The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-08-26
UNION MECHANICS ARE
WANTED ON THE CANAL
United States Government OFF,
cials Seek Leaders Of Unions
for Workmen.
Agents Are Requested to Enter
Into Contracts with Off,
GERS of Labor.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 22.-The
United States government has found
it impossible to obtain skilled mechanics
for the isthmian canal service without
recognizing trades unions.
The regular employment method of
the civil service system has failed to
induce skilled mechanics to enter the
service, and special government agents
have been sent out on experimental
missions to labor unions. Officers OF
trades unions are asked to cooperate
indirectly with these agents, with
view to getting mechanics.
Most OF the men sought belong to
building trades, which are we'll organ
ized and which work almost entirely
under closed shop conditions, with an
eignthour day and a high average OF
wages. The closed shop is an imposst-
bility In government departments, since
President Roosevelt decided in favor
Of the open shop in the government
printing Office (the Miller CASEY. The
canal commission, therefore, exhausted
every means Of getting men without
recognizing the unions, which It knew
would insist upon an agreement pro-
viding that only union men should be
employed.
Examinations for the isthmian canal
service were advertised and re-adver-
tised all over the country, but at each
successive examination, while profess
sional and clerical men responded in
hA nj
the organized, mechanic stayed away.
The commissioners say that only "a
few floaters and worthless mechanics
were obtained.
The special agents were told to tell
the labor unions that competent union
mechanics would be welcome in the
government service, and that the indi-
rect cooperation Of union officials
would be appreciated.
As the result Of the above g. special
agentszreeently asited d Phiiadelphaa
He was well received at labor head
quarters. Officers of the unions fur
nished him names and addresses Of
their idle members, and special deliv-
cry letters called the men to meet the
visitor. The men, however, merely
gave the agent proof of their COM
potency as mechanics without binding
themselves to enter the government
service.
At the same time labor leaders con-
ferred with Samuel Gompers, president
Of the American Federation Of Labor,
and 1t was decided to memeorialize
the government on the position Of Or
ganized labor.
In conformance with this, the Allied
Building Trades Council Of Philadel-
phia has adopted memorandum to
be presented to President Roosevelt
through President Gompers Of the
American eFderation of Labor. The
council says that although the govern
ment has failed to recognize organized
labor as such, organized labor is not
responsible for the governments fail
ure to obtain skilled mechanics for the
isthmian canal.
The memorandum, however, en-
deavors to show that the government
would not be at loss for mechanics
supply agencies.
The memorandum, IN full, reads:
Whereas. 1t has teen demonstrated
that the United States government has
been unable to secure skilled mechanics
for the isthnian canal service with
out recognizing organized labor; and,
whereas, A special government
agent has requested organized labor
in this city to assist in procuring the
required mechanical skill: and,
'Whereas, The failure of the gov
ernment in securing the required me-
chanics belonging to organized trades
while unorganized professions and
trades have been secured in numbers
would imply that organized labor has
antagonized the governments efforts In
securing mechanics; be it, therefore,
Resolved, That the Allied Building
Trades Council of Philadelphia memoir
1alize the government on the position
Of organized labor and on the condi-
tions that have existed and that have
hampered the government in its
search for mechanics, as follows:
"'Organized labor has taken no ac-
ton hostile to the government on ac-
count Of the Miller incident, but has
ben passive observer of the efforts
to obtain mechanical help without
recognizing organized labor.
"Organized labor's distrust and dis
like for isthmian canal propositions OF
employment have been created by pro-
fessional strike breakers and illegiti-
mate employment agents, who have
been permitted to misrepresent them
selves as isthmian canal agents, az
illustrated by the striking instance o1
the army collected recently for the
purpose Of breaking the New York
street car strike, which army passed
through Pittsburg, Philadelphia and
other cities under the guise Of isthmiar
canal workers and In charge Of an
alleged secret service agent.
THAT all claims of governmen,
for all the people have been amply
satisfied by the extended opportunity
given to organized labor to do the