Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-26
IN LABOR CIRCLES
-
.

In the October issue of the American Fed
erationist. the organ OF the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. President Gompers re-
Views his campaign against Representative
Llttlefield In the second district of Maine
and gives to organized labor credit for the
reduction of Mr.. Littlefeld's majority from
o,4l9 IN 1904 to about 1000 in 1905 He
says that labor did not undertake to de-
feat Mr.. Littlefield because he was a re-
publican nor because his conspicuous op-
ponent was a democrat. It made a clean
night against Mr.. Littlefield because Of his
bitter. relentless antagonism to the best
interests OF the wage earners, as we'll as
the common people of our country" He
charges the interests" with a direct effort
IN Mr. Littlefield's behalf, and declares
that the commercial, railroad and ship
ping trusts poured immense sums OF money
INTO the campaign and the methods used to
get the nomination were amply empIoyed
to secure Mr.. Littlefield's election at snv
cost" =" "A'
He also charges the Maine representa-
tive with unworthy methods in conducting
ms canpalgn Considerable attention is
given to the part taken in the campaign
by Speaker Cannon, Secretary Taft and
other republicans from the outside who
went to Mr.. Littlefields assistance OF the
oPoohei ciiOItS MI GOmperS says: He
totally misrepresented the aims and pur-
poses of labor in his Speech and he
charges the Speaker with 80 constituting
the committees of the House that the
wrongs of labor might be continued and
the rights of the people denied" and he
adds that Mr.. Littlefeld was one of his
capable Ieutenants In carrying out that
policy. OF Mr.. Taft Mr. Gompers says:
AS for the affinity of Secretary of War
Taft with Mr.. Littlefield and solicitude
T l,,t
fact that when Mr. Taft was judge Of the
federal court he issued one of the earliest
1nJunctfons against which labor so Justly
complains. Mr.. Littlefield as member Of
the Judiciary committee in Congress always
used his position to prevent any remedy
of the injunction evil and abuse What
ever other merit Secretary Taft's speech
may have had, his Misrepresentation of
labor's position on the question of injunc-
ton could only have been willful It was
an attempt as member of the cabinet to
Justify the further invasion of constitution
al rights of which he was guilty as a
Judge
Reference is also made to the parts played
by Senators Lodge and Beveridge and
others who also represented the Presidents
supposed interest in Mr. Littlefelds behalf
Mr.. GOmperS concludes:
Tho campaign In Maine has shown how
great are the forces aligned against the
interests of the people, and 1t has also
shown that labor needs only to lead the
and patriotic work.
The same issue of the magazine. con-
tains an appeal blythe executive council
of the American Federation to labor
throughout the country to aid in the cam
paign for the friends and against the enc
mics of the cause wherever found lev
ask for moral as well as financial support
and urge that each member of a labor
union shall contribute a dollar. No money,
they say, is accepted from candidates.
The Brotherhood Of Locomtiye Fireman
and Enginemen at Milwaukee yesterday
elected Grand Master John J. Hannahan Of
Peoria, ILL.,, over Frank P Sargent, the
vote being 355 to go. The contest was
spirited, the choice not being known until
nearly all the votes had been announced.
Other officers will be elected today or
Thursday.
According to Charles ]. Hammond,
l New York leader who was recent
grafton of Labor will not be the only
organization of workingmen to take
,art in the approaching elections. He
aid national labor party was being
ormed which had already Endorsed |
President Roosevelt. Mr.. Hammond said
he locomotive engineers. and firemen were
trong friends Of the President and hand |
d Star reporter the following printed |
tatement as indicative of the drift he had |
eferred to: |
"Emanating from the session of the gem
raj assembly Of the Knights of Labor, In
recently held In New York Is a |
all for a representative meeting Of all
abor organizations and their members to |
ldopt name and platform for a national |
abor party. The object thereof is stated
o be to secure such legislation as will be |
II benefit to the masses of the people and
o prosecute all unlawful combinations and
he officials of insurance companies trust |
companies and all others who extort, en-
'eZzle. steal or squander the money of the |
,ublic.'
President Roosevelt and Senators Till
nan and La Toilette came in for indorse-
nent, which was also extended to those |
enators and representatives who have
worked for the passage of rate and pure
God bills.
'Tilman was praised for his advocacy of |
eforms in conducting elections, especially |
or his opposition to the unlawful use of /
money IN election campaigns. La Toilette |
vas Endorsed because of his efforts in pre- |
enting valuable lands and leases in Okla
iona, indian Territory and elsewhere from
'assing into the hands of railroads and |
ther corporations without just compensa-
ion"
The formation of new and powerful
abor organization may be the outcome of
he thirtieth biennial convention of the |
brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, now
n session in Milwaukee.
1t Is understood that a proposition will be
made to unite the Brotherhood of Locomo-
i've Firemen with the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen. Color is given to this
umor by the fact that W. T. Lee, assistant |
rand master of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen, is at present in Milwaukee.
nd has twice appeared before the conven-
ion.
The union of the two organizations would |
mean most powerful labor combination.
Both are reckoned among the strongest |
nions in the country, both financially and |
n point of membership. The firemen have
membership of upward of 10000, while
he brotherhood musters about 80 600 men.
The treasures of the two companies would |
id up to nearly $2,OOO,OO0. |
matter of some Importance to work.
ngmen in Washington, well as else
where, is the announcement recently made |
n New York that 1.-The George A Fuller |
company, which was under charges for
lisobeying order of the Allied Iron AS
ISOLATION by re-employing union house.
smiths at the Plaza Hotel, and with |
charges were referred to the board of gov |
.rnors of the Building Trades Employers |
Association. has made it's peace with the |
after. The firm will not be disciplined |
md is now working in harmony with the |
)ther employers.
The firm has agreed to employ the
on all future contracts, In
;luding some which it is about to start, |
IN the open shop basis, and has made ali |
he housesmiths at work on the Plaza Hotel |
get certificates from the employment bu-
of Allied hi l