Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-06
IN LABOR CIRCLES
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President Gompers of the american Fed
Grafton OF Labor made the closing argument
this morning before the committee on edu-
cation and labor of the Senate on the eight
hour bill First and Third Vice President
James Duncan and James OConnell, re-
spectively. were before the committee yes
terday.
Through a mistake made in the first line
of letter written by Mr.. Daniel j. Keefe
seventh vice president Of the American
Federation of Labor. to the Senate commit
tee on education and labor. he has been
quoted as being opposed to the eight-hour
bill. The incident has caused considerable
commotion in labor circles throughout the
country. especially in Chicago Mr.. Keefe
has written to the Senate committee re-
questinR that his letter be taken from that
part Of the arguments Of the opponents OF
the bill and place 1t among the statements
and arguments Of its advocates. Mr. Keefe
Is one of the strongest supporters of the
eight-hour bill and has explained his mis-
take to the satisfaction of organized labor
The executive council Of the American
Federation OF Labor has approved the strike
of the union lumbermen In California. The
lumbermen have been on strike for one
year, which gives the struggle rank with the
longest protracted labor disputes on record.
The approval of the strike carries with 1t
the benefits guaranteed by the federation.
The trade unionists. business men and
professors of the city of Boston have ar
ranged to tender banquet Saturday even
Ing to Mr.. Frank K. Foster. who recently
delivered an address in answer to the
charges made against organized labor by
President Eliot OF Harvard University. The
address of Mr.. Foster is regarded as one
oXor 1ad 10 for 70
cause of union labor and has been incor-
porated in the arguments of labor leaders in
connection with the hearings on the anti
injunction bill before the House judiciary
committee.
President Gompers of the Federation is in
receipt OF an invitation to deliver an ad-
dress before mass meeting in Glasboro.
N j., Saturday evening. He has replied
that he Will be unable to attend the meet
ing, but that Secretary Frank Morrison will
speak in his stead.
dents of the University of Wisconsin. at
Madison. Wis. the 18th instant, on THE
Labor Problem"
Indications point to an early. settlement
OF the grievances of the sugar workers
against the Western Sugar Refining Com
pany OF San Francisco. The workmen have
presented to the company a revised sched-
crease in pay Of about per cent.
The quarterly session of the executive
council OF the American Federation of
Labor will convene in Denver, Col, the 18th
instant.
The wall decorations of the office of Pres
ident Gompers of the American Federation
nave been increased by the addition of
handsomely framed set Of resolutions which
were adopted at a banquet given by the
trades unionists OF that city in his honor in
New YORK city the evening prior to his de-
parture for Porto Rico, the latter part of
February last. The resolutions read:
I'm bon voyage to Samuel Gompers. pres
ldent OF the American Federation of Labor
ON the eve of his departure for Porto Rico
The Undersigned trade unionistS Of New
York city. assembled at dinner given by
his old associates of Manhattan, herewith
bid him Godspeed upon the important mis-
sion to extend the benefits of the trade
OF that island. We trust he will be sue
cessful. that he will return safely and be
vouchsafed long life Of continued useful
ness in the cause of organized labor"
The names of the diners are attached to
the resolutions.
Aside from the extensive campaign of or
ganization of employers. the National Asso-
citation of Employers of the Building Trades
has no important plans on foot at the pres
ent time. 1t is expected. however. that as
soon as the organization is more thorough
ly perfected 1t will put into operation many
OF the projects for which it was formed
The officials of the District Carpenters
Council, composed of delegates of the local
unions of the Brotherhood of Carpenters
and Joiners, perfected a union of the order
in Alexandria. Va. last week. 1t Is likely
the new union will send delegates to the
Carpenters Council and Central Labor
Union of this city In the near future.
The officials of Local Union. No. s6S, of
the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators
etc. and those Of the Master Painters AS
ISOLATION, are in conference with regard to
calls for an increase of from So to $3.50
per day.
President John Mitchell and William
America. have been chosen as fraternal
delegates to the international mining con-
gress to be held in Paris under the auspices
of the American organization. They will
sail for Europe May next.
The child labor law passed in Mississippi
provides that no child under twelve years
of age shall be employed in any factory;
that no child under fourteen years shah be
employed to do night work, and that no
minor can be employed without an affi-
davit as to his age and the written consent
of his parents. The mill manager who vio-
lates this law is liable to a fine of $500 and
Imprisonment in the county jail for six
months or both. There are very few mills
in the state to be interested in this matter,
but 1t is stated that those few will be seri
ously invonveniently for awhile.
Secretary Hodge of the International
Brick, Tile and Terra Gotta Workers Ali
ance sent out notifications to subordinate
unions the last week calling for nomina-
lions of international officers. There are
one president, three vice presidents. one
secretary treasurer and two delegates to
the American Federation of Labor to be
elected. Each nominee must receive five
Endorsements from that number of unions
and send letter of acceptance to the secre-
tary. The election is by referendum.
The recent convention of the state labor
federation of Tennessee. held at Knoxville.
passed a resolution asking Congress to pass
a law granting pension of So a month to
every workingman who shall have reached
the age of sixty years and have earned less
than 81 900 a year. The law is to be mod
eied along the lines of the New Zealand
pension law for laborers.
The legislative committee of the State
Federation of Labor of Pennsylvania re-
ported to the recent meeting of the fedora
ton that out of the lat labor bills before
the last session of the Pennsvlvania legis-
lature which had been Endorsed by the labor