Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-26
CENTRAL LABOR UNION
"open Shop" Denounced at a Smoker
Last Night.

Inc delicate and, to many conseryati five
leadefs, embarrassing relationship of poli-
tics In general to the open shop" contro-
versy was clearly defined last evening at
the smoker of the Central Labor Union to
It's delegates and its friends, and working
men Of the city. The open Shop, was
the announced theme of the evening.
PRESIDENT Roosevelt was often referred
TO. Ills action in declaring that there
snail be no discrimination between the
union ana non-union workers in the gov
eminent printing office, nor, in fact, any
department of the government was fresh
in the mind of the vast assemblage which
taxed the capacity of the hall 1t was
clearly shown that the assemblage and
the working people it represented. were a
unit In the opinion that the President has
placed great obstacle in the path of or
ganized labor by his attitude in the con-
troVerSy.
The assemblage was visibly democratic
IN its political sentiments. The boom of
enthusiastically indorsed He was re-
ferred to 'as the friend-tred and proven
of the working classes" and his praises
were sung by practically every person in
attendance.
The speakers of the evening were Rep
resentative Clarence d. Van Duzer of Ne
vada. and President McNulty and Secre-
Treasurer Harry Sherman of the In
ternational Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. Letters expressing regret for
inability to accept an invitation to address
the assemblage were received from Repre-
sentatives Hearst and Shobert Of New
York and Livernash of California. Mr.. r.
G. M. Ross presided.
Representative Van Duzer, who was
elected to the House by the Union labor
vote of Nevada, prefaced his address with
review Of the general labor movement
He made a reference to the action of Pres
ident Roosevelt and warned his auditors
4 n~itx to-. 1T
the wake Of that official reputation of
organized labor is purposed to undermine
the labor unions of the country. He char
acterized the attitude of the President as
a hammer with which the capitalists and
employers are now attempting to extermi-
nate union labor. ,,~ o.s
IF you wish" continued Nj. Van Duzer
ito have laws placed upon the statute
books of the country thatowills govern the
trusts and likewise the Organization of
employers and give the laboring people the
same rights in the courts as capitalists
you must stand together This is neces-
sary if the perpetuity of organized labor is
to be maintained. teg
"You must fight your battle, by persua-
sion. I recognize the fact that capital and
labor both have rights. But you need not
fear for the rights of the capitalistic ele-
ment; the men composing those circles are
ever watchful. ard always act in proper
time to guard their interests Therefore.
the laboring people must look after their
rights. You have but one duty to perform.
namely. to stand up for your rights
Mr.. Van Duzer. in concluding his re-
marks. scored David M Parry, declaring
that 1T was apparently the purpose of his
life to enlarge the gap between capital and
labor. The speaker made mention of sew
eral bills pending before Congress. He ex-
planned that the labor people must and
should know that they can secure redress
from their oppression only through the use
of the ballot. No man, said the speaker,
should be allowed to prove himself traitor
to the cause of organized labor more than
once. Mark your friends and stand by
them, the representative urged his auditors.
Mr.. Van Duzer spoke at some length rela-
tive to Mr.. Hearst as a friend Of labor.
President McNulty and Secretary H. w.
Sherman of the electrical workers spoke
more particularly of the effect OF the .open
shop" policy In their trade. 1t is the para
mount issue before the labor people, Mr..
Sherman declared. Continuing, he said that
the action of President Roosevelt was a
signal to thousands of employers to adopt
a like policy in their private establishments.
The employers, said Mr.. Sherman. will
never succeed in destroying the labor
unions. The movement has become too
strong, and its future success is assured.