr.. OAR
row says that workingmen in order to
gain an increase In wages organize and
limit production.
Now. as a matter of fact. no one could
have shot farther from the mark and from
the truth than Mr.. barrow has in this
statement. 1t Is true that some working
men may have limited their productiveness.
but the unions as such have not done so;
and even conceding that these is some ele-
ment of truth in the implied charge that
working men limit their production, no one
before has ever charged that this was used
as a means to increase wages. The fact
of the matter is that Mr.. barrow has con-
fused the movement to reduce the hours
of labor with what he erroneously claims
to be limitation of production. And he
knows or ought to know that reducing the
hours Of daily labor has not and does not
limit but on the contrary increases. pro-
ductiOn.
1.-The fact of the matter is that the VI
cious antagonists to, organized labor have
SO often repeated the baseless charge Of
limiting production that many men, other
wise Intelligent. are deluded into believing
end ignorantly repeating the charge.
Another matter with which Mr.. Darrow
deals shows conclusively his utter nnscon-
ception. not only Of the labor movement.
but Of the first principles OF economics
He says: