Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-02

The headquarters Oh. sae AIneiicau GU
Grafton of Labor In this city rs scene or
great activity. President Samuel Gompers
and Secretary Frank Morrison have been
at their desks almost continuously since
their return from the annual convention in
Boston. Mass giving attention TO papers
and documents which accumulated during
their absence from the city As soon as
this work is completed PRESIDENT Gompers.
assisted by First Wee President James
Duncan; Third vfe& President James
O'Connell and Secretary Morrison, will be-
gin the work of formulating the congress
sional labor program.
1t is expected that President Gompers
will within the next ten days complete
consideration of matters upon which con-
gressional legislation is desired. The bills
will then be presented to the members OF
tie executive council of the federation, the
quarterly session of which will begin at
| the headquarters in this city the 14th in
slant. At that time also all matters re-
ferred to the council by the late convention
will be finally acted upon, together with
any grievances controversies, ETC.. which
have originated since the adjournment Of
| the annual meeting.
President Gompers stated to reporter OF
| The Star that he was highly gratified with
| the work of the recent session of the fed
Grafton. and paid high tribute to the dele
| gates who were in attendance.
THE twenty-third annual convention,
| Mr. Gompers declared, was the greatest
meeting IN the history of the labor move
ment of the world. | might make it
| stronger and say that 1t was the greatest
convention of men ever held; and when
| say men 1 have in mind the annual ses-
| sions of all organizations. whether COM
posed of employers or employees.
There were nearly 800 delegates in at
tendance. representing the organized labor
movement in all parts under the jurisdic-
nf ha ion, of nh
Those men handled the greatest problems
confronting the people today-the bread
and-butter problem Their decisions were
characterized by wisdom and their argu-
ments were marked by high degree of in
tellect. The deeorum of the assemblage-
of course. the model of decorum is found
in Congress-will stand comparison with
any body of men which ever gathered to
deliberate upon timely, Matters
Secretary Treasurer James Duncan of
the Granite Cutters National Union, who
is also first vice president of the American
erection of the proposed union depot of
Bethel granite, the white granite found at
Bethel. Vt. In his opinion, no wiser decis-
ion could be reached by the engineers in
charge of the construSNon of the mammoth
depot than to agree upon the Bethel stone.
Builders in general, Ann granite cutters
In particular. he said s'wbether employers
the reeent nns ~ n e
in The Evening StaHt rsiative to the sug-
gestion of the engineers ahd architects in
charge of the Union station to build that
structure of the almost ptfte white granite
plentifully found at Bethel Vt, and in
building centerS knoWh as tBethel granite
A specimen of the granite in it's rough
ana natural teafrcm itherquarry in ques-
ton Is now in my office and In appearance
agrees with the official announcement of
the architects about the almost pure whites
ness of the stone when finished with the
sisna j. cutters ut abs quality Of the
who have been employed stpon 1t agreeing
that in working qualisy tsis on a par with
the famous Milford (NAss) pink granite,
t Tsii b,s is so well and Norably known in
In connection with his@comments on the
Bethel granite Mr.. Duncan stated that
there would not be the beast trouble ex-
pertenced in obtaining granite cutters to
cut the stone forth union depot or all
the other proposed buildings. referring
to the condition of the trade he said the
craft is prosperous. The recent inventions
Tor cutting have so Increased the orna-
mental Qualities of granite that there Is a
general demand for caryers Granite. he
said. has heretofore been consfdereds "a he
nqt an ornamental building material.
All arrangements have been perfected for
the memorial exercises to be held next Sum
day afternoon at Typographical hall under
the auspices of the Columbia Typographical
Union, No. 101. President Joseph M
Johnson will preside The addresses of the
occasion VIII be delivered by President
Samuel Gompers of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and Representative Edward
U. Livernash of California;. Representatives
Wynne. also of California, and c. D. Van
Du2er OF Nevada. together with other
MEMBERS OF Congress who owe their cleo
ton to the union labor vote have been in
vited to attend the services
The Amalgamated Sheet Metal Workers
Local Union. No. 1O2, of the Interna tional
Alliance and the Reavis Cornfce COMPANY
are at odds as an outcome of the sympathy
strike Of the building trades on the local
buildings OF which Mr.. Francis Duhey is
contractor and Mr.. T. r. Schneider is arch
>itect When the sympathetic strike was
ordered the Reavis Company, which has
the sheet metal and cornice work on the
anected buildings. locked out the members
OF the local union, 1T is said. 1t is ex-
pected. however. that the difficulty will be
adjusted in the near future
MT Fred Fletcher has rendered his resig-
nation as business agent of the Inter-
national Association of Machinists for the
District of Columbia and the surrounding
country: The local lodges of the machin-
ISIS VIII. az their next meeting, consider
the advisability of maintaining a regular
business agent.
The local branch Of the Granite Cutters
Ndtioudi Union Is dissatisfied with the
labor conditions affecting the construction
OF the union depot 1t is stated that a
large percentage of the workmen employed
In the work are non-union men, and that
they work more than ten hours a day.
Messrs. James OGrady of London and
William Mullin of Manchester. British fra
ternai delegates to the twenty-third an
nual convention OF the American Federation
of Labor. spent several days of last week
IN this city Vice President P. j. Conlon
OF the International Association Of Ma
chinists took charge OF the visitors and
pointed out the sights" The delegates
VIII sail for England tief 18th instant.
The British government has appointed
commission to inquire into the alleged
physical deteriorationpof the working class.
-, ne supJeet was brought up in parliament
board of education. '1whieh declares that
6O.ooo children now attending the schools
are physically unfit The director of the
army medical service reports that one out
Of every three offered. recruits is unfit, yet
the standard has bedF lowered there sew
eral times in fifty years. .dEnsufficient food.