Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-22
LABOR UNIONS
MAKE REQUESTS
REPRESENTATIVES VISIT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL
President Roosevelt and Speaker Cam
non Both Receive Delegation.
Former Makes Long
Address
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, March 21.-Presi-
dent Gompers of the American Fedora
ton of Labor and the executive coun-
Gil of that organization, with about 100
representatives of trades unions, were
received by Speaker Cannon in the
house lobby today.
They presented a document concern
ing pending labor legislation, which
was later presented to Senator Frye
and President Roosevelt. The docu-
ment expresses the opinion that the
eight-hour law is ineffective and in
sufficient, and deplores the govern
ment's attitude toward the law as
affecting work on the Panama canal
1t complains that the workmen have
not been protected against convict
labor and that appeals for relief from
undesirable immigration have been
without result.
Chinese immigration
Recognizing the danger of Chinese
immigration, says the letter, land re-
sponsive demands of the people, con-
gress years ago enacted an effective
Chinese exclusion law. yet, despite the
experience of the people of our coun-
try, as we'll as those of other countries,
the present law is 1agrantly violated,
and now by act of congress it is seri-
ously proposed to invalidate that law
and reverse the policy
The letter then goes on to say that
the laws for the protection of seamen
are inadequate. Such disasters as the
burning of the Slocum and the wreck
of the Rio de Janelro are charged to
the undermining and the unskilled
manning of vessels.
I'VE presented to congress- says the
letter, measures that would, If 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 those of the seamen, but in vain"
The document concludes:
THE benefcent right of injunction,
intended to protect property rights,
has, as used in labor disputes been per-
verified so as to attack and destroy per-
sonal freedom and in a manner to hold
that the employer has some property
rights in the labor OF the Workingmen.
Recently the president issued an
order forbidding any and all govern
ment employees. on pain of instant dis
missal from the government service, to
petition congress for any redress or
grievances or for any Improvement in
their condition. Thus the constitu-
tional right of citizens to petition must
be surrendered by the government en-
ploye IN order that he may obtain or
retain his employment.
Have Waited Patiently
1--WE present these grievances to your
attention because we have long, pa
tiently and in vain waited for redress.
There is not any matter of which we
have complained but for which we
have, in an honorable and lawful man
ner submitted remedies. The remedies
for these grievances proposed by labor
are in line with fundamental law and
with the progress and development
made necessary by changed industrial
conditions.
Labor brings these, it's grievances.
to your attention because you are the
representative responsible for legisla-
ton and for failure of legislation. The
toilers come to you as your fellow citi-
zens, who by reason of their position
in life, have not only with all other
citizens an actual interest in our coun-
try but the further interest of being
the burden bearers, the wage earners of
America. AS labor representative we
ask you to redress these grievances, for
ii is in your power to do so.
Labor now appeals to you, and we
trust that it may not be in vain. But
If perchance you may not heed us, we
shall appeal to the conscience and the
support of our fellow citizens. Very
respectfully, Samuel Gompers, James
Duncan, James O'Connell, Max Morris,
Dennis Hayes, Daniel F. Keefe, Will
liam F. Huber, Joseph F. Ballentine,
John b. Lennon, Frank Morrison, eX-
ecutive council American Federation
of Labor"
Cannon Replies
After President Gompers had read
the memorial Speaker Cannon made a
speech in which he resented the charge
of unfairness against the house ccm-
mittee on labor.
at is impossible for committee not
to have many men of many ideas in
it's makeup" said the speaker. 81 select
the committees with all fairness. 1t is
impossible for a caucus to select them,
as that would consume a whole session.
In your annual meetings you doubtless
find a great variety of opinion. If you
don't have lot of damns, l miss my
guess. No two men have the same
ideas"
1.-The general policy of congress has
been to ignore the interests of labor, "
replied President Gompers.
Speaker Cannon replied that he did
not think such criticism justified. and
he also enjoined the labor organizations
to consider that they have great re-
sponsibility resting upon them, as has
congress. He urged that each member
of such organization should take an
oath to administer the affairs of the or
ganization in the interest of the great
est number of persons.
The delegation presented capy of
the memorial to President pro tenn.
Frye of the senate and then started for
the White House to call on the
nresfdent