The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-10-30
WORKMEN HEAR
CRUMPACKER
Congressman Evidently IN
disturbed by Gompers'
Attack.
MAKES ABLE DEFENSE
Speech Interrupted BY Couple of
SensationaIists, But Otherwise
Sympathetically Heard.

Though branded by President Com
pers of the American Federation of
Labor as hostile to organized labor"
Edgar D. Crumpacker, congressman of
the Tenth congressional district, was
nevertheless greeted by a thronged
house at Towles last night. which was
composed chiefly of laboring men. They
received him cordially and applauded
him repeatedly. Mr.. Crumpacker sue
eeeded in convincing his listeners that
he was not an enemy, but a friend, of
the workingman.
Save for two Interruptions, the en-
tire speech was given over to a de-
fence of an attack that Mr.. Gompers
has been making upon Mr.. Crumpacker
in the Tenth district. Wherever Mr..
Gompers has spoken In this district
he has tried to make it appear that the
congressman was inimical to organ
lied labor in questions that were
before congress in the last session. He
attacked him on the stand that he had
taken in the railway liability act, and
the eight-hour law in the building OF
the Panama canal.
Answers All Charges,
Mr.. Crumpacker answered all the
charges made against him from the
Congressional Record. He pointed to
having objected 10 the second section
in the railway liability act on the
ground that it did not give the trainl
men the proper protection, because it
shifted the responsibility.
In explaining his position in regard
Tn,- II
Crumpaclxer said he had taken the
same stand that the president had
taken in the matter; that it was i'm
possible to induce laborers from the
United States TO go to Panama and dig
the canal, and that it was consequently
necessary to hire the natives in the
torrid zone to do the work He said
that it was an impossibility to make
these natives work six days In the
week. and that the independent posi-
/, ton in regard to the eight hour law
was maintained for the reason that ex-
igencies may arise when it would be
necessary to work the laborers long
er time than eight hours-if they could
be made to work at all.
Mr.. Crumpacker explained that this
would in no way induce Cooley labor
to be employed on the isthmus, as the
Chinese exclusion law had provided fol
this.
Explains Opposition.
Speaking Of his opposition to an ap-
propriation to make a statistical re
port OF the women and children who
are employed in the industries Of the
United states. Mr.. Crumpacker said he
objected to an immediate appropria-
tion because the census committee, OF
which he was the chairman, was al
work preparing statistics which, when
completed should be used as a basis
for the industrial census, and thus save
considerable expense.
The speaker was interrupted once by
a workingman in the rear of the build
ing, who rose to ask whether he re
membered receiving a letter from the
ouestioner asking him to support the
Gilbert bill, which was in favor Of Civ
ing notice before serving an injune-
ton. Mr.. Crumpacker said that he may
have received such a letter but did no
recall it, He answered that his atti'
tude in the matter was of no conse
ouence anyhow. because Mr.. Gomper:
himself with all his power opposed tht
bill and killed it.
Harnngue Nipped I'm Bud.
second voice in the audience wa
progressing at fine rate along tn
Injunction line and scoring the govern
ment for enforcing injunctions upol
the worker and not on the corporation
when the police in the building laid |
kind but firm hand on his shoulder
and reminded him that in his excite
ment he was getting away from tn
subject in hand. Mr. CrumpackeT
however. chose not to ignore the inter
ruption. and quoted President Roose
welt TO the effect that more Injunction
had been served on corporations thar
on the labor organizations
Attorney Y. S. Reiter of this city in
troduced the speaker, and at the clos
of the session announced the arrlVa
of Vice President Fairbanks and hi
marty next Thursday afternoon at
o'clock, when he viii speak in tn
Heintz skating rink tent.
Mr.. Crumpacker left last night 70
his home in Valparaiso.