Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-23
OBJECT TO POLITICS
ORGANIZED WoRKINoMEN DIS
AGREE WITH MR.. GoMPERs.

~ 10 uHuCkStoOO that d EcNOll 10 On AMONG
some Of the organized workingmen against
| the determination Of the American Fedora
| ton Of Labor to take an active part in poll
| tics. It this connection It was pointed out
by a Journeyman printer that one of the
first revolts had taken place among the
compositors In the government printing
Office. and as a result some Of the "revolu-
tionaries' had been suspended from MEM
| bership in Columbia Typographical Union.
One OF the suspended typos said last
night:
There has been considerable agitation
among the employees Of the government
printing office during the past week, caused
by the action of the Typographical Union
printers were expelled from that organiza-
ton for alleged non-payment Of dues and
assessments. -..
Mr.. c. P. Rhodes was among the num-
Der expelled, and when seen by a Star re-
porter last night he stated that as the Off
GERS of the Typographical Union had caused
a printed list of those suspended 10 be cir
culated without giving the reasons why any
of the members had refused to pay their
dues, he felt that in justice to himself he
should give out the following correspond
enCe:
Text of the Notice.
The first letter is addressed to Mr.. Rhodes
and is follows:
Dear Sir: The executive committee, act
ing under instructions from the union, has
considered the cases of members who are
in arrears for dues and assessments,
shown by the August accounts, with the
purpose of recommending to the union at
it's next meeting that the names Of those
who have refused to pay be expelled, in
accordance with the terms of the resOlu-
tions as adopted by the union. Your name
appears among those who are delinquent,
in, iniuStice he
done in your case you are hereby notified of
said delinquency. Neglect to take steps
looking to the adjustment of the matter
must necessarily be construed into a re-
fusal to pay.
Your record as union man in years
past leads to the belief that it is not your
wish to be placed in this attitude, and that
you will realize the necessity of standing
shoulder to shoulder with your fellows in
what is believed to be the most critical
stage in the eight-hour movement
The opening of the fall, bringing with 1t
increased demands for printing, must nee
essarily put many men who are now idle at
work and the gradual falling into line of
the firms on strike justfies the belief that
the executive council will soon be N posi-
ton to carry out the promise to still further
reduce the assessment when conditions
warrant it.
This was signed by T. c. Parsons, presi-
dent Columbia Typographical Union.
Mr.. Rhodes Responds.
Mr.. Rhodes reply to this communication
addressed to Mr. Parsons was as follows:
Dear Sir: In reply to the circular let
ter which you sent me on the 18th instant,
with reference to my being in arrears for
dues and assessments, as shown by the
August accounts, I desire to inform you
that the reason 1 have not paid for my
August card is because l do not sanction
the attitude that the members of organ
Ia forced take if thew allow
the leaders to drag them into politics.
II have been an active member or the
typographical union for twenty years, ana
| have always considered that the part of
my oath which says that my fidelity to the
union and my duty to the members thereof
shall in no sense be interfered with by any
allegiance that l may now or hereafter
owe to any other nization-social, po-
litcal or religious, meapS that am not
to mix my unionism with politics or re-
ligion There are good union men In the
organization who entertain different ideas
concerning politics and religion, and l have
always endeavored to respect the indivtd-
ual views of those members who differed
from me on either of these subjects
INDUCES in Denunciation.
"If the recent action of Samuel Gompers
Samuel De Nedrey and other labor leaders.
in their effort to defeat a republican candi-
date for Congress in the state of Maine, is
to be taken as sample of what they Will
do in Ohio, where the leaders of the Amer1-
can Federation of Labor have threatened to
defeat a candidate for Congress, will con-
slider that have the right as an American
citizen, to denounce them as political dema-
gogues.
1.-The consideration of the question of or
ganized labor entering politics has, far
as am concerned narrowed down to the
proposition of my choosing to whether 1
will give up my aff1liation with the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor give up my re-
nOblica nfSm. and have decided that /
would rather retain my allegiance to the
grand old republican party, and exercise
my individual right to think for myself,
ers are ready to use the organization for
the furtherance of democratic schemes.
II regret very much, after being a faith
full member of the Typographical Union for
twenty years. that 1 am compelled to sever
my connection with said organization in
order to be In a position to assert my