Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-12
IN LABOR CIRCLES

In labor circles regardless of partisan
sentiment. there is general expression of
qualification with the result of the election
In Representative Littlefields district.
Mr. Milford Spohn of the committee
of the Central Labor Union having in charge
the arrangements for the reception which
will be rendered President Gompers by that
body next Monday evening says. 1.-THE occa-
sion will be significant from the fact that
men OF opposite partisan opinions will be
present and evidence their appreciation of
the services Of Mr.. Gompers and others in
their efforts to defeat Mr.. Littlefield.
While Mr.. Littlefeld is a republican"
said Mr.. SpOhn, Il know many workmen
who are republicans who earnestly desired
the defeat Of Mr.. Littlefeld His greatly
reduced majority we regard as a moral vic
tory, notwithstanding that the slump is
campaign. We think it plainly evident that
the labor campaign in Mr.. Littlefeld's dis
trict tended very much to reduce his ma
jority. 1t is true that throughout the state
the former republican majorities were large
ly reduced, but the campaign in Mr.. Little
fields district was exceptional There came
to his aid Speaker Cannon, Secretary Taft
and Senator Beveridge and the influence of
President Roosevelt; in fact, the election Of
Mr.. Littlefield was made of national impor-
lance. 1t was the beginning of the cam
paign of labor which will be waged during
the coming congressional elections; the re-
suit would demonstrate the potency OF the
labor vote. Under these extraordinary con-
ditions Mr.. Littlefield should have at least
shown that the efforts of Mr.. Gompers and
others failed to withdraw the organized
labor voters from his support.
I'VE regard the result in Mr.. Littlefields
district as the highly encouraging beginning
of labor's entry into politics. and 1t means
the defeat of a number of those who, as rep
resentatives in Congress, have shown hos
tility to labor legislation. some OF these
In N which there
is a very large labor vote. and in these
localities, with a campaign as vigorously
conducted as was that in Mr.. Littleheld's
district, they will retire from public life.
This will include both democrats and re-
publicans, for the workman In this political
labor movement will known no party: He
will use his ballot to administer q singing
rebuke,' as advised in the political propa-
ganda of the American Federation of La
Dor, for believe that the wage-working
classes of our country are becoming rapidly
convinced that It Is to their interest tnat
they become a. distinctive factor in politics.
In the past they have been considered as
the asset Of politicians of the two parties,
and so long as they consented to remain IN
this condition their interests were not very
largely considered by the legislator. This
became obvious to the English workmen,
and since they entered the field or poiitlcs
and sent a number of representatives from
their ranks to parliament they have accom-
pliShed or secured, more favorable legisla-
ton than they did in fifty years before.
IT think that the American workingman
Is as wise as his English brother. ano IN .ns
future instead of relying upon petitions ana
fruitless lobbying he will send to our ma
tional and state legislatures representatives
who will at least give him some CONSIDER
alton"
The resolutions adopted at the last meet
ing of the Central Labor Union relative to
union plumbers, it is said, is generally APP
proved by the organized labor people, and
will be indorsed by the various local unions.
The union plumbers. 1t Is stated. do> not an
ticipate that the non-uniOn plumbers, as or
ganized workmen will be considered by the
arbitrators in the adjustment of the diff
ferences existing between the master plumb
ers and the journey,men rney ,,i s' al n .nat
cipally confined to the. adjustment OF COM
plants and contentious which existed prior
to the lockout, and which. the employers
assert. was the cause OF the lockout. Ihey
state that they would regard the recogni-
ton of an organization of non-union plumb
ers as unfortunate. as under no conditions
ization of the craft. They are also pre-
cluded from tolerating such an organiza-
ton by the International law of their craft
which, as with all other labor organiza-
tions, outlaws dual associations.
The new form Of agreement of the Re-
tail Clerks International Protective Assoc
citation, Local No. 262, which has been APP
said to be more acceptable to the employ
ers than the existing agreement, which
terminates September 80. The main ob1ec-
ton to the agreement in the past. 1t is
said. was the requirement that the stores
should close at pm. on five days Of the
week and at 8 pm. on Saturday. Under
the new contract there is no definite time
stated for closing, and II the proprietor
desires, he may keep his establishment
open to any hour of the night. The period
Of the daily labor of the clerk, however. is
limited to nine hours for the first five days
Of the week and not more than twelve
hours on Saturday.
In the past this limitation Of the hours
of service compelled the firm to suspend
business for the day. This, as stated, was
not agreeable to a large number OF en-
ployers. as it is said that quite per cent
of trade was lost to those who closed early.
and those who kept their places Of busi-
This was particularly so with the smaller
uptown places. and for this reason but
ever signed the clerks contract.
It was also observed that the closing OF
ouirad incouyenienced the Wage-earning