The Washington herald., 1906-10-20
ATTACK ON CANNON
Labor Federation Scores
Speaker.
UNFRIENDLINEsS IS CHARGED
Denies Statement of Sargent that
House Leader Has Favored Legis-
Men-Speciftc Instances Are Cited
Showing Position He Has Taken.

The specific reasons for opposition Of the
American Federation of Labor to the re-
election of Speaker Cannon are given in a
public statement issued yesterday on the
authority of President Gompers. by
Thomas Tracy. the political campaign
manager Of the Federation
1t is in the form of a reply to a re-
Gently published interview with Frank p.
Sargent, Commissioner General of Immi-
grafton. in which Mr.. Sargent endeavored
to show that Uncle Joe" was a friend Of
labor
The statement says:
Prior to Mr.. Sargents appointment by
President Roosevelt to the position he now
holds he was an officer of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen. This organ
ization, with one or two other organiza-
tons of railroad men, has never had any
afhliation with the American Federation
of Labor since its inception, and when
Mr.. Sargent speaks it is not in the name
of the American Federation of Labor.
In HIS interview he quotes Speaker
Cannon and his attitude on the employ
ers' liability BILL which passed the last
session Of Congress. It is true the bill,
as II passed, is a meritorious one, but in
its application it reaches only the organ
izations Of railroad men and does not
apply AZ all TO the vast membership
which comprises the American Fedora
tiOn Of Labor.
Begun in 1870.
As far back as April p, 1872, a reso-
luton was introduced in Congress tend
ing toward the enforcement Of the eight
hour law. On May of that year it was
reported to the House with a favorable
recommendation. This resolution met
with vigorous opposition from Mr.. Can
non On his motion, the resolution was
laid on the table by a vote Of yeas, II;
nays. 90.
That his opinion on the eight-hour law
and It's application has not changed is
evidenced by the part taken by him as a
member Of the committee on rules in the
past session of Congress. After an
amendment To annul the eight-hour day
IN the construction Of the Panama Canal
was ruled out on a point Of order as new
legislation, the majority members of the
committee on rules Of which he Is chair
man. reported a rule 10 the House which
nullified the eight-hour day in the con
structi0n Of that work
Another indication Of his hostility 10
the eight-hOur law is the fact that it
has been openly charged on the floor Of
the House that in the makeup of his
committees they were so constructed
that such legislation as he was opposed
10 could not pass. The House Committee
on Labor, notwithstanding the fact that
in several Congresses they reported tha
eight-hOur bill favoyably. in the last two
Congresses has been hostile TO the bill
Il Is rumOred that when the bill was
reported by The committee in the past
session OF Congress that members Of the
committee were called TO the Speakers
room and castigated by the Speaker in a
manner more forcible than elegant
Want square Deal.
Mr.. Sargent is quoted as saying. Men
who belong TO trade unions believe in a
square deal"
This statement is undoubtedly correct.
bu- those who have followed the official
acts Of some Of our Congressman, Speak
er Cannon particularly fully realize that
as far as the interests OF labor are con-
cerr Ell by their petitions for legislation.
&; has ocen fer a period covering more
than twenty years impossible for them
10 receive a square deal al his hands.
either as q member Of the House or as
Speaker.