The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-10-21
CANNON IS A FOE
TO LABOR SAYS
ITS LEADER
ATTEMPT TO BOOM SPEAKER
BRINGS REPLY FROM FEEDER.
ATOMS LAWYER.
HE FOUGHT 8-HOUR LAW
And Shows Himself Not to Favor
Workingmen Liability Bill
Only Benefit to Railroad
Men.

Washington Oct 20.--Frank ]
Sargent, Commissioner General of In
migration, an office holder, and one
of the Brotherhood of Locomotiv
Firemen, not affiliated with tn
American Federation of Labor under
took some days ago to boom Uncle
Joe Cannon as a friend of labor.
I. r. Tracy, assistant legal counse
of the American Federation of Labor
takes exception to Sargent's jump in
to politics and then proceeds to ex
pose the dupIicity Of Speaker Cannon
on labor demands.
Mr. Tracy says;
There seems to be an impression
that when Mr. Sargent and other gov
ernment employees who have beer
connected with the labor organiza
tions speak, they are yoicing the sen
timents Of the American Federation
Of Labor This 81 wrong. Prior to Mr.
Sargents appointment by President
Roosevelt to the position he now
Bro herhood of Locomotive FiremeE
Il his organization with one or two
other organizations Of railroad men,
never has had any affiliation 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
Quotes Speaker Cannon.
In his interview he quo es Speake.
Cannon and his attitude on the EN-.
ployers' liability bill. which passed
the last session OF congress. 1t Is true
the bill. as pas ed, is a metitorious
one, but in its application il reaches
only the organizations of railroad
men and does not apply al all to the
vast membership which comprises
the American Federation of Labor.
The opposition TO Speaker Can
non does not arise wholly from his
opposition to the ant.injunction bill
that has been urged in past con
gresses by our organization AS far
back as April 81, 1879, a resolution
was introduced in congress tending
toward the enforcement of the eight |
hour law May of that year it was
reported to the house with favorable |
This resolution met |
with vigorous opposition from Speak |
er Cannon, who was then a member |
of the house. The Congressional /
Record of the latter date shows that !
in answer to a question relative to
The proclamation of President Grant
on the eight.hour law which called
for its enforcement, Mr.. Cannon said
IN part:
"'This Is the manner in which the
aw is now being executed. and so far
as I am concerned it will go on that
way, proclamation or no proclama-
ion thus antagonizing the position
,f a former president Of the United
states.
His Views Not Changed.
"The Record further shows that on
notion made by Mr.. Cannon the reso
ution TO enforce the eight-hour day
yas laid on the table by a vote of
'eas t27. nays 90 That his opinion on
he eight-hour law and its applica ion
las not changed l. evidenced by the
,art taken by him as a member of the
committee on rules in the past session
# congress. After an amendment to
nnul the eight-hour day in the con
of the Panama canal was
uled out on a point of order as new {
agislation. the majority members of
he committee on rules. of which he Is
hartman. reported rule TO the house
rhlch nullied the eight hour day in
hat work.
Another indication Of his hostility }
} the eight-h1ur law is the fact that b
has been charged openly on the u
oor Of the house that the makeup n
his committee was so cons ructed n
lat legislation he was opposed to "
,uld not pass. The house committee G
D labor. Notwithstanding the fact e
tat I'm several congresses IL rcporteI
le eight hour bill favorably. in The l.
st two congresses the majority of
p committee has been hostile to this ''
~ II is rumored thst when the bin II
as reported bv the committee in he b'
1T session Of congress. members Of ;
q committee were called 10 the T.
eaker's room and castigated bv the "
eaker in manner more forcihIo 70
an eloquent. G.
Denies Square Deal"
M Sargent is quoted As saving. oi
en- who belong 10 trade unions be. n
We in a square deal. cC
This statement is undoubtedly cor ct
f. but those who have followed the De
icial acts Of our congressman fe
NJ
(CouoIudsd % 1hird pagsI n