The Washington times., 1904-02-02
NATIONAL GUARD
AND LABOR UNION
GOmpers Says They Are in
Pleasing Harmony.
BOTH MADE UP OF WoRKMEN
Address Before Suburban Citizens As.
sociation-Comnittee Appointed
for Current Year.

1T is my opinion that the most
pleasing harmony exists between the
various militia organizations and union
labor" said Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor.
In an address before the members of
the Bloomingdale lie Droit Park and
Reservoir Heights Citizens Association.
who met last night in the Methodist
Protestant Church. First and Thomas
Streets northwest
Barry Buckley. secretary of the Bust
ness Mems Association was scheduled
to make the address Of the evening but
was prevented by a severe cold. Mr..
Gompers was appealed to for an in
formal talk. and his remarks were as
significant as they were interesting. As
a subject he took what the American
Federation OF Labor has done and is
doing for the workingmen. and the pro-
Eress OF organized labor"
Convict Labor Issue.
Mr. Gompers explained that the
tradesman OF today is far different from
the tradesman OF twenty years ago In
those days" he said. "a workman would
SIT at his bench. with his leather and
his tools. and make a pair of shoes. To-
day every pair of shoes goes through
NiAt ndlQS VI Sl&lN-tlRhl WOTkI0en, eaCn
man working not longer than two min
utes on shoe, For instance, every
nail is driven into the sole by a single
movement of gigantic machine.
Convict labor in Georgia and Troy. "
Z. was discussed by Mr.. Gompers. and
the difficulty of competition explained
The speaker said that contractors en-
ploying convicts could do work and
make good profit at a price less than
the cost Of outside labor, and he de-
cried the spirit of the people who would
persistently patronize convict-made
goods because they are a trifie cheaper
Mr.. GOmpers showed where in Troy
when stOve-makers demanded a high
wage many Of them were thrown into
prison on one pretext or another. and
put TO work In the convict stove-makinE
shops As long as the demand for
stoves continued these stovemakers were
kept in jail and when the demand dis
continued they were allowed TO go. The
speaker believed this might have been a
coincidence. or II might not
Believes in More Militia.
In speaking OF the militia. he said he
personally believed in more militia and
less standing army. He cited several
cases of conflict between organized labor
and the militia. but said notwithstand-
ing this fact, the rank and file of the
militia is made up OF workingmen and
the two organizations were bound to get
along well together
Preceding Mr.. Gompers' address. r. T.
Logan, chairman OF the committee IN
streets. reported that much progress had
been made toward having and Second
Streets opened, so as to give another
approach TO the new y. p. Gage School
Major Calvin Farnswo~th. chairman
of special committee reported I'm
proyements completed and under way
in Baltimore Street in the vicinity OF
the filtration plant
Committees Named.
President Clayton E. Emig reported
the following committee appointments
for 1904
Neutrality-suspicious. Merle chairman:
David Z. Buckingham Dr. Jesse b
schafhirt. N. l. Chew. and D. S.
Streets. sidewalks, and lghts-R. e.
Logan, chairman; Gen. Benjamin lie
Fevre. J, J; Costinett, T. V. Noonan. and
Railways--Major Charles H. oourand
chairman; ]. +. Cannon. e J. Sacks.
Samuel Gompers. and George p. Drew.
Press and postal facilities-Edwin S.
Hoskins. chairman; Elmer E. Jackson.
c. y. Harrison. c. W. Marpen. and o.
Stafford.
Chairman; w. J. Palmer. James X
Mack. David Moore. and George Top
ham.
Fire and poIice-Major Calvin Farms
worth. chairman; b. A. Allen. Henry c.
James. Edwin Landvoight and DR.. A
NJ Hoadley s-3
Parks and parking-Ja w. Ris-
niger chairman; l. NJ Snyder, A p.
Davis. J. II. Robinson. and A. L. Swart-
won't.
Education william P. Armstrong.
chairman; Z. n. Hughes. B. F. Taylor
Rev. J. n. GIL. and Rev Alexander
Kent
sanItation-Dr, Alexander D. CODY
chairman; DR.. T. p Chapman Dr. w
D. Falls. DR.. j. X Mohler. and DR. J. s.
Allen.
Census (special)-Harry Flicker. chair
man; j. NJ Hodge. W. NJ Goodlove
i. s. Cannon. ard Frank MacDermOtt.
Transportation (speciaD-J. /. Evans.
chairman; +. NJ. Graney. c. II. Grapp,
II. Presnelle. and r. l. Smith
Members at large OF executive COM
nittee-Gen. Benjamin lie Fevre, Sam
uel Gompers. Rev. Alexander Kent. and
J. F. Cannon.