Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-18
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Of the American Federation of
Labor.
CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSION
On Part to Play in Pending Congress
sional Elections.
MATTER HELD IN ABEYANCE
Until Report of Committee is Sub
mitted-on1y One Absentee
Business Transacted.
MATTER HELD IN ABEYANCE

There was considerable discussion at to-
days session Of the executive council OF
the American Federation of Labor at Typo
graphical Temple in relation to the part
organized labor will play in the pending
congressional elections. The part taken in
the contest in the district of Representative
Littlefield of Maine by President Samuel
Gompers and other leaders was referred to,
and will be. 1t is said, a sort of object les
son In directing the contests In other direc-
tons.
No definite resolution was adopted at the
forenoon session today. but the matter was
held in allegiance until the report OF the
labor representation committee Is submit
ted to the council. 1t is the expectation
that this report will be made this after
noon. The members OF the labor represen-
tation committee are: President Samuel
Gompers. Secretary Frank Morrison and
James O'Connell, the third vice president
have an important bearing on the future
political operations of the federation.
Only One Absentee.
Vice President John Mitchell. who Is
president of the United Mine Workers Of
America. reached Washington this morning
in time to attend the forenoon session OF,
the council. The only absentee now Is Vice
President Huber of the Brotherhood OF
Carpenters and Joiners. who is at Niagara
that body.
The announcement was made that the
subcommittee of the House committee on
post offices and post roads will hold q num-
Der Of meetings in this city next month for
the consideration Of certain proposed
changes in the postal rates. particularly as
to second-class rates for newspapers and
other publications. The council directed
President Gompers to appear before the
subcommittee in the interest of trades union
publications. and to protest against any
changes discriminating against such publ
cations.
An application for charter was received
from an association of public accountants.
The council did not deem this to be labor
organization to which a charter could be is
sued, and SO 1t was refused.
A representative of the International As
ISOLATION of Machinists appeared before
the council and entered a protest against
ton of that association by the elevator
constructors. The protest was sustained
and the elevator constructors will be in
structed to comply with the terms Of their
charter.
The dispute between the Brotherhood of
Painters and Decorators and the Central
Federated Union Of New York was referred
to President Gompers to bring about an
amicable settlement according to trades
union law.
The General Session Yesterday.
At the initial sessions Of the council yes
terday there were present President Com
pers and Vice Presidents Duncan, O'Connell,
Morris, Hayes. Keefe and Valentine, Treas
urer Lennon and Secretary Morrison.
The financial report for the eleven months
of the federation's fiscal year showed the
receipts to be 1892 800. the balance On hand
October LIST 1908, STA 2s5. making a total
Of $780,, 156. The expenditures for the eleven
months were $206. 1872. leaving the balance on
hand September /. Of 500 .423. By assess
ment' $51, 738 has been raised and paid over
fO ha INT fiOpa1 TynnRranhica1 Union to
assist in Its eight-hour fight. Secretary
Morrisop's report showed that In 1906 char
tiers were issued to six international unions:
tour state branches forty mine central bod
les and 20 federal labor unions and local
trade unions. an increase of twenty char
tered bodies over 1906 It was announced
that the labor representative committee will
report later AS to the federation's cam
paign program. Besides the amounts con-
tributed by unions in other ways. 1t was
reported that the twenty-five international
unions contributed $146. 225 direct to the re-
lief Of the San Francisco sufferers. Presi-
dent .Gompers reported on the question of a
universal label for all Of the international
organizations or for the use Of the seal of
the American Federation Of Labor as a uni
versal design and part OF the various union
labels issued by the affiliated organizations
A number Of organizations were reported
fayorably disposed and q large number OPP
posed to the surrender of their right to is
sue their own label without any other de-
sign. The report will be submitted to the
federation convention at Minneapolis in
November.
The complaint made by the working peo-
pie Of Porto Rico against the alleged treat
ment accorded them was laid before the
executive council and the reply to the re-
port submitted by Gov. Winthrop to Presi-
dent Roosevelt was ordered. to be trans
mitted IS the President.
A committee consisting OF Nathan 8.
Sodkson and Simon Rubinovitch of the Bos-
ton Newsboys' Union appeared Claiming
jurisdiction over those boys working al
Canada" points-that Is. the wholesale and
retail distribution Of newspapers at several
points in large cities. The Brotherhood of
Transfers objected to the extension OF
Jurisdiction. The president Of the teamsters
VAS feleeranhed to for his YieWa.