Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-05
THE OTHER SIDE.
Mr.. Schulteis Explains the Cannon
Episode Yesterday.

Star. between Speaker Cannon and Labor
Leader Schulteis created a great deal of
comment in political and labor circles
Representative Livernash last night de-
MED that Mr.. Schulteis had any authority
from him to make any requests for commit
tee assignments. Mr.. yIivernash said that
he had no NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Of the in
cident nor Of Schulteis, not being acquaint-
ed with the latter, so far as he Qivernash)
could recall. &C 3
Mr.. Schulteis' Version of Episode.
Mr. Schulteis. who is chairman of the ma
donal legislative committee, knights of
Labor, last evening gave the following
version Of his encounter with Speaker Can
non:
II called on Speaker Cannon today for
the purpose of drawing his attention to the
Endorsement by the knights of Labor of the
eight-hour and immigration bills, introduce
ed, respectively, by Senators McComas ana
Lodge. l referred to the bills by number
and stated incidentally that they showed
the deep interest which workingmen had in
these two subjects, and that acted on my
own responsibility and without the knowl-
edge or insugation of either Mr.. wynn or
Mr.. Livernash, when at a previous inter-
view with him (Mr. Cannon) 1 had taken
the liberty OF suggesting their names as
labor representatives of said committees.
the knights of Labor but did belong to
the American Federation of Labor. called
his attention to an article, printed In the
New York Times, and reprinted In other
papers, which charged that the labor COM
mittee was being formed with view to
prevent an 'eight-hour bill or other
labor legislation being reported to the
House. At this he grew furious, first at
the press and then at me, and made several
statements which misrepresented my sug-
gestions to him at the former interview.
and l promptly set him right. l never
used the word demand nor the words
packed committee nor did suggest chair
manship of committee on labor for Mr..
Livernash. 1 suggested Mr.. Livernash's
name for the committee on immigration on
account of his peculiar fitness for tnas
committee, having been the representative
Of the Federation of Labor before the I'M
migration committee during the hearings
in the last Congress.
Says Suggestions Were Respectful.
II mentioned Mr.. Wynn, who is a ma
chipist by trade. for the labor committee
because it has been customary to put bank
ers on the banking committee, lawyers on
the judiciary committee, manufacturers Oh
the committee on manufactures, &c. These
suggestions were made at my first inter
view in a most respectful manner and with
no intention to offend. / have appeared
before the committees of the House and
Senate since the passage of the alien lin
migration act In 1885, and never had an un-
pleasant word with any member or senator
except with Mr.. Cannon himself during the
Fifty-irst Congress, and then 1t was on
this same subject of eight hours
"A few of our K. of L. spelbinders ex-
ercised their American privilege of inform
ing his constituents of his views on the
eight-hour question. and one Samuel T.
Busey occupied Mr. Cannon's seat in the
Fifty-second Congress. thus creating a
hiatus which deprives him of the proud
title of father of the House. Workingmen
will look anXiously over the personnel Of
the committees on labor and immigration
because they have. a greater interest in
these committees than, any other class"