The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-07
BY William Wolff Smith.

Washington, Dec. cit is consider
ID very likely that Samuel Gompers,
President of the American Federation
of Labor, will demand that before the
ship subsidy bill is reported out of
The House Committee on Merchant
Marine, he shall be heard on the atti-
.ude OF labor toward the measure.
lie has zealously opposed the ship
subsidy bill on the ground that it Gre
s-es a naval reserve and the sailors
% this reserve an annual allowance
from the government as members of
o. the naval reserve makes no diff
I.rence TO him.
Under his leadership the Fedora
'Ion OF Labor adopted resolutions de-
81 ronncing the bill, at its recent annual
meeting, but to Offset this the Mer-
! chant Marine League of the United
States. which has thousands of men,
hers in all parts of the country, has
communicated with many labor or
anizations, asking their endorse
upnt OF the bill. Consequently,
snce the Federation in convention
-aounced the bill, thousands of sub
climate organization, although af-
tated with the Federation of Labor,
sre come out in favor of the bill
These resolutions were sent TO
FER Cannon and when the house
crJcned for the session he presented
Or the consideration of the Commit
Zee on Merchant Marine about three
thousands such petitions. AS he gets
about fifty or one hundred a day the
friends of the subsidy bill believe
thar the subordinate organizations of
no Federation of Labor do not agree
Nth the action Of the convention.
Although no one can accuse Uncle
Joe of being especially friendly to
De subsidy bill. he must have had
feeling OF natural satisfaction in pre-
"ning these communications from
labor organizations. The republican
leaders, of the house, especially the
speaker. have been roundly de-
nomced by Mr.. Gompers, who sought
10 show that they had been inimical
70 labor The fact that thousands of
labor unions have repudiated Com
'ers' position on the ship subsidy
G seems to indicate that when he
sn''rs the field of politics and legis-
sion he does not command the
united support of the Federation.
Tho ship subsidy advocates in the
Senate must feel very confident of
Their position, for Senator Gallinger,
sao had charge of the measure in
nd body has practically served
IC'e on Representative Burton, of
ua'o Chairman of the Committee on
hi't-s and HarbOrs, that those who
Pre- seeking liberal appropriations for
3" Improvement of rivers and har-
oTS may as well understand that IN
IS something is done for the mer-
ant marine, their hopes will likely
20 blasted. He takes the positOn
nat It is folly for the government to
nend annually great sums of money
% improve our harbOrs for the bene-
f. primarily of foreign shipping. n
Nill cost millions of dollars. for in.
stance. to make a forty foot harbor
'07 New York when there is no Amer.
han vessel afioat which can not enter
- foot harbor.
Senator Gallinger's position is en-
'orsed by other Senators who will
'-ohahIy be heard from later. He is
member of the Committee on Com.
N'rcn which will have charge of the
fvers and harbor bill when it reaches
N" Senate, as is also Senator Frye,
Maine. who has for many years
t'on Interested in the Development of
me merchant marine. These two
majors with the other stalwart
'7endS Of the merchant marine. can
practically do as they please with the
n,''r and harbor bill in case the
rouse should slaughter the ship sub
'.}v hill.
Is an interesting fact that the
,No.a'eS Of increased appropriation
~ rivers and harbors arc allied with
NJ a merchant marine. Mr..
.@ttF y. GOulder. of Cleveland, is
.sS'dont of both the Merchant Ma
~ -' League and of the Rivers and
iaI9orS Congress. the latter meeting
- mis- week. II is likely the two
-'N'1alions will work tremendously
T.. T'moting their mutual interests
'Hore Congress.