The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-29
ORGANIZED LABOR
TO ENTER POLITICS
AMERICAN FEDERATION ISSUES
LETTER TO UNIONS.
Text of Letter Addressed to President
Roosevelt, President Pro TEN of Sen
ate and Speaker Of House, Is Given,
Stating Wherein Workingmen Have
Been Sighted by Government

now be no doubt. Preparations are be-
ing made locally to. take up the fight of
the federation, and circulars have been
received by affiliated unions the past
week outlining the grievances of organ
lied labor against what is termed the
Indifference of congress in regard to the
demands Of unionists in measures which
have been before it in recent years.
The accompanying list of grievances
was adopted by the executive council Of
the federation, at a meeting held in
Washington, April 81, which was at
tended by eighty representatives
of national and international labor or
CARNATIONS, which have membership in
the American Federation of Labor.
None of the matter contained in the
circular has been made public before,
and. the federation officials preface the
bill Of grievances with letter adj
dressed to the trade unionists of Ameri-
ca, which is as follows:
Letter to the Unions. Il
Dear sirs and Brothers-The bill of griev
ances, printed below, formulated and adopted
by the executive council of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, is expressive of the decision
: manifest in Its various conventions and union
meetings The presidents of all affiliated inter-
national unions were invited to meet the execu-
tive council at the headquarters of the Ameri-
participate in a conference concerning matters
affecting labor's interests congressionally and
Enthusiastically. The presidents or their duly
credentialed representatives participated. and
unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed and
signed the document and participated with the
executive council in the presentation and read
ing thereof. ~, ..;..-.ss 49,.
Some garbled accounts of this matter have
appeared in the press. In order that our fellow
trade unlonsts may be in possession of. the docu-
nent in its original FORM and that their actions
may conform thereto this is presented to you
in its entirety. 49,.
we will stand by friends and administer
a singing rebuke to men Or parties who are
either Indifferent, negligent, or hostile, and,
Whenever opportunity affords. will secure the
election of intelligent, honest. earnest trades
unonists. with clear, unblemtshed paid-up union
cards in their possession. Fraternally yours,
Samuel Gompers. President American Federation
Of Labor; Frank Morrison, Secretary, A. F.
Oft.
The. bill of grievances is as follows:
Labor's Grievances. @H
Washington, March 4s21.-Theodore Roosevelt
President of the United States; William p.
zFrye. President Pro Tempore. United States
senate; Joseph G. Cannon. Speaker. House Of
Representatives, United States: 49,, -@ ~
5EGentlemen-The undersigned executive council
of the American Federation of Labor, and those
accompanying us in the presentation of this
the grievances which the iworkInen of coun-
try feels' by reason of the Indifferent position
which the congress of the United States has
manifested toward the just, reasonable and
necessary measures which have been before it
these past several years, and which particularly
affect the. interests of the working people,
we'll as by reason of the administrative acts of
theaeXecutive branches of this government and
the legislation of the congress relating to these
interests For convenience the matters of which
we complain are briefly stated and are fol-
lows 81
g...The law commonly known as the eight-hour
law has been found ineffective and insufficient
to- accomplish the purpose of its designers and
trainers. : Labor has. since 1894, urged the
passage Of law so as to remedy the defects,
and for it's extension to all work done for or on
behalf of the government. Our. efforts have been
in ..WIRio,+ no,.;nu :, .nr bind ., nt.a +,.
who are the advocates of the eight-hour law
and principle, congress passed, and the president
signed, appropriation bill containing rider
n 14l the eightchour law and principle in
=, 1920 , 70 the srsa'ssI L -Pnnie WoIk eyer
Of the Panama canal. ~
"The eight-hour law in terms provides that
those entrusted with the supervision of govern
ment work shall neither require nor permit any
violations thereof. The law has been grievously
and frequently violated; the violations have been
reported to the heads of several departments
who have refused to take the necessary steps
for it's enforcement. s.-.' -
ployment of inmates Of penal institutions
so that they may be self-supporting labor has
urged in vain the enactment of a law that shalt
safeguard it from the competition of the labor
OF 7convicts. -.- ~. ~
SIN the interests Of all Of our people, and
in I.consonance with their almost general de-
mahd, we have urged congress for some tangi
Bile relief from the constantly growing evil Of
induced and undesirable immigration, but with
out result, .-r.. - ~
9Recognizing the danger of Chinese immi-
grafton, and responsive to the demands of the
people, congress years ago enacted an effective
Chinese exclusion law; yet, despite the expert
ence of the people Of our own country as well
as those of other countries the present law is
fagrantly violated, and now, by act of congress-
1t is seriously proposed to inYalidate that law
and reverse the policy.
The partial relief secured by the laws of
1898 and 1898, providing that seamen shall not
be compelled to endure Involuntary. servitude
has been seriously threatened at each succeed
ing congress. The petitions to secure for the
seamen equal rights with all others have been
denied and disposition is shown to extend to
other workmen the system of compulsory labor.
under, the guise Of a bill to substitute the
shipping industry, a provision Is Incorporated
and has already passed the senate providing
for a form of CONSUMPTION, which would make
compulsory naval service a condition precedent
to employment on privately owned vessels
Having in mind the terrible and unnecessary
loss of life attending the burning Of the Slocum
in the harbor of New York. the wreck of the
Rio de Janelro at the entrance to the Bay OF
San francisco, and other disasters on the waters
too numerous to mention, In nearly every case
the great loss of life was due to the underman-
the unski11ed of yes-
sells. we presented to congress measures that
would II enacted, so far as human law could
do, make impossible the awful loss Of life. We
have sought this remedy more in the interests
of the travelling public than in that of the
seanher,. but In vain.
Having in mind the constantly increasing
evil growing out of the parsimony of corpora.
tons, of towing several undermined and un-
equipped vessels called barges on the high seas
where. in case of storm stress, they are cut
loose to drift sink, and their crews to per-
/, ish, we. have urged the passage of law that
shall forbid the towing of more than one such
vessel unless they shall have an equipment and
crew sufficient to manage them when cut loose
and sent adrfft but in vain
The antitrust and interstate commerce laws
enacted to protect the people against monopoly
In the products of labor. and against discrimina-
ton In the transportation thereof have been
perverted, SO far as the laborers are concerned.
as to- invade and violate their personal liberty
Z as guaranteed by the constitution. Our re-
to in froIp congress
have been in vain. rs ss
THE benehcent writ of injunction intended
to protect property rights has, as used In labor
stroy personal edoms and In manner to hold
that the employer has some property rights In
the labor Of the workmen. Instead Of obtaining