The Lamar register., 1906-03-28
LABOR MEMORIAL
Presented to President, SenEta and
House.

Washington. - President Gompers
If the American Federation of Labor
Ind the executive council of that or
tanization, with about 100 representa-
ives of trades unions, were received by
Speaker Cannon in the House lobby
Wednesday. They presented document
concerning pending labor legislation.
which later was presented to Senator
FRYE and President Roosevelt. The
document expresses the opinion that
the eight hour law is ineffective and in
mfficient, and deplores the govern
nent's attitude towards the law as af-
letting work on the Panama canal. 1t
complains that the workingmen have
not been protected against convict Ia
Dor, and that appeals for relief from
undesirable immigration have peen
without result.
Recognizing the danger OF Chinese
immigration" says the letter, "and re-
sponsive to the demands of the people,
Congress years ago enacted an erect
I've Chinese exclusion law; yet. de-
spite the experience of the people OF
our own country, as well as those Oh
other countries, the present law is
fasrantly violated. and now. by act OF
congress, it is seriously proposed to IN
validate that law and reverse the poi
Icy" ,.,,,,
The document concludes: me
benef;cent writ of injunction intended
to protect property rights, has, as used
In labor disputes. been perverted SO as
to attack and destroy personal iree-
dom and in manner to hold that 'ne
employer has some property rights IN
the labor of the workingmen
"Instead of obtaining the relief
which labor has sought, 1t is seriously
threatened with statutory authority LOT
existing judicial usurpation. The COM
mittee on labor in the House or Repre-
sent tives in the past Congresses mas
been so organized as to make ineHect'
nal any attempt labor has made ior
redress. This being the fact in the
last Congress, labor requested the
sneaker to appoint on the committee
of labor members who from their eX'
perience, knowledge and sympaths
would render in this Congress such
service as the committee was origin
ally designed to perform. MOI ohiy
was labor's request ignored put tne
hostile makeup of the committee was
accumulated.
Recently the President issued an
order forbidding any and all govern
ment employees. upon the pain OF IN
slant dismissal from the government
service, to petition Congress Tor any
redress of grievance for any I'M
proyement of their condition. ThnS
the constitutional right OF citizens
TO petition must be surrendered to
the government employee in order tha'
he may obtain or retain his employ
ment. =.
I'VE present these grievances tt
YOUR attention because we nave iohS
patiently and in vain waited Tor re
dress. There is not aly matter o.
which we have complained but io'
which we have in an honorable aht
lawful manner submitted remedies
The remedies for these grievances
proposed by labor are in line with nun
damental law and with the progress
and development made necessary D!
changed industrial conditions.
Labor now appeals to you, ana W.
trust that it may not be in vain. Bu
IT, perchance, you may not heed us w
shall appeal to the conscience ana IN
support of our fellow citizens.
The memorial is signed by Pres
dent Gompers and the executive con
mittee of the American Federation o
Labor.