Evening star., 1907-08-11
Trades OF the District

ton Of the Building Trades OF the Dstrict
OF Columbia. in response to their request
for my views on the present labor troubles.
The publication OF excerpts from my COM
municatlon has led to an Interpretation OF
my IDEAS which was far from the intention
of the writer to convey. Almost every
sentence In my letter bore such a relation
to the one that preceded or followed It,
that In anticipation of the use of the blue
pencil II was only on the distinct under
standing that the letter would be printed
in It's entirety that l consented to its pub
lCatiOn.
I have before me a copy of this letter in
the first paragraph of which the following
sente:,,, appears: 1t Is not my intention
TO pass Judgment on the relative merits OF
the lat'r troubles any further than on gem
eral prnCill :. bacausa | am unacquainted
with tn technical points at issue. This
cleaCly shows it was not my desire to take
sides in TIE controversy. and the publca-
ton Of tn full letter would show that |
freely. fut in an amicatie sp! 1t. criticised
what 7 cons. .der-d- to b. faulty or blam-
able o. 10th sides, and | did so in the sim
cerest Lupe that as | said in one of the
concluding 'ntcnCes. both employer and
employ should get together and work for
their mutual welfare
The letter was written on July 2G before
the crisS had come; and had the labor
unions requested my views the same reply
would lave been given them. for l am i'm
pd-tia! TO all concerned
This Is too serious matter to allow
mlsconCeption of my attitude and the sit
uat!ou has become too critical to permit OF
misuudCr~tanding. Unforeseen misery and
suffering will resul. from strike and If
builders and employers are forced to i'm
port mechanics and laborerS such an
action Will flood ou~ city with unemployed
men. and as three trees cannot he planted
where there is room for only one, the con-
sequences To the wOrkngmen and their
families will be disastrous. and the suffer
ings Of one viii affect tire interest of all.
feel deeply and sincerely interested In the
welfare of the workingmen of Washington
and no can feel more keenly the in
jury and sufe ling which a conflict like
that impending will entail.
II can therefore, be seen that. far from
endeayoring to prejudice their interests by
an unwarranted and unprovoked attack
on them. or the alleged inSinuation that l
unfriendly to them. | was only too
anxious to promote harmony and good will
for the prevention of strike.
l do rot know who Is responsible for the
wrong light in which I have been placed.
but feel il Is but just to myself and fair
to those whom my ideas have been repre-
sented to antagpnize TO place myself in
proper light on this very important question
at such a critical time as this Ls Now
that the conflict has begun that unpleasant
feelings have a~isen and the efforts TO
avert a strike have proven unsuccessful, l
would respectfully suggest that either
President Roosevelt or the Commissioners
of the District should appoint committee
OF three disinteTested and impartial cit
liens Ia investigate the grievances Of en-
ployerS and workmen with a view to their
adjust ment and that the decision be bind
ing for the future. 1t Is my earnest prayer
that justice and commonscnSe will prevail
summatrd. VIM. +. DOWNEY.
August 10. 1901.