Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-02
IN LABOR CIRCLES
60
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The officials of the American Federation
of Labor, it is claimed, recently came into
possession of confidential letter and cir
cular of the National Association of Manu-
facturers of the United States Of America.
OF which David NJ. Parry is president.
With the assistance of the letter, the MEM
bers Of the legislative committee Of the
federation will explain to the members OF
the committee on judiciary of the House Of
Representatives why they are being flooded
with petitions and letters from employers
associations and employers generally
throughout the country requesting further
hearings and postponement of hearings on
the anti-injunction bill, which is now in the
hands of the House committee.
The labor leaders anticipate that MIR.
Parry's organization. supported by similar
associations, will make strong effort to
defeat the passage of the bill by repeated
postponements. Several postponements
have already been granted by the judiciary
committee in accordance with requests
from employers stating that they desire to
officials of the federation have learned.
were inspired by confidential letters similar
to that which has come into their hands
within the past few days. The next meet
ing OF the judiciary committee will be held
the ODD and 23d instants. At that time the
letter mentioned will be handed to the
members of the committee for their con-
sideration. with request that further post
pOnement of the final hearing be denied.
1t is known that the National Association
OF Manufacturers has petitioned members
OF Congress to vote for the defeat of the
bill when reported. The association has
gone further, and has caused the members
of the judiciary committee to receive -peti-
tons and personal letters from manufac-
turers in their respective districts urging
each to vote against reporting the bill
favorably to the House.
The alleged confidential letter of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers bears
the signature Of Marshall Cushing, secre-
tary of the association. The letter. in part,
follows:
1.-THE Gompers- Mitchell anti-injunction
Dill is even now under discussion by the
House Judiciary committee at Washington
1t is being pressed harder than ever before
by the labor lobby there-whiche wants i'm
mun1ty, of course, from punishment for vio-
lence. 1t wants one kind of law for one
class and another kind-or lack of it-for
themselves 1t really means free conspiracy
and free riot in its last analysis.
We want to ask you to help US beat this
bill. While the House committee reported
the bill last year, it may be dissuaded from
such course in view of the sensitive, not
to say dangerous. industrial conditions -ex-
listing at present.
please notice enclosed circular contain
ing suggestion or two Still, If you will
write to member of the judiciary commit
tee OF the House as you think and feel and
Will make 1T strong. and will write again
a1ter the lapse OF a week or two, bringing
out some new points, you will have done
most valuable and perhaps an essential
service. Our friends on the committee
simply need to hear from home not only to
know that they are right, but to know why
they are right. We feel that you will re-
spond promptly and heartily to this request;
for is not the case common one which
concerns every employer anywhere in the
mt
stake In the country or is interested in it's
welfare?
Kindly advise US also what you have
Done so that we may cooperate with you
the better at Washington and here
letter was received yesterday at the
headquarters of the American Federation
OF LABOR IN this city from President Sam
uel SIompers of that organizatio who is
in Porto Rico conducting an investigation
INTO the labor conditions. Mr. Gompers
states in the letter that the trip from
New York to San Juan was made without
pleasing receipt
The two organized labor clements in
Porto Rico are known as the Federation
regional and the Federation Libre, re-
specuvely 1t is the purpose of Mr. Com
pers to bring the two organizations under
the banner of the American Federation of
Labor, and the reports received in this
city indicate that he will be sl1ccessf,I in
this direction. 40
President Gompers last Wednesday met
IN JOINT meeting the representatives of the
Two organizations. He proposed a plan Of
amalgamation which was so favorable ra
celVed that resolution was adopted to the
erect that 1.-The Fedora cion Regional and tha
Federacion Libre declare that the unity of
the Workingmen of Porto Rico and their
afflliation with the American Federation -,
LABOR is essential to their moral and ma
ter1al welfare An agreement was also
ieacneo at the same time looking to the
lIhmedlate amalgamation of the dual or
CARNATIONS and providing for the annoInt
heht Oh committees for the purpose.
retary-Treasurer James Duncan of the
granite cutters National Union states
that the outlook for his era Fl for the 49,
ing spring and summer is esnecialiy
bright. The first day of March is an inn,
PoI.dht GATE on the calendar of the granite
cutters, as 1t Is the day on which MANY
trade agreements are perfected A Iarga
number of such agreements with firms T.,
the southern. eastern and nortbern
states took effect yesterday. None of III
aSteeinehts called for decrease in paw,
while more than fifty per cent Of tba1,
PROVIDE Tor a slight increase
II mas developed that the report that tho
ers &c ,nlotherhood of Carpenters and Join
ers or America is taking a Referendum, ~
10 "ltn0raW its affiliation with the Amari
can Federation of Labor is absoInta1v ~
True MI James F. Grimes general ergo
piotiief HUOU, states that NO c,oI
vote Is being taken. There is Some feaIinsr
among the members against further aftiI:a
uon with the federation, however Tba
-nnatter is in the hands of the general axeo,
i've board. and it will be submitted tn the
next convention of the brotherhood 70 he he
held next October ~ oe
President James O'Connell of the Inter-
national Association of Machinists returned
TO Washington today from New York
where yesterday he conferred with Mr. -
Y. simpson of Scranton, Pa, president If
the Mexican Central Railroad and Coal
Company, relative to several grievances of
union machinists employed by the company
in Mexico. company
Mr.: OConnell held conference with
PRESIDENT Hartman of the Hartman rail
road interests the latter part of last week
In New York, at which time the final details
OF the settlement of the machinists' strike
on the Southern Pacific railroad wera
agreed upon. The agreement has resulted
In an increase of about per cent for the
machinists.
Mr.. O'Connell is preparing an argument
for presentation before the committee on
labor of the House in response to those of
the employees in connection with the eight
hour bill, now before that committee. In
addition to the effort to refute the arpu
ments of the employers, Mr. OConnell will
present statement in advocacy Of ~