Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-03-21
CANNON RECEIVES
LABOR LEADERS.
Gompers and Executive Council
Present Document on Pend
ing Labor Legislation.
PRESENTED TO PRESIDENT.
The Petition Consists of Long List
OF Grievances on Many
Matters.

Washingtonh March 2i.-Presldent
Gompers, OF the American Federation
Of Labor and the executive council OF
that organization. with about 100 repre-
sentatives OF trade unions were re-
ceived by Speaker Cannon in the house
lobby today They presented docu-
ment concerning pending labor legisla-
ton which later was presented 10 Sem
ator Frye and President Roosevelt The
document expresses the opinion that the
eight-hour law is ineffective and In
sufficient and deplores the govern
'ments attitude towards the law as af-
fecting work on the Panama canal. 1t
complains that the workmen have not
been protected against convict labor
and that appeals for relief from unde-
sirable immigration have been without
result
Recognizing the danger OF Chinese
immigration says the letter, "and re-
sponslve to the demands OF the people,
Congress years ago enacted an effective
Chinese exclusion law, yet, despite the
experience OF the people OF our own
country as well as those Of other coun-
tries, the present law is flagrantly vio-
lated, and now, by act of Congress, II
is seriously proposed to invalidate that
law and reverse the policy
The letter then goes on to say that
the laws for the protection Of seamen
are inadequate
Such disasters as the burning OF the
Socum aud the work of the Rio de
Janeiro are charged TO the underman-
ming and the unskilled manning of YES
sells. I'VE presented to Congress" says
the letter, measures that would, II en-
acted, 80 far as human law could do.
make Impossible the awful loss OF life.
We have sought this remedy more In
the interests Of the travelling public
than In that OF the seamen, but ~
vain"
The document concludes;
The beneiicient writ of injunction
Intended to protect property rights has
as used in la Dor disputes. been pervert-
cd so as to attack and destroy personal
freedom and IN a manner. to hold that
the employer has some property rights
In the labor of the worklngmen I'm
stead Of obtaining the relief which la
Dor las sought II Is seriously threaten
cd with statutory authority for exist
ing judicial usurpatlon. The commit
tee of labor Of the house of represen-
tatiyes was Instituted at the demand
Of labor 20 voice It's sentiments, to adj
yocate It's rights and to protect Ia in
erestS IN the vast two congresses this
committee has been so organized as to
make Intellectual any attempt labor has
made for redress, This being the fncl
In the last Congress, labor requested
the speaker IN appoint on the commit
tee of labor members who from their
experience knowledge and sympathy
would render In this Congress such SER
vice as the committee was originally
designed TO perform. Not only was la
boris request ignored but the hostile
makeup Of the committee was accen-
tuated.
Recently the president issued an or
der forbidding any and all government
employees upon the pain Of instant dis
mlssal from the government service, 10
petition Congress for any redress OF
grievance. or for any Improvement in
their condition. Thus the constitution
al right OF citizens 10 petition must be
surrendered by the government employee
IN order. that he may obtain or retain
his employment.
I'VE present these grievances 70 your
attention because we have long, pa
tiently and In vain, waited for redress
There IS not any matter OF which VIC
have complained, but for which we
have IN An honorable and lawful man-
ner submitted remedies. The remedies
for. these grievances proposed by Ia Dor
are IN Hue with fundamental law and
with the progress and development
made necessary by changed indus
trial conditions. Labor brings these
It's grievance, to your attention because
you are the representatives responsible
for legislation and for failure Of legis-
latlon The toilers come to you as
your fellow citizens who hy reason Of
their position In life. have not only with
all other citizens an equal interest IN
bur country, but the further interest OF
being the burden-bearers, the wage
earners of America As labor repre-
sentatives we ask you TO redress these
grievances for It is in your power 80
to do
Labor now appeals to you and We
trust that It may not be IN vain But
il perchance you may not heed us, We
shall appeal 10 the conscience and the
support Of our fellow citizens.
(SigneO Very respectfully,
SAMUEL GOMPERS,
JAMES DUNCAN.
JAMES o. CONNELL
MAX MORRIS.
DENNIS HAYES.
DANIEL KEEFE.
WM. u. HUBER
JOSEPH f. BALLENTINE.
JOHN y. LENNON.
FRANK NORRIS,
Executive council American Fedora
tion Of Labor"
After President Gompers had read
the memorial Speaker Cannon made a
speech In which he resented the charge
of unfairness against the house COM
mittee on labor
III IS imp0 bic for a committee not
to have many men of many ideas In