Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-26
Pursuant to instructions issued at tho hast

quarterly meeting OF the executive COUNCIL
of the American Federation OF Labor, tnat
organiza ton will be represented at the LOU
isana purchase exposition next year at 81
Louis, and IL is expected to have an ex-
hilDit that will challenge the admiration OF
all who inspect It. The federation was an
exhibitor al the worlds fair exposition In
Paris in 1870, and was awarded first prize
"a handsome gold medal This medal IL
highly priced by organized labor generally,
and with the hope of gaining more laurels.
the exhibit. upon the conclusion OF the
worlds fair in France, was removed TO the
Pan-American exposition at Buffalo In i9Ol.
The officials of the exposition did not pro-
vide any prizes for such exhibits, and nat
urally the display by labor unions of the
country did not receive recognition there
1t is the desire of President Gompers and
other officials of the federation to make up
an exhibit for the Louisiana purchase ex-
position that will surpass that entered in
either the Paris or Buffalo fairs. The task
of arranging a collection that will be able
to command attention is one Of great mag
nitude and requires considerable time.
President Gompers had intended to tackle
the task earlier IN the year. but pressure OF
business has caused him to lay the matter
aside. He has however. given the proposed
exhibit some attention lately and will de-
vote more time to 1t soon.
In order that the interest Of the entire
membership of organized labor may be
evoked into the project the federation pur-
poses to procure from every international.
rational and local organization some sort OF
a contribution to the exhibit. As there are
about a hundred international organiza-
tons affiliated with the federation, 1t Is
clear that contribution from these alone
will make up neat display that Will re-
quire considerable space in the hall to be
allotted to competitors.
The exhibits of the federation at Buffalo
and Paris consisted of complete set Of the
proceedings of the convention of the organ
ization. literature on economies, the method
Of bookkeeping in vogue among labor Or
ganizatiOns, a lengthy description OF the
operation and management Of such bodies,
and the like. Such an exhibit. however, 1t
is understood. will not be considered @ cir
cumstance compared with the display to be
laid before the people Of the country at st.
Louis next year.
The order Of President Roosevelt relative
to the status of organized labor under the
government was. in the opinion of labor
officials, the outcome of the controversy be-
tween Local Union No. 4. OF the Brother
hood Of Bookbinders and Assistant Fore
man William A. Miller of the government
printing office. The ruling of the Presi-
dent reinstating Foreman Miller to the Of
fee he held prior to his dismissal. which
followed his expulsion from the bOOkbind
ers union the labor leaders concede was in
accordance with the civil service laws. At
the same time, 1t is argued, President
Roosevelt ordered the reinstatement on a
one-sided story and before he had heard
the actual facts in the case. as made public
by the local union since Miller's restoration
to duty.
The Presidents action in the Miller con-
troversy, it Is pointed out, did not, except
in an indirect way. concern organized labor
generally. but his order to the heads of the
various departments was of great impor-
tance to trades unionism.
In support of his declaration that the ex-
ecutive order was unjust. a labor leader
pointed out that in almost every profession
men are bound together by ties of organi-
zation and fraternity. and that unless they
are members of such societies are not al
lowed to practice their vOcat-Ons AS an
illustration, it is explained that to practice
law a man must attend school for a term
of four years and Is compelled to undergo
a rigid examination, after graduation. be-
fore he can practice before the courts.
Again, a minister has to be ident. fed w tn
ecclesiastical bodies before he is given a
charge.
These things the labor leader urged are
never taken into consideration. If several
union working men gather at a meeting to
induce Their fellowworkers to join the
union. 1t was added, they are termed con-
spirators and anarchists. Under the con-
workmen applicants for admission to the
union are required to have served an ap-
premiership. This apprenticeship, 1t is ex-
planned. is analogous to the four years of
training professional men receive at col
lege. The question is then asked: IF pro-
fesstonal men are required to affiliate with
societies before they are permitted to earn
a livelihood why should wOrkingmen not
belong to like organizations before they
are allowed to work at their trade
from this city as to the standing of the
negro in the organized labor movement in
the south has caused considerable COM
ment in local labor circles. 1t is known
that the American Federation of Labor
has. during the past year. exerted itself to
more thoroughly organize the workngmen
of the southern states. but up to this time
the race question has not figured in the
movement.
The officials of the American Federation
of Labor hesitate to discuss any phase of
the race question with regard to its rela
ttonship to organized labor, but 1t Is under
stood that any attempt to discriminate
against colored wOrkmen In the movement
would meet with serious opposition by the
federation. Such action which 1t Is earn
estly hoped will not become necessary.
would be based upon that section of the
constitution OF the federation which spe-
officially sets forth that every competent
workmen. irrespective Of his color. nation
atty, sect, etc. shall be eligible to mem
bership to organizations which have juris-
dicton over his particular calling
President Samuel Gompers of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor arrived in WASH
ington Monday evening from Chicago. ILL.,.
and after visiting the headquarters of the
federation and his family for a few hours.
left Immediately for New York to confer
with the labor leaders Of that city on sew
eral important matters. Mr.. G0mpers will
return to this city the latter part of the
week.
The regular quarterly session OF the ex-
ecutive council of the American Federation
Of Labor viii be held in this city, beginning
September u. This session of the council
1t is understood. will be OF much impor-
lance, as. 1t is thought the labor congress
sional program Will be framed at that time
The members of the executive board of
the International Association Of Machinists
returned to this city from New York city
Sunday and left Immediately for their re-
spective homes in various parts of the
United States. A conference with the Man
ufacturers Association Of Greater New
York with view to settling the existing
marine machinists' strike in that city was
the purpose of their mission to the metro
polls They were. however. unable to OBJ
tain conference with the employers The
striking machinists are out for s. mini