Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-27
IN LABOR CIRCLES
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: In comparison Win the same ody III pro'
oeding years. the advent OF the 1st OF
May, 1904. will find the relations OF capital
and labor cordial on the whole. irrespective
employers Of the country look with favor
upon the open shop" policy. and are, in
q large measure, making an energetic ef-
fort to adopt 1t.
This news Is encouraging to labor leaders
Of national prominence in this city. who
have entertained opinions to the contrary,
and the prospects for the ensuing "busy'
season. in view Of the fact that the early
months OF last year witnessed innumerable
skirmishes between capital and labor. are
source OF much qualification.
The bright outlook. II IL stated. Is at
trdbutable to the delicate and conscientious
handling of the problem in the form of
arbitration and Cancellation. As far as
can be learned, the employers and workers
generally have faith in the fair and Inn
means. and. although such an agency Of
settlement has not been accepted univer-
sally, 1t Is the prevailing opinion that
strikes and lockouts will be materially
mimimlxed In future years The tests thus
TAR made with arbitration and Cancellation
have been attended with a marked degree
o. success and 1t has been demonstrated
that I IN this direction Lies the solution q
Y at present asitating the thinkers" Of
the country.
The city Of washinston.the center Of
priiuart Ideas and nipulationsS-occupied
pre- eminent position in the matter Of
arbitration and Cancellation In labor con-
troversies, ana its example in that dirsc.
ton mas been copied In many OF the other
population and development along Indus
trial lines.
New York city is the most likely scene
Gt iaoor dimculties the LIST Of May, accord.
h,,f t.
that they will be OF suoh an extensive
character as formerly. In fact there ia A
prospect that they may be entirely averted.
g Nv .., are being exchanged looking to
Inc setuemene OF the pending grievances
tne garment workers of that city. num-
oering IN the neighborhood of thirty thou-
sane ssrio. are demanding recognition of the
, union, as are more than sixteen thousand
UNION excavators and Fockmen. The lat
Ter also desire slight increase in pay.
Inc curtailment Of production has caused
CONSIDERABLE anxiety to more than $4,000
cotton operatives Of MASSACHUSETTS, II IL
feared that the reduction In production will
pc the forerunner Of suspension of opera
IONS IN several sections the operatives
are WORKING for reduced pay. 1t is claimed
that the retrenchment is due to the fnahjlity
of the manufacturers to sell at prices which
VIII sustain the cost of manufacture.
The staid old city Of Boston ENJOYS a
bright outlook for the coming season. Sew
eral new agreements have been nlaced in
force along the lines of those of last wear.
The conditions throughout ssachusetts
generally are good and no labor disputes
are expected.
Reports from the west Indicate that there
are good prospects for busy season, with
conditions highly satisfactory to labor. In
chicago. except in the steel and metal
crafts, wages are generally good. The
teamsters of st. Louis are likely to imam
gurate strike the 1st of next month In the
event of the failure of the negotiations for
the settlement of the cabmen's strike other.
wise the conditions in the exposition city are
favorable. Encouraging reports are also at
hand from the south and the busy centers
In Pennsylvania.
Samuel Gompers, president of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor in a letter of re-
cent date to the House committee on for
sion:
The situation confronting our people in
regard to the matter of Chinese exclusion
was conspicuously brought to the attention
OF the last Congress and its regular COM
mittees. as well as it's conferees Despite
our urgent appeals, arguments protests and
the legal opinion rendered by our attorneys.
the provision of the present law maxi
Ing its operation dependent upon the
words SO ,. far as the same are not incon-
serted and retained.
1t is true that the next session Of
congress will begin on December s. but II is
also true that this will afford but two days
termination of the treaty. and in the mean
time the just apprehension of our people
VIII unquestionably hold to accountability
those responsible for inaction
1T is rumored that It is possible that
some remedy may be had by executive ac-
ton, but 1t is extremely doubtful whether
this can be done or whether 1t ought to be
gone, and. II done, whether 1t would be eff
fectfVe or whether the courts would hold
that such action would stand the test of
constitutional authority
L beg further to submit that at this late
DAY 1t is entirely superfluous to present
either argument or reasons for Chinese ex-
ciuslon. and this has been determined to be
essential to the well being of our people
and also the settled policy Of our govern
ment.'
Inc quarterly session of the executive
council of the American Federation of
LABOR, which convened in Denver the first
OF last week, adjourned Monday evening.
Inc session was an important one and
many matters affecting the labor movement
were finally disposed of. According to re-
was reached whereby the Denver Trades
and Labor Assembly and amaIgamated or
ganizations will become affiliated with the
federation. President Gompers accom-
panied by Vice Presidents Duncan and
O'Connell and Secretary Morrison, are ex-
pected to return to Washington Friday
morning.
With a view to perfecting an organiza-
ton among the stenographers and type.
writers OF the District of Columbia, a mass
meeting will be held tomorrow evening at
Typographical Temple, on G street north
west. First Vice President Peter J. ConIon
is at the head of the movement, and he has
made arrangements for the formation of
such union as will better the conditions
or the local stenographers and typewriters,
1t Is understood the promoters Of the pro-
5ect purpose grading the stenographers and
typewriters according to ability and setting
a scale of wages in keeping with the CLASH
fcation.
The question of observing next Labor day
by parade of the local labor organizat lions,
will be submitted to the various unions
by a parade Of the local labor organ
fzations will be submitted to the various
unions affiliated with the Central Labor
Union. committee of the central body
has been appointed to arrange for the OBJ
servance Of the holiday composed Of Mil
ford Spohn, R. G. M. Ross. e. J. Ratigan,
Edward NOrthnagle, H: J. Wells J. NJ.
Heisley.; j.. G. McKenna, j. F. Mccarthy,
c. A. Pau and C. E. Adams.
1t Is stated that q number of organiza-
tons are favorable to a parade on Labor
day and that IL a sufficient number Of
unions will participate to make creditable
diSDlay arrangementa will he made nv