Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-03-23
If Congress Refuses the
Legislation Demanded
The Federation Of Labor Will
Enter the Field Of Politics.
Council Discusses Interview with President
And Speaker Cannon.


ton Of Labor spent some time today
discussing the replies of President
Roosevelt and Speaker Cannon to the
bill of grievances presented to them
and to President Pro Tenn Frye of the
Senate yesterday regarding legislation
affecting labor interests. Mr.. Gompers
said tonight that the concluding para
graph in the memorial meant exactly
what it said. That is, if Congress fails
to remedy the grievances, the organiz-
alton will appeal direct to the people.
In other words. he said. the Fedora
ton Of Labor will enter the field of pol
itics and urge organized labor to elect
men of their own choosing and thus
have a personal voice in the govern
ment There will be further discussions
OF the situation by the members OF the
council among whom the remarks OF
the President and Mr.. Cannon have
made deep impression. Mr. Gompcrs
insists the council is in the right re-
garding the statements set forth in the
bill of grievances; that it has abuEd-
ant proof of the representations made
and that the condition of affairs i'm the
labor world everywhere is the best
proof of it's contentious.
The council tonight made this an
nouncement:
"a representative of large land and
moncyed interests appeared before the
council with a view to having the Fed
erotiCn cooperate with 1t i'll the man
agement of the enterprise, it being me-
chanical distributive and constructur-
nj, the entire matter TO be conducted
under union labor conditions. The coun-
Gil decided that it did not undertake to
deal in any commercial or industrial
enterprise and could not act in any
matter affecting the interests of labor
other than as wage-earners. President
Gompers was authorized to so notify
the representative of the concern"
Frenk Feeney of the Elevator Con-
structors International Union entered
a protest against the issuance Of 4
charter to the Steamfitters Association
by reason of conflict of work between
the members of the two organizations.
He and Mr.. Cummings of the steam
filters were asked to confer and to en-
deavor to arrive at an agreement and
submit a report.
Frank McArdle, president of the IN
ternational Brotherhood of Foundry
Employees. requested the appointment
of a special organizer of the trade and
also closer alliance with the Iron
Moulders Union of North America. The
matter of organizing was referred to
Mr.. Gompers and Vice President VAL
entine, who is president of the Iron
Moulders Union, promised to render
every assistance in the direction re-
qucSted so far as his organization is
concerned.
A communication was received from
the president of the International Typ
ographcal Union and from one of the
union printers of Canada saying that
number of printers had been con-
tracted for in England to come here
under contract and act as strike-brcak-
erS to such printers as are still out on
strike for the establishment of the s.
hour day, these strike breakers COM
ing to the United States via Canada.
1t was decided to cooperate with the
International Typographical Union
with a view to having those coming
here apprehcndcd and to cndeavor to
break up the alleged practice. 1t was
stated that there are 10000 now work
ing under the S-hour day and about 5000
still out.
President Ryan of the Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers International
Association complained that the team
stcrs We're performing work i'll struc-
lures and insisted that the tcanSterS'
work should cease upon the delivery Of
articles to the curb President Shea OF
the brotherhood of Teamsters said the
question would be taken up soon by the
executive board of his organization.