Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-17
IN LABOR CIRCLES
g.

&c.
The conditions in Colorado, as well as
those in the meat-packing centers, have
formed the principal topics of discussion
in local labor circles during the past week.
President Timothy Healy voiced the sentf-
ments OF the International firemen when in
his address at Typographical Temple, last
week he characterized the methods Of the
Colorado state authorities in dealing with
the miners as brutal in the extreme and
disgrace to our Wanted civilization"
Much favorable comment has been made
in the Washington trades unions upon the
reply of President Charles H. Meyer and
Secretary-treasurer William d. Haywood
of the Western Federation of Miners. to
the published explanation of Governor
James H. Peabody of Colorado Of his course
in connection with the labor troubles in
that state.
One of the governors charges was that
the press has been unfair in its comments
on the situation n Colorado. This is de-
MED by the officers of the Western Fedora
ton of Miners in their reply. They say:
THE press has not used the bare knuck-
les of denunciation, but merely the PADDED
gloves OF reluctant criticism. The shame
the reproach, the ignominy Whch tarnlsn
the fair name of Colorado lie at the door
of the executive chamber in the state capt.
toll"
In reply to Gov. Peabody's assertion
that he has waged war only against the
Western Federation of Miners and Is
friendly to other labor organizations, the
federation officers refer to the employ
ment of troops to deport coal miners
from southern Colorado and ask:
IF the Western Federation Of Miners
is the only lawless organization. then
why did the hired uniformed mob. known
= AyoAt ord
your sanction and approval, deport and
bull-pen coal miners whose national body
boasts of conservative Mitchell. and an
organization which has not as yet pro-
claimed it's; Endorsement of the principles
OF socialism? You love organized labor
so we'll that If you were governor of ILL.,
nois the people of the nation would ere
this have heard the crack of military
rifles behind the stockadeS of the pack
ing companies houses in Chicago"
1t is denied that the Western Fedora
ton of Miners has at any time attempted
to defy the courts. and the statement Is
made that "fn all the trials that have
been held in Colorado during the present
strike, where the membership has been
charged with almost every perfidy in the
catalogue of crime. a jury has brought
in q verdict of acQuittal."
1t Is claimed by the federation officers
at the close of their reply that the guilt
Of train wrecking was fastened on sal
aried detectives by the courts of Teller
county.
President Daniel J. Keefe of the Interna-
tional Longshoremen, Marine and Trans
port Workers, organization which Is
expanding to all parts Of the world. has
issued a statement on sympathetic strikes
and the necessity of strict observance of
trade agreements, which Is attracting wide
spread attention. President Keefe says:
1.-The so-called sympathetic strikes can
not be countenanced by our organization.
When deserving we can lend our aid and
moral support. Yet we must not forget
that our honor and manhood is involved in
the obligations Of our contracts and agree
ments. The influence and respect we to-
day command as an international union is
due to the fidelity and faithful perform
ance Of each and every agreement entered
into.
Labor long ago complained. and justly
So of the gross injustice practiced on them
In the past. Now when we are dignified
with the consideration and public approval
of Just cause, we can Ill afford to be
swayed by the inexperienced and unthink
Ing portion of the movement. who have but
recently been made aware of the existence
of union.
''It has taken years of patient struggle
and sacrifice to build up our organization.
and the wisdom of the best minds who
have suffered in the past contend that I'M
less the provOcatiOn is very great should
we order a sympathetic strike. The past
policy of this organization has always been
to exhaust all means to arrive at a salts
factory settlement and only when every
other means failed to strike, and then do
so with a full knowledge and appreciation
of what the contest means. and be prepar-
ed to endure all the conflict entails.
But the great secret Of the success OF
our organization has been due to our abil-
ity to meet with our employees and have
them see where our labor has merited and
Is entitled to increased wages and better
conditions.
Public sentiment is sure to be with us
If our cause Is right and deserves public
support, and our every act should be-
studied effort for its approval. Public SEN
timent today exacts that the contracts or
agreements Of labor be free, as contr acts
for commodities under fair and just agree
ment for services rendered. to the end that
the wageworker shall not be obliged to
make contracts or terms not acceptable to
him. And public sentiment will hold The
party who violates an agreement or de-
clines to resort to conciliatory methods OF
arbitration morally responsible for all the
Ill effects growing out of contest or strike"
The United Typothetae of America. COM
posed of employing printers. has declared
by resolution that 1t will resist any at
tempt on the part OF the International
Typographical Union to reduce the present
hours of labor. The typOthetae also de-
clares Its opposition to any reduction of the
ffty-four-hour week. and says under ex-
listing conditions any attempt to reduce
the hours Of labor in the printing trade
would be disastrous to the employer and
employe like
President Lynch. In his report to the re-
cent convention Of the International Typo
graphical Union at st. Louis. said he be-
lieves that when the employers become
convinced that our efforts for the shorter
workday are sincere successful confer
ence will be possible
The labor organs throughout the country
are publishing the names OF those menu
bers OF Congress who are said to have OBJ
structed the passage OF the efght-hour bill, /
which, It Is declared. II approved BY over
2.000000 wage-earners. The list Of names y